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Fwd: Register Now! Digital Infrastructure: Equity & Sustainability in Open Source | Thursday, August 6, 12:30 PM EST
by Beryl Aidi 29 Jul '20

29 Jul '20

Hi Listers To anyone who might be interested. I'm also sharing an RFP for digital infrastructure research that Ford Foundation circulated last week. >From Ford Foundation's Ford Tech and Society Team Please do share this with anyone you think might be interested. One of our failings in our last effort is the lack of grantees based outside of global north countries and I would like to focus efforts to build a more globally diverse set of grants this time. You can also view the RFP directly here: https://fordfoundation.forms.fm/2020-digital-infrastructure-research-rfp/ Best Beryl ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Ford Foundation <rsvp(a)fordfoundation.org> Date: Tue, Jul 28, 2020 at 8:00 PM Subject: Register Now! Digital Infrastructure: Equity & Sustainability in Open Source | Thursday, August 6, 12:30 PM EST To: <bee.aidi(a)gmail.com> *Invitation* | AUGUST 06, 2020 View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/fordfoundation.org/h9turlv2nm-2015170?e=306110b93b> [image: Ford Foundation logo in white on green background] [image: Conversations tag in white on green background] [image: Clock symbol] THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020 12:30 - 1:45 PM EDT *DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE: EQUITY & SUSTAINABILITY IN OPEN SOURCE* Click to RSVP → <https://fordfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3f89269c6132144b6…> The *Ford Foundation* and the *Alfred P. Sloan Foundation*, in partnership with the *Mozilla* and *Open Society Foundation*, invite you to join us on *Thursday, August 6th* to explore equity & sustainability in Open Source. A critical part of Digital Infrastructure. This webinar will feature a panel discussion and Q&A with researchers from our 2019 grantee cohort: *Laura Dabbish, (Carnegie Mellon University), Caroline Sinders, Anushah Hossain (UC Berkeley) & Benedict Kingsbury (New York University). * We will also continue the conversation around our 2020 call for proposals to further this field of work and hold a Q&A for interested applicants. *About the Speakers: * *Laura Dabbish, Carnegie Mellon University: *How might structural factors in the social networks of open-source communities pose barriers to underrepresented newcomers, especially women, becoming full community members? *Caroline Sinders, independent researcher:* What can the history of Javascript teach us about techniques to mitigate harassment (a barrier to diversity and a threat to the sustainability of digital infrastructure projects) in open-source communities? *Anushah Hossain, UC Berkeley: *What factors encourage and sustain international communities of contributors to open-source projects? *Benedict Kingsbury, Institute for International Law & Justice & Guarini Institute for Global Legal Studies, NYU School of Law: *How can legal devices and institutions be adapted and applied, both locally and transnationally, to overcome the under-maintenance of critical digital infrastructure? Everything in our modern society, from hospitals to banks to social media platforms, runs on software. Nearly all of this software is built on “digital infrastructure,” a foundation of free and public code that is designed to solve common challenges. But this free, public code—which we refer to as open source software—needs regular upkeep and maintenance, just as physical infrastructure does, and because it doesn’t belong to any one person or party, it is no one person’s job to maintain it. Despite the importance of this infrastructure, the community that maintains it lacks the diversity of the society it is meant to serve <https://fordfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3f89269c6132144b6…>. And more work is needed to better engage the international communities that undergird this ecosystem, as well as the international legal and regulