December 2012 - KICTANet

WCIT12 update - CS call to activists - the text
by Grace Githaiga 07 Dec '12

07 Dec '12

FYI The World Conference on International Telecommunications – 12 (December 3 - 14) Call to Human Rights and Technology Activists by Civil Society participants We, the physical and remote participants at The World Conference on International Telecommunications WCIT12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, wish to call the attention of all human rights and technology activists that the recent outage of the ITU website has proved to be of considerable disadvantage to the efforts on the review of the International Telecommunications Regulations - ITRs. The World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) is a critical event that the Civil Society believes is key in shaping greater connectivity and growth in international telecommunications. The satisfactory functioning of the ITU website, is central to the success of the meeting as it serves as the document repository, primary webcast channel and orientation platform for all participants. We therefore call on all concerned activists to refrain from any possible disruptions, hacks or attacks on the ITU website and its related domains. Such effort will be counterproductive, and will hugely disenfranchise remote participants. The Civil Society participation in ITU deliberations is the result of a long and a hard process that requires constructive efforts for improvement. We invite you to follow remotely on http://www.itu.int/en/wcit-12/Pages/default.aspxAnd #WCIT12 on Twitter Dubai World Trade CenterDubai, United Arab EmiratesFriday, 7th of December 2012 == Nnenna Nwakanma | Founder and CEO, NNENNA.ORG | Consultants Information | Communications | Technology and Events | for Development Cote d'Ivoire (+225)| Tel: 225 27144 | Fax 224 26471 |Mob. 07416820 Ghana: +233 249561345| Nigeria: +234 8101887065| http://www.nnenna.org nnenna(a)nnenna.org| @nnenna | Skype - nnenna75 | nnennaorg.blogspot.com From: Adam Peake <ajp(a)glocom.ac.jp> To: governance(a)lists.igcaucus.org; Nnenna <nne75(a)yahoo.com> Sent: Friday, December 7, 2012 11:22 AM Subject: Re: [governance] WCIT12 update - CS call to activists Hi Nnenna, Can't access the document. Could you send as an attachment or just send the text to the list. Do you know who hacked: a protest or someone (some govt) wanting to look like a protest, what better way to justify having the hacked organization take more responsibility for cyber-security :-) Best, Adam On Fri, Dec 7, 2012 at 7:54 PM, Nnenna <nne75(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > Dear all, > > Just a quick update from the CS lunch-meeting: > > we're finalising the letter to be submitted to the ITU Secretariat about > civil society public comments and participation; if you have comments please > submit them by 15:30 today; refer to this google doc: > https://docs.google.com/a/publicknowledge.org/document/d/1b7ljrjIDf_h6nuvUp… > - the time pressure has to do with the formal procedure to submit this; > below is the letter we have agreed to disseminate widely that comments on > the negative effects of the recent blackout of the ITU website for civil > society who want to follow conference proceedings; we can tweet the google > doc from Nnenna's email or just forward the text; > we (civil society) have been invited to meet with the ITU SG – Harold is > coordinating and will aim to organise something early next week. > > Next CS meeting – tentatively at 13:30 for whomever is at the venue > tomorrow. Easy to cancel if there's no need for it. > > > Nnenna Nwakanma | Founder and CEO, NNENNA.ORG | Consultants > Information | Communications | Technology and Events | for Development > Cote d'Ivoire (+225)| Tel: 225 27144 | Fax 224 26471 |Mob. 07416820 > Ghana: +233 249561345| Nigeria: +234 8101887065| http://www.nnenna.org > nnenna(a)nnenna.org| @nnenna | Skype - nnenna75 | nnennaorg.blogspot.com > > ____________________________________________________________ > You received this message as a subscriber on the list: > governance(a)lists.igcaucus.org > To be removed from the list, visit: > http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing > > For all other list information and functions, see: > http://lists.igcaucus.org/info/governance > To edit your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see: > http://www.igcaucus.org/ > > Translate this email: http://translate.google.com/translate_t > ____________________________________________________________ You received this message as a subscriber on the list: governance(a)lists.igcaucus.org To be removed from the list, visit: http://www.igcaucus.org/unsubscribing For all other list information and functions, see: http://lists.igcaucus.org/info/governance To edit your profile and to find the IGC's charter, see: http://www.igcaucus.org/ Translate this email: http://translate.google.com/translate_t

