Information Policy

The Failed States Index

'It is a sobering time for the world’s most fragile countries—virulent economic crisis, countless natural disasters, and government collapse. ' Using 12 indicators of state cohesion and performance, the Fund for Peace, an independent research organization, and Foreign Policy magazine compiled through a close examination of more than 30,000 publicly available sources, ranking 177 states in order from most to least at risk of failure. The 60 most vulnerable states are listed in the rankings. This is the fifth annual issue of the report on the Index of Failed States.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/06/22/the_2009_failed_states_index

Google partnership makes 3,300 Council of Europe books available online

A partnership between Council of Europe Publishing and Google Books Search has made 3,300 books available online in 2009.

Council of Europe books available in the database received 230,000 visits in 6 months, with around 2.1 million pages viewed. The most highly-viewed books are legal dictionaries, key extracts of case law from the European Court of Human Rights and titles from the "Ethical Eye" series.

Google Book Search is a tool that searches the full text of books that Google scans, converts to text using optical character recognition, and stores in its digital database. This allows users to view up to 20% of the content of the books and link to the publisher's website and to other booksellers.

Council of Europe Publishing mainly produces works on human rights and international law. It also publishes works on health, social affairs, bioethics, education, culture, youth, sport, architectural heritage and environment.

Its publications include topical debates, comparative studies, monographs, proceedings of colloquies, international legal instruments, official texts etc.

https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1470105&Site=DC&BackColorInternet=F5CA75&BackColorIntranet=F5CA75&BackColorLogged=A9BACE

$7B Target for India's 3G Auctions

The Indian government has budgeted for the impending 3G auctions to deliver revenues of 350 billion Indian Rupees (US$7.26 billion) during the 2009-2010 financial year, reinforcing the now widely held belief that the reserve price for the auction will be raised.

Indeed, it would suggest that the finance ministry has got its way and the reserve price for each spectrum block will be doubled to INR40.4 billion ($838 million).

In the 2008-9 budget, into which the 3G auctions had originally been scheduled to fall, the government had valued the 3G licenses at INR200 billion ($4.13 billion). The 43 percent price hike is due to the finance ministry's belief that the spectrum is worth more, and thanks to more blocks being available after spectrum was released by the defense services.

https://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/140/36177?7649

Spain asks the United Nations to have a bigger role in International Financial e-Governing

Spain supported the United Nations to have a bigger role in the international financial e-governing, as it was announced by Soraya Rodríguez, State Secretary of International Cooperation, to the multilateral organism in order to search a solution for the economic global crisis.

To achieve the results, authorities from Madrid asked for reinforcing the Economic and Social Council, in order to convert it in an indisputable reference institution for the debates concerning the economic and social development, so it will not be necessary to create new organisms.

The Spanish government bets on a reinforced Economic and Social Council, with better human resources, with an extended and clearer mandate counting with a real independent supporting net of experts to provide scientific evidence to its decisions.

It has also said that the United Nations role in international financial e-governing “mustn’t be excluding, on the other hand, should be complementary” to the other forums like the G-20 or the ones realized by the international financial institutions in the managing of international system concerning monetary, financial and commercial issues.

Other participants in the debates, like the Ecuador President, Rafael Correa, and other Latin Americans representatives, plead for United Nations to be the only one to take part in the debates concerning the solutions to the global economic crisis and its impact on the develop world.

http://pep-net.eu/wordpress/?p=550

FTTH: Singapore will provide every home with 1 Gbps service

Singapore’s plan to deliver every home and business with a 1-Gbit/s fixed broadband connection is ahead of schedule, despite the economic downturn, according to the island state’s authorities.

Dr. Tan Geok Leng, CTO of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) , told the media at a special briefing here that the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN), which is part of the government’s iN2015 initiative, is still very much on track.

IDA representatives also provided an update on the technology deployment plans for the NBN, and revealed the initial wholesale tariffs for residential and business services.

The NBN is being developed by two separate entities, known as the NetCo and the OpCo: OpenNet (the NetCo), a consortium comprising Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (SingTel)Axia NetMedia Corp. (TSE: AXX), Singapore Press Holdings, and Singapore Power Telecoms, which will provide the passive infrastructure; and Nucleus Connect (the OpCo), a wholly owned subsidiary of StarHub Pte. Ltd. , which will provide wholesale connectivity to multiple retail service providers.

The companies are working on parallel rollouts that are required to deliver 100 percent coverage by January 1, 2013, and are actually ahead of schedule, with 95 percent coverage promised for June 2012 instead of the 80 percent required in their license conditions.

The wholesale rates have now been set for the initial 100-Mbit/s services that will run over the NBN: 15 Singapore dollars (US$10) per month for residential connectivity, and SG$50 (US$34) per month for non-residential connections, from the NetCo to any OpCo; and SG$21 (US$14) per month for residential services, and SG$75 (US$51) a month for non-residential services, from the OpCo to the retail service providers.

While OpenNet is the sole provider of passive infrastructure, Nucleus Connect could face competition from other providers. Any future wholesale rival, however, will not receive any of the SG$250 million ($172 million) government funding available to the initial OpCo.

Andrew Haire, deputy director-general of the IDA’s Telecoms and Post unit, noted at the briefing that, as there are currently 46 service providers in Singapore, it’s unlikely that Nucleus Connect will remain unchallenged as the only OpCo over time.

Nucleus Connect is deploying GPON equipment for residential access and a mix of GPON and point-to-point Ethernet to reach commercial buildings. Two speed options will be made available initially: Residential users can choose a 100-Mbit/s downlink and 50-Mbit/s uplink, or 1-Gbit/s downlink and 500-Mbit/s uplink; and non-residential customers will choose between symmetrical 1-Gbit/s or symmetrical 100-Mbit/s access lines. Four classes of service have been identified, ranging from A (real-time) to D (best-effort).

Dr. Tan explained that uplink speeds will become more and more important as applications such as video uploads to social networking sites become increasingy popular. “We want to be ahead. The infrastructure we are building is not just for today, it is ready for tomorrow,” he stated.

In addition to FTTH, the iN2015 initiative includes a national WiFi network that has been in operation for longer than 12 months and which now boasts more than 7,550 hotspots. These have been developed by three companies — iCell, QMax, and SingTel — and provide free, island-wide coverage in public areas.

To date, there are 1.28 million subscribers, of whom 480,000 are regular users, Khoong Huk Yun, assistant chief executive of Infrastructure and Service Development at the IDA, revealed. He added that about 40 percent of users access the network using mobile smartphone devices. That’s significantly higher than the 10 percent the IDA had predicted, and a trend that has caused users to request the introduction of username and password login capabilities, something Khoong said the IDA was “fixing,” though he didn’t provide any details.

Singapore’s authorities are hoping the iN2015 initiative will help the island become the Internet hub for the Asia/Pacific region in the coming years.

It is also providing the IDA with an opportunity to boost the reputation of Singapore and its indigenous IT and communications sector overseas through the work of its wholly owned subsidiary, IDA International, which is selling its services to other government organizations around the world.

Launched in February 2009, IDA International is now working with government bodies in China, the Middle East, and South America to plan their e-government and network strategies. These operations provide revenue and boost the export potential of the Singaporean companies involved in the iN2015 program.

http://textio.co.uk/communications/ftth-singapore-will-provide-every-home-with-1-gbps-service/

Report on the public consultation on European e-Inclusion Policy

A public consultation was launched on 4 March 2009 through the European Commission’s interactive Internet platform “Your voice”. It closed on 6 April 2009 and its main objective was to gather views on the role of e-Inclusion in the future European strategy on the information society that will succeed the "i2010" initiative. The survey was also aimed at gathering opinions on European programmes and activities supporting e-Inclusion and cooperation modalities between European Commission services and relevant stakeholders regarding e-Inclusion activities.

Overall, 103 responses were received. They represent various stakeholder groups, including public authorities (26,2%), non-for-profit academic or research organisations (26,2%), individual academics or researchers (19,4%), commercial operators or industry associations(11,7%), users organisations (5,8%), private individuals (4,9%). Some stakeholders also sent position papers (please see below).

Among those who responded to this consultation, there was a general understanding that European policy on e-inclusion is useful and should be continued and enhanced in post 'i2010' initiative. There was an overwhelming consensus that in a context of financial and economic crisis greater e-Inclusion also generates systemic innovation, new business models and new modalities for service delivery. Respondents provided valuable inputs defining the future possible e-inclusion policies and dissemination activities.

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/survey/index_en.htm

US government Internet traffic to be screened: report

The Obama administration is planning to use the National Security Agency to screen Internet traffic between government agencies and the private sector, the Washington Post reported Friday. The project was first initiated by the previous administration of president George W. Bush and was due to be set in motion in February. The aim is to protect the government computer network from attacks from outside, the Post said quoting Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Her department has been tasked with guiding the NSA in the fight against cyberterrorism, she said. The plans risk re-igniting the fierce debate here about the protection of civil liberties, with the Bush administration accused of having tightened controls on telecommunications and Internet networks. In the Bush-era, the NSA was given the task of carrying out unauthorized wire taps on telephone calls between the United States and abroad. But Napolitano said the NSA would only be charged with looking at data going to or from the government system. 'Each time a private citizen visited a 'dot.gov' website or sent an email to a civilian government employees, that action would be screened for potential harm to the network,' the Post wrote. The daily quoted a Bush administration official as saying the program would focus on malicious content potentially in any note sent to a government address. 'What we're interested in is finding the code, the thing that will do the network harm, not reading the email itself,' they said.

http://www.ejc.net/media_news/us_government_internet_traffic_to_be_screened_report/

Web 2.0 Collaboration Tools for the Next Generation of Public Service

Driving high performance through more engaging, accountable and citizen-focused service

Web 2.0 technologies and services have spread around the world at an amazing pace and are used by millions of people every day. Many public service organizations are also adopting Web 2.0 applications to improve their ability to collaborate and serve citizens more effectively.

