South Africa - APC supports national regulator against monopoly

APC has stated its whole-hearted support of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for the drafting of regulations prescribing a list of essential facilities for electronic communications. - APCNews More >>

APC STATEMENT - ICASA HEARINGS ON DRAFT ESSENTIAL FACILITIES REGULATIONS (NOTICE 1800 OF 2007)

APC thanks the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (“the Authority”) for the opportunity to make comment on the oral presentations on the draft regulations prescribing a list of essential facilities and matters related thereto, pursuant to Section 42(8) of the Electronic Communications Act No. 36 of 2005 (“the Act”). - APCNews More >>

Internet Governance Forum: APC makes recommendations on themes and structure

The first preparatory meeting for the next Internet Governance Forum (scheduled for December 2008 in India) was held in Geneva on 26 February 2008. APC issued a statement recommending the implementation of regional and national IGFs, using sustainable development as a key theme and advising on the format of working groups to address and follow up on key issues. APC also submitted a paper that identifies and documents the main areas of discussions and ‘recommendations’ that were generated under the access theme at the second IGF, held in Rio de Janeiro in November 2007. - Policy programme More >>

Software: free West Africa?

The use of free software in West Africa would represent an opportunity to reduce the digital divide with the South. In this region, the low level of free software production goes hand in hand with marginal usage. Free software is present in certain businesses, in education, etc. but there is mistrust, as a result of the fact that free software is developed rapidly and is proliferating. It causes fear because there is a belief that “whatever is free is not of good quality”. IDLELO3, a panafrican conference on free software, will look at these questions and beliefs from March 16 to 20 2008 in Dakar, Senegal. - APCNews More >>

APC policy programme’s manager invited to high level UN group of experts

The United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development (UN GAID) has invited APC policy programme’s manager, Willie Currie, to participate in an ad-hoc group of experts on financing ICT for development (ICT4D). This group has been set up in preparation of the upcoming GAID Global Forum on Access and Connectivity in least developed countries and small island developing states in Asia-Pacific and innovative financing mechanisms for ICT4D, Malaysia, 18-20 May 2008 [link to UN GAID page]. - More >>

New book on disaster communication richly illustrated

All of us are aware of the biggest maritime disaster the world has known: the sinking of the ‘unsinkable’ HMS Titanic. But what many of us may not be aware of is that the wireless operators on the Titanic had, in fact, received alerts from other ships about massive icebergs in the vicinity. But the operators, overworked with transmitting private messages of the ship’s wealthy passengers, failed to pass that vital information onto the bridge. - APCNews More >>

Cambodian education system switches to Khmer language free software

At a ceremony that took place last January, the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport presented a new information and communication technology (ICT) textbook that are to be used in all schools, universities and teacher training facilities in that country. The new textbook teaches the use of Khmer language free and open source applications, such as OpenOffice, Mekhala (Firefox) and Moyura (Thunderbird), which have been fully translated to Khmer language. - Open Institute More >>

The APC goes video

Watch the compact and straight-forward, fully subtitled video presenting the Association for Progressive Communications and some of the work of its members. This thirteen-minute film takes you from the beginnings to the current form in which APC pursued the goal of sustainable development and social justice through and with the use of information and communication technologies. - APC More >>

What Latin Americans understand as internet governance

Through an initiative of the Information Network for Civil Society (RITS), Latin American and Caribbean actors met in Rio de Janeiro in November 2007. Why in Rio and what for? To exchange ideas on the issues that were debated at the second Internet Governance Forum. Read the main pointers.
- APCNews More >>

LaborTech conference call for papers and proposals

The programme committee for the 2008 LaborTech conference is soliciting papers and suggestions for topics from labour and technology researchers, activists, workers, and educators. The conference will be organised under four themes, with each theme being explored through panel discussions, hands-on/training workshops, academic paper presentations, and participatory strategy workshops. - LaborTech More >>

New APC executive board

APC is pleased to announce the new APC executive board elected by members at the APC council meeting in Rio de Janeiro in November 2007 for a three-year term. - APCNews More >>

Cambodia: KhmerOS selected as one of the two best projects using ICT to improve economic development

Cambodia becomes the first country to only use free software applications throughout the education system. Thanks to the KhmerOS/Open Schools Program initiative - a Cambodian collaborative project - that was selected as a finalist for the Stockholm Challenge/GKP Award. It was nominated as one of two projects that best use information and communication technology (ICT) to produce economic development. - Open Institute More >>

Computer Aid has shipped its 100,000th PC

APC member in London, Computer Aid International has shipped its 100,000th refurbished computer and appointed a new CEO: Louise Richards was previously executive director of War on Want and prior to that was head of International Relations at UNISON which was at that time the largest trade union in Europe. Tony Roberts, out-going CEO, moves to new post of director of international development. Congratulations, Computer Aid! - APCNews More >>

Statement of GK3 participants: Open letter to the Prime Minister of Malaysia

Malaysia as host to the Global Knowledge 3 Forum has pledged its commitment to knowledge sharing, an open exchange of information and to building a just and fair society. These goals can, however, only be achieved in a society that respects fundamental rights. Since the beginning of November, the freedoms of assembly and expression have come under increased attack in Malaysia. - GK3 Participants More >>

APC@GK3: Workshop on gender evaluation

On December 12 the APC will be organising the workshop “Gender Evaluation Methodology for ICT4D practitioners” at GK3, the third Global Knowledge Conference that is taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. - APCNews More >>

APC@GK3: Workshop on regulation

On December 13 APC, in partnership with LIRNE.net, will be hosting the workshop “Hello Regulator? Regulatory Authorities’ Information and Communication Practices”. This session is part of GK3, the third Global Knowledge Conference that is taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- APCNews More >>

Free and open source video software study released

EngageMedia has just released of a new report into free and open source software video codecs. It is a review of available tools for the creation, playback and embedding of online video using FOSS codecs, and a look at the most pressing areas for development to enhance their adoption by social change video projects on the web. - EngageMedia More >>

Free media, free society

In the Philippines, where in the past twenty years there have been two popular uprisings, numerous coup attempts, and scores of violent political encounters, the Manila Peninsula incident of 29 November 2007 is the first and only one where the working press has been treated as suspects and lumped together with suspected wrongdoers for merely doing their job as media persons. - Foundation for Media Alternatives More >>

The world wide web of desire: Content regulation on the internet

'Illegal' and 'harmful' content debates continue to be dominated by the issue of child pornography. While this perspective is important, its dominance overshadows other important aspects, that directly impact on women's lives and rights. This paper by Namita Malhotra brings in feminist perspective, which provides varied understandings of 'harmful content', as well as opens the question of adequate representation of all voices in the content regulations discussions. The paper also explores alternatives that can arise by transforming the paradigm of 'protection from harm' to the 'protection of fundamental freedoms to expression and information'. - APCNews More >>

APC makes recommendations to UN internet governance forum

The second internet governance forum took place this month. It was the second meeting of five convened by the United Nations over five years to discuss the future of the world’s most critical communications resource. APC presents an initial assessment and makes suggestions for moving towards the third forum in India in December 2008.

Recommendations include the establishment of a self-regulatory mechanism to ensure participation, access to information and transparency in internet governance, convening regional and national IGFs, working groups to address complex issues, more resources for the IGF secretariat, strengthening the capacity and legitimacy of the Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Group, making better use of plenary time and passing of lessons learned by former IGF hosts Brazil and Greece to New Delhi.
- APC More >>