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Fw: WCIT: What's happened in the first week
by alice＠apc.org 07 Dec '12

07 Dec '12

Kieren provides a good overview of the first week at WCIT. Best Alice -----Original Message----- From: .Nxt <info(a)dot-nxt.com> Sender: ".Nxt" <info=dot-nxt.com(a)mail61.us1.mcsv.net> Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2012 08:12:50 To: Alice<alice(a)apc.org> Reply-To: .Nxt <info(a)dot-nxt.com> Subject: WCIT: What's happened in the first week Week one of WCIT 6 December 2012 ** Halfway through WCIT... ------------------------------------------------------------ A rundown of the World Conference on International Telecommunications's first week WCIT splits over the issue of "operating agencies" (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/wcit-splits-over-issue-operati?utm_sourc…) ** WCIT splits over the issue of "operating agencies" (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/wcit-splits-over-issue-operati?utm_sourc…) ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Conference can't move forward until it's agreed who the treaty actually applies to ------------------------------------------------------------ Continue Reading (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/wcit-splits-over-issue-operati?utm_sourc…) The World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) has dramatically split and may grind to a halt until a key distinction over whom precisely the resulting international treaty apply to is decided. <a href="http://www.instapaper.com/hello2?url=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2FsGCfj&title=…" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com.s3.amazonaws.com/instapaper-read-later.png" alt="Read later on Instapaper" title="Read later on Instapaper"/></a> Related Your guide to WCIT documentation (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/11/22/quick-guide-wcit-documentation?utm_sourc…) Over 200 documents and thousands of pages. Here's how to make sense of it all Full breakdown of ITR changes (http://news.dot-nxt.com/itu/wcit/itr/all?utm_source=.Nxt&utm_campaign=e0405…) Every proposal for change, broken down by article and sub-article So what exactly is WCIT? (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/07/26/so-what-exactly-wcit?utm_source=.Nxt&utm…) A simple guide to the conference next month How to follow events live at WCIT (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/11/22/how-follow-events-live-wcit?utm_source=.…) It's a closed conference. But not if you follow this guide. WCIT lowdown: it's all about Africa and Committee 5 (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/wcit-lowdown-its-all-about-afr?utm_sourc…) ** WCIT lowdown: it's all about Africa and Committee 5 (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/wcit-lowdown-its-all-about-afr?utm_sourc…) ------------------------------------------------------------ Our rough and ready guide to how the conference will pan out, who and what to watch, and a look at the bigger plans and strategies afoot. Continue Reading (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/wcit-lowdown-its-all-about-afr?utm_sourc…) The dirty truth about WCIT (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/dirty-truth-about-wcit?utm_source=.Nxt&u…) ** The dirty truth about WCIT (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/dirty-truth-about-wcit?utm_source=.Nxt&u…) ------------------------------------------------------------ The campaign waged against the conference has already achieved most of its goals, making ongoing accusations made against the ITU look increasingly hysterical. But how would the Internet organizations that claim to be under threat manage under the same level of scrutiny? Continue Reading (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/dirty-truth-about-wcit?utm_source=.Nxt&u…) Events WCIT Dubai, 3-14 December Other Articles ** Verisign loses dot-com piggybank (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/verisign-loses-dot-com-piggyba?utm_sourc…) ------------------------------------------------------------ US government intervenes in contract renewal, raising questions about ICANN stewardship Continue Reading (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/verisign-loses-dot-com-piggyba?utm_sourc…) Verisign shares have plunged 15 percent, wiping $850 million off the company's value, on the news that it will not be allowed to raise prices on dot-com