Accenture believes that Web 2.0 technologies are finding resonance among governments today because they are, in fact, supportive of a broader evolution in public service: a new relationship with government that is about genuine engagement of people in their own governance.

We also believe that public service executives must balance excitement and caution in their evaluation of the potential of Web 2.0. Governments have an obligation to be good stewards of citizens' tax money. They must implement new technologies responsibly and in a way that does not compromise privacy and security.

What is needed at this point in the evolution of Web 2.0 technologies and applications is an effective way to evaluate potential Web 2.0 investments in the context of a proven framework for effective governance—one that helps assess potential advancements in citizen-centric governance against both costs and the inevitable risks that any new technology poses.

The Accenture Public Service Value Governance Framework is such an offering. Derived from Accenture research and our experience working with governments and agencies around the world, the framework provides an important way for public-service executives to evaluate Web 2.0 technologies in terms of four attributes:

* Generating positive social outcomes.

* Balancing choice and flexibility with fairness and the common good.

* Engaging the public as co-producers of public value.

* Improving accountability and transparency.

http://www.accenture.com/Global/Research_and_Insights/By_Industry/Government_and_Public_Service/EvolutionPSDWeb20.htm

U.S.: Biden announces program to expand broadband Internet access for rural areas at Pa. stop

DAN NEPHIN, Associated Press Writer

WATTSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden outlined a $4.7 billion loan and grant program Wednesday to develop the infrastructure needed to deliver broadband, or high-speed, Internet access to areas that are underserved or without access.

America lags behind more than a dozen other countries in terms of Internet access and that has to change, Biden told about 200 people at Seneca High School, about 12 miles east of Erie.

"The bottom line is, you can't function — a nation can't compete in the 21st century — without an immediate, high-quality access for everything from streaming video to information overline," Biden said.

While Seneca has broadband Internet access, Biden said many students do not have access at home.

Providing the means for access would improve educational opportunities, he said. He also spoke of the power of the Internet to create jobs in rural America.

"We believe we are in the process of transforming rural America ... so it's integrated with the country, without losing it's character," he said. The program also covers inner-city areas without broadband access.

"Getting broadband to every American is a priority for this administration," Biden said.

The $4.7 billion is part of $7.2 billion included in the federal stimulus package to improve rural Internet access.

The Commerce and Agriculture Departments on Wednesday published the criteria they will use to judge funding applications. They will consider projects that provide wired or wireless access starting at low-end DSL speeds, but will give priority to ones promising higher speeds. They'll consider an area "underserved" by broadband, and thus eligible for grants, if half or fewer of the households can get wired broadband today, among other criteria.

Applicants can begin applying on July 14. The first round of funding will be awarded in September. Besides providing money to create the infrastructure, the funding can also go toward training people to use the Internet.

In 2007 and 2008, the Pew Internet and American Life Project asked households that lacked broadband why they haven't signed up. Lack of availability was ranked fourth, given by 14 percent. Most answered that they didn't need the Internet, that it was too expensive or too hard to use. Many people who don't use the Internet simply don't have computers.

About 95 percent of households can already get broadband, according to the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. But the industry hasn't been very forthcoming in saying exactly where it's available, and that's part of what the stimulus package wants to address — it has allocated $350 million to mapping U.S. broadband access.

Biden appeared with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski and U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, D-Pa., as part of a "rural America tour."

All spoke of the need for broadband access to create jobs and improve education and health care.

"Broadband is not just about being able to Google faster. It's not merely a luxury or an option for entertainment. It is an essential tool in today's world," Dahlkemper said.

On the Net:

Broadband USA: www.broadbandusa.gov

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-us-biden-stimulus-broadband,1,4779748.story

Vietnam to Allow Mobile Users to Hold Maximum of Three SIMs

The Ministry of Information and Communications has issued a decree requiring that an individual can only register up to three pre-paid mobile phone SIM cards beginning 10 August 2009, Vietnam News Brief Service reports. Beginning in 2010, under a regulation by the ministry, mobile-phone services for pre-paid subscribers will be cut if they do not provide personal information or if they supply false data to providers to obtain more phone numbers.

There is currently to maximum limit on the number of SIM cards a mobile user can hold. With six telecoms service providers already operating in the country, and Gtel Mobile to start services in July, some users hold more than one SIM card with different operators. The ministry’s new decree is a move to manage unregistered pre-paid mobile subscribers, preventing mobile-phone harassment and spam messages.

https://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/130/36094?7649