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<div class="gmail_default" style="color:#222222;font-size:small">This year's <strong><a href="http://onewebday.org/">OneWebDay</a></strong> celebration has picked up the theme of <strong style="color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:20.4px;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">Connecting the Next Billion</strong><span style="color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:20.4px">. This aligns with current</span><span style="color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:20.4px"> </span><strong style="color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:20.4px;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">Internet Governance Forum</strong><span style="color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:20.4px"> </span><span style="color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:20.4px">(IGF) Intersessional Programme</span><span style="color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:20.4px"> </span><strong style="color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:20.4px;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">“<a style="color:#1fb3dd;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent" href="http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/policy-options-for-connection-the-next-billion">Policy Options for Connecting the Next Billion</a>”</strong><span style="color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:20.4px">. It is considered by the e IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) that, while 3 billion are estimated to be online in 2015, “more effort is necessary in order to connect the next billion and to address the digital divide” and “Collaboration between governmental and non-governmental actors is key to meet this challenge.” It is felt that the tried and trusted multistakeholder approach, as exemplified by the IGF, is the only practical method to bring all shoulders to the wheel.</span></div>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:12px;vertical-align:baseline;color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;line-height:20.4px">In a keynote speech at the USA IGF in July 2015, United States Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">Catherine Novelli</strong> ably summed up this point of view, quoting a <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent"><a style="color:#1fb3dd;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent" href="http://a4ai.org/affordability-report/report/#policies,_regulations_and_programmes_for_stimulating_affordable_access">2014 report</a></strong> from the <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent"><a style="color:#1fb3dd;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent" href="http://a4ai.org/">Alliance for an Affordable Internet</a></strong> (A4AI) that delineated four critical aspects that any Government should consider as drivers of broadband expansion and affordable access: First, drive broadband infrastructure expansion through increased private investment and removal of barriers; Second, intensify competition and level the playing field to increase access, reduce cost and stimulate demand; Third, open access and infrastructure sharing; and fourth, enable access to spectrum. There’s no quick slogan here, but if any the unifying principal is <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">OPEN ACCESS</strong>.</p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:12px;vertical-align:baseline;color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;line-height:20.4px">So for <strong>OneWebDay 2015</strong>, it is suggested that you review, and discuss Ms. Novelli’s remarks (24 mins),</p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:12px;vertical-align:baseline;color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;line-height:20.4px"><br><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">View on YouTube</strong>: <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent"><a style="color:#1fb3dd;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent" href="https://youtu.be/rLgF6KjhDZY">https://youtu.be/rLgF6KjhDZY</a></strong> (captions available)<br><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">Prepared text</strong>: <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent"><a style="color:#1fb3dd;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent" href="http://www.state.gov/e/rls/rmk/245011.htm">http://www.state.gov/e/rls/rmk/245011.htm</a></strong><br><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">Verbatim transcript</strong>: <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent"><a style="color:#1fb3dd;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent" href="http://isoc-ny.org/usaigf15/08-igf-usa2015-novelli.pdf">http://isoc-ny.org/usaigf15/08-igf-usa2015-novelli.pdf</a></strong></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:12px;vertical-align:baseline;color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;line-height:20.4px"><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">FURTHER VIEWING</strong>: At the IGF USA this was followed by a panel with reps from <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">USAID</strong>, <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">Facebook</strong>, <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">Google</strong>, <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">Comcast</strong>, <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">A4AI</strong>, & the <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">Internet Society</strong> who expanded on the Connecting the Next Billion theme (60 mins):</p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:12px;vertical-align:baseline;color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;line-height:20.4px"><br><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">View on YouTube</strong>: <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent"><a style="color:#1fb3dd;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent" href="https://youtu.be/3ACLPigSZ5o">https://youtu.be/3ACLPigSZ5o</a></strong> (captions available)<br><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">Verbatim transcript</strong>: <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent"><a style="color:#1fb3dd;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent" href="http://isoc-ny.org/usaigf15/09-igf-usa2015-billion.pdf">http://isoc-ny.org/usaigf15/09-igf-usa2015-billion.pdf</a></strong></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:12px;vertical-align:baseline;color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;line-height:20.4px"><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">ACTION</strong>: So, what can you do?<br>1) Post, link to, and discuss the themes above, in particular drawing them to the attention of your local regulators. Use hashtags <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent"><a style="color:#1fb3dd;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23onewebday&src=typd">#onewebday</a></strong> and <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent"><a style="color:#1fb3dd;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23thenextbillion&src=typd">#thenextbillion</a></strong>.<br>2) Participate in/contribute to the IGF Policy development process by <strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent"><a style="color:#1fb3dd;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent" href="http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/policy-options-for-connection-the-next-billion#make-a-written-contribution">making a written contribution</a></strong></p>
<p style="font-size:small;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;line-height:20.4px"><span style="line-height:20.4px">H<span style="font-size:12px">ere is one last video – <strong>Constance Bommelaer</strong>, Senior Director, Global Internet Policy, at the Internet Society, speaking </span></span></p>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small;display:inline">about the "Next Billions" </div>
at the African Internet Governance Forum
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small;display:inline">on September 7</div>
. Constance
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small;display:inline">summarizes</div>
the theme, and cogently connects it with the various other major policy processes underway such as the WSIS+10 review. She appeals, as we do, for stakeholders to engage in the IGF intersessional policy options development, noting this is the first time that the IGF community has worked between meetings to bring not only best practices, but definitive frameworks that can enhance private and public efforts to improve access via technical, policy, and educational aspects.
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small;display:inline">(19 mins)</div>
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<p style="margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;font-size:12px;vertical-align:baseline;color:#555555;font-family:Arial,Tahoma,Verdana,sans-serif;line-height:20.4px"><strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">View on YouTube</strong>: <a href="https://youtu.be/czAFnU0nGAA">https://youtu.be/czAFnU0nGAA</a></p>
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<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small;display:inline"><strong style="font-size:12px;line-height:20.4px;margin:0px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent">Download audio</strong><span style="font-size:12px;line-height:20.4px">: <a href="http://isoc-ny.org/misc/the_next_billion_constance_bommelaer.mp3">http://isoc-ny.org/misc/the_next_billion_constance_bommelaer.mp3</a></span></div>
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