domains for the next six years. The current wholesale price for dot-coms stands at $7.85 and the company had already agreed a six-year extension on its right to exclusively sell the domains with DNS overseeing organization ICANN. That agreement mirrored one signed in 2006 that allowed Verisign to raise the price by seven percent in four of the six years the contract ran. However the contract was subject to approval by the US Department of Commerce and it decided to remove the price-rise clause before signing. A short statement (http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press-release/2012/department-commerce-approves-ver…) issued by the DoC quoted Assistant Secretary Larry Strickling saying that "consumer will benefit from Verisign's removal of the automatic price increase". ** WCIT and the Internet? It all comes down to this document (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/wcit-and-internet-it-all-comes?utm_sourc…) ------------------------------------------------------------ The lowdown on Russia's contribution 27. Continue Reading (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/wcit-and-internet-it-all-comes?utm_sourc…) The focal point for those fears has become a contribution by the Russian Federation, sent on 13 November - 10 days after the announced deadline - and then revised four days later. Contribution 27 appears to confirm everything that people have been worrying about - an effort to use a revision of an international treaty agreed in 1988 to provide governments with additional controls over the functioning of the Internet. So here is a rundown of what is exactly in Contribution 27 - both the original (http://news.dot-nxt.com/itu/wcit/c27-1?utm_source=.Nxt&utm_campaign=e0405ba…) and revised (http://news.dot-nxt.com/itu/wcit/c27?utm_source=.Nxt&utm_campaign=e0405ba71…) versions - and an analysis of what the implications of its adoption would be. News in Brief ITU backs away from IP address provision (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/itu-backs-away-ip-address-prov?utm_sourc…) Efforts to make the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) into a supra-regional Internet registry have been ditched, at least for the time being. Attendees at the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) were surprised with a last-minute proposal, aggressively pushed by the Arab States, that the ITU become a provider of IP addresses. Discussion within Committee 4 had been focused on the allocation of IP addresses and in particular the provision of IPv6 address blocks. Our predictions for WCIT (http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/12/06/our-predictions-wcit?utm_source=.Nxt&utm…) Foolish as it may be, we have some predictions for what will happen between now and the end of WCIT. Here they are: * Nothing radical will appear in the ITRs. Instead it will be agreed that they will be reviewed in four or eight years' time and a range of working groups will be formed to work on various issues and report to the Council next year, take it to the ITU Plenipotentiary for initial review in 2014, and onto the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) in 2016 . . Day 2: Put off to tomorrow what you can't do today After a busy start, WCIT started to settle down into a familiar mode on the second day of the conference. The main highlights were: * A bid by Canada and the US to get some key definitions agreed before work starts was pushed off until the end of the week * The meeting delegates all agreed that they agreed with freedom of expression and human rights but that they didn't want to write it into a telecoms treaty - a press release was produced instead... . ============================================================ LinkedIn LinkedIn Twitter Twitter Facebook Facebook Google+ Google+ LinkedIn LinkedIn Twitter Twitter Facebook Facebook Google+ Google+ You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website or at one of our conferences. Our mailing address is: .Nxt 426B Cole St San Francisco, CA 94117 Copyright © 2012 .Nxt, All rights reserved. Sent to alice(a)apc.org — why did I get this? (http://dot-nxt.us4.list-manage1.com/about?u=1811915b93740665fec761e71&id=0a…) unsubscribe from this list (http://dot-nxt.us4.list-manage1.com/unsubscribe?u=1811915b93740665fec761e71…) | update subscription preferences (http://dot-nxt.us4.list-manage1.com/profile?u=1811915b93740665fec761e71&id=…) .Nxt · 426B Cole St · San Francisco, CA 94117

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{Disarmed} [Fwd: Ingenuity wanted in African Weather Sensor Design Competition organised by Delft University of Technology (the Netherlands)]
by Muthoni Masinde 07 Dec '12

07 Dec '12

fyi ------------------------------------------- Delft University of Technology initiated the ambitious TAHMO (Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory) project. This project aims to design and build a network of 20,000 weather stations in Africa; one every 30 km. With this dense network we could obtain more accurate climate data, which of course is essential for agriculture, weather prediction and climate modeling. The stations would be placed at schools and integrated in the educational program. However, current available sensors for the stations are expensive and/or not robust, and hence not suitable for the TAHMO project. Therefore, we are organising a Sensor Design Competition among African universities and institutes. The objective of this competition is to come up with a weather station sensor that could be used in the TAHMO project. Please see also www.tahmo.org <http://www.tahmo.org/> <http://www.tahmo.org <http://www.tahmo.org/> <http://www.tahmo.org <http://www.tahmo.org/> > and the attached flyer and poster for more information. Local knowledge and expertise is absolutely essential for making the TAHMO project successful. We therefore would like to invite your University to join the TAHMO Sensor Design Competition. We think the competition is a great opportunity for your students and scholars to exhibit their knowledge and talents regarding engineering and/or meteorology. IHE Delft has already helped me announcing this competition by 'spreading the word' in the WaterNet network. Of course, more coverage among African Universities is more than welcome. Therefore, I would like to ask you if it would be possible to announce our competition at your Department or other Departments/Faculties that might be interested. This would be of great help! If you are interested, we could also send you some copies of the attached poster and flyer. In that case, please let me know the address we can send them to. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Looking forward to your response, Kind regards, Tanja Hilkhuijsen MSc Project leader TAHMO Sensor Design Competition www.TAHMO.org <http://www.tahmo.org/> <http://www.tahmo.org/> www.facebook.com/TAHMO.competition <http://www.facebook.com/TAHMO.competition> <http://www.facebook.com/TAHMO.competition> competition(a)tahmo.org<mailto:competition@tahmo.org> TU Delft University of Technology Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, the Netherlands *: +31(0)15-2784673 *: t.m.hilkhuijsen(a)tudelft.nl<mailto:t.m.hilkhuijsen@tudelft.nl> [Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: logo] ----------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI IS ISO CERTIFIED The University of Nairobi is committed to providing quality services to all its clients. The University will monitor and review its quality performance from time to time through an effective implementation of the Quality Management System based on ISO 9001:2008 standard. University of Nairobi Website: http://www.uonbi.ac.ke/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/uonbi.ac.ke +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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HR Pros get statutory recognition
by Evans Ikua 07 Dec '12

07 Dec '12

Listers, I just heard in the news that Parliament passed a bill to regulate the HR profession. Why is it that we can't get similar recognition for the ICT profession? In countries like Brazil, India, Singapore, Kore etc, all leading IT destinations in their own right, the Government recognizes and works very closely with the IT professional bodies and this has led to great development of their IT industries. We could learn something from them. -- *---------------------------------------------------- Kind Regards, Evans Ikua,* lanetconsulting.com, lpi-eastafrica.org, ict-innovation.fossfa.net, Skype: @ikuae Cell: +254-722-955831

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Under what conditions should we shut down twitter, internet, radio, TV in Kenya?
by Warigia Bowman 06 Dec '12

06 Dec '12

Dear listers We need to take this seriously. We have a big election coming up, and given the potential candidates, election violence is a real possibility. We have an opportunity here to prepare for the deluge. Under what conditions should we look at shutting down communication? What level of hate speech justifies it? Who determines what hate speech is? Should twitter be shut down before the election? or should we have a text to tweet system, where hate speech can be filtered? Lets crowdsource this issue!!! Yours, Warigia On Tue, Dec 4, 2012 at 8:31 AM, Song, Stephen <stephen.song(a)gmail.com>wrote: > On 3 December 2012 16:11, McTim <dogwallah(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> Kivuva, >> >> On Mon, Dec 3, 2012 at 2:30 PM, Kivuva <Kivuva(a)transworldafrica.com> >> wrote: >> > That is a very detailed and philosophical approach by Walu. >> > >> > Speaking for the mwananchi at the grassroots, if switching of the >> > Internet and broadcast media can foster unity by preventing >> > transmission of hate and unhealthy debates, then they should be >> > switched off >> >> Perhaps you should ask the mwananchi how they feel about having their >> right to communicate taken away from them in the name of "security". >> >> As Benjamin Franklin once said: “They that can give up essential >> liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty >> nor safety.” >> > > On the one hand I agree with that quotation with all my heart, yet at the > same I think it is true that if someone had managed to shut down the radio > transmitters in 1994 in Rwanda millions of lives might have been saved. > The Internet is an extremely powerful tool and as more and more people > have affordable access to it, it becomes even more so. Ben Franklin's good > friend Voltaire said "Avec le grand pouvoir vient le grand devoir" (With > great power comes great responsibility). Figuring this out is going to be > a long and complex discussion and I think it is unlikely that absolutes are > the answer. To me it feels like we need some kind of damping mechanisms > for the Internet that slow down a technological decision whether it be > censorship or otherwise so that humans can catch up with the implications, > so that they can be dealt with in a process, democratic, negotiated, or > otherwise. It does feel like technology has run ahead of nation states and > that more than anything we need more effective social and political systems > that can cope with our multiple allegiances and identities these days. > > -Steve > > >> -- >> Cheers, >> >> McTim >> "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A >> route indicates how we get there." Jon Postel >> >> _______________________________________________ >> kictanet mailing list >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet >> >> Unsubscribe or change your options at >> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/stephen.song%40gmail.… >> >> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform >> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. >> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, >> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do >> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. >> > > > > -- > Steve Song > +1 902 529 0046 > +27 83 482 2088 (SMS only) > http://manypossibilities.net > http://villagetelco.org > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/warigia%40gmail.com > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform > for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and > regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT > sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors > online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, > share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do > not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > -- Dr. Warigia Bowman Assistant Professor Clinton School of Public Service University of Arkansas wbowman(a)clintonschool.uasys.edu http://democratizingegypt.blogspot.com ------------------------------------------------- View my research on my SSRN Author page: http://ssrn.com/author=1479660 --------------------------------------------------

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Re: [kictanet] [Skunkworks] Safaricom sending unsolicited messages
by Kivuva 06 Dec '12

06 Dec '12

Safaricom have very unethical business strategies. The worst is the 555 gambling scam where you have to pay to be in the promotion. How is it a promotion? What product are they selling? In promotions, you get an entry to products you have consumed, their revenue should not be based on gambling. CCK should give us a responce. On 06/12/2012, Brian Ngure <brian(a)pixie.co.ke> wrote: > The service should be "opt in", NOT "opt out" which it currently is. > > Are you saying you sent STOP but are still receiving the messages? > > > On Thu, Dec 6, 2012 at 12:17 PM, Mickey Mickey > <michaelakunga(a)gmail.com>wrote: > >> Honestly, nobody dislikes IEBC but is it legal or rather ethical to >> safaricom to send subscribers this messages. Worst case is I had sent >> 'STOP' message to their 28683 but today I receive the same stating same >> same message. secondly they also have this habit of sending subscrbers >> messages about XXX has uploaded a photo on facebook log o..... and when >> you >> try to unsubscribe hhehhehehehh they want money WT......FFFF I didn't >> subscribe why charge me. Or is it only me it is happening to. >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Skunkworks mailing list >> Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke >> ------------ >> List info, subscribe/unsubscribe >> http://orion.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks >> ------------ >> >> Skunkworks Rules >> http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 >> ------------ >> Other services @ http://my.co.ke >> > > > > -- > Regards > > Brian Ngure > -- ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva For Business Development Transworld Computer Channels Cel: 0722402248 twitter.com/lordmwesh transworldAfrica.com | Fluent in computing kenya.or.ke | The Kenya we know

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WCIT12 day 2 and 3 key issues
by alice＠apc.org 06 Dec '12

06 Dec '12

Dear all, Summary of key issues by ISOC Best Alice ---------------------------- Recognized Operating Agency vs Operating Agency (ROA/OA) is still very controversial. This is a key issue in terms of scope of application - to whom will the ITRs apply? There have been attempts at compromise that reference the ITU Constitution but a lot more discussion is still needed. Telecom / ICT: while most countries do not wish to change the existing ITU definition of telecommunications, there is interest by some to add the term telecom/ICT to the treaty. Proposed definitions in this regard include the term "processing" which is very controversial. Status of ITU-T Recommendations: the discussion is focused on a) whether to specify certain ITU Recommendations that may be mandatory and b) whether to limit references to ITU-T or to broaden out to all ITU Recommendations Accounting Rates (Article 6): Just beginning the review of Article 6 but there is considerable discussion on how to adjust Article 6 to reflect high level principles rather than prescriptive action and to be flexible enough to accommodate changing commercial arrangements. International Connectivity: This has been teed up along with some discussion about the role of IXPs (and regional IXPs) and whether these concepts are even appropriate for treaty text. Quality of Service (Article 3): debate over whether ITRs can/should mandate minimum / satisfactory quality of service pursuant to ITU-T Recommendations. Security has been raised in this context. Explicit references to Internet: a few proposals in this regard have generated very strong feelings from lots of sides with no clear resolution in sight just yet. In summary, it's early days and there will be a lot of ups and downs and turns before we reach a final treaty text. So please keep that in mind as you read reports or press about the conference

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Re: [kictanet] Nairobi switches to digital TV signal by December 31
by meshack emakunat 05 Dec '12

05 Dec '12

Really! !!! It isn't right to impose laws upon the people of the country. I don't really like the way we are heading. I remember of a story but can't remember from where. It was about a nation that was so divided btwn the haves And the have nots. A poor man approached the premier and said "we have not had bread for breakfast. The premier said aaaahh! Why wouldn't u have cakes then." We should try find otheer ways of implementing policies rather than imposing them on the people. There was a bill that seeks to alow ourr sons and daughter to marry after 6months Then the draconian law that limit the poor and support the haves (Traffic rules) . now this ... I once tried painting my dog white! ! We should remember that Kenyans are not made in Hollywood Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

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Fwd: stunning data on the state of the Internet
by Alice Munyua 05 Dec '12

05 Dec '12

Direct link to the files <http://www.slideshare.net/kleinerperkins/2012-kpcb-internet-trends-yearend-…> Best Alice

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Digital migration and mass ignorance
by robert yawe 05 Dec '12

05 Dec '12

Hi, I have decided to change the subject so that more of you will actually open this post because we seem to be loosing direction on this most critical issue. It was with utter shock that I read the following comment by Mr. Linus Gitahi, just incase you do not know who that is he is the Cheif Executive Officer of the largest mass media organisation in Eats and Central Africa) “Kenyans are not ready because less than one per cent have decoders. Some have old black and white television sets. What happens to them?” queried Nation Media Group Chief Executive Linus Gitahi. Before proceeding I would like to do for Mr. Gitahi what his staff should have done and explain the issue of the set top box and your TV. The set top box just like, a DVD player, takes a digital signal and converts it into a radio frequency (RF) that can then be received by an analogue device. The black and white TV you are referring to will receive an analogue signal and will not need to understand the digital signal. If you take some time to sit with Dr. Ndemo, who for your information is a business graduate like yourself, he will be able to allay your concerns and also give you a contact who can provide a sub Kes. 1,000/- digital decoder which NMG can then distribute to the needing Kenyans as part of your CSR especially since those viewers are the reason that you receive the advertising revenue that you are so afraid of loosing. Please see attached diagram for an easier understanding of the process. Now if the person at the helm of the largest multimedia organisation in East and Central Africa does not understand what the digital decoder does then we are in serious trouble as relates to the migration and also explains why the incumbent broadcasters are unable to appreciate why they do not need to own a digital distribution network. I feel that Dr. Ndemo must be talking over the heads of the media house executives and maybe he needs me to draft him a statement that will have a fog index of less than 4. Alternatively have a skit done by the likes of Mwala, Papa Shirandula or Mzee Ojwang on what digital migration is all about and how easy it is to implement, ithould also be made available on VCR Tape to allow all those executives to be able to replay. Regards @Meshak, the story you quoted is Maria Antoinette of France who was beheaded and I hope that is not what you are suggesting should be done to Dr. Ndemo @ Kivuva, even come 2015 Kenya will still have poor people unless there is something you might know about the next presidency that will alleviate all Kenyans out of poverty. We switched from leaded to unleaded fuel and our cars still run, we changed from single to multiparty and more recently we got a new constitution what this should remind us all is that the only constant in live is change Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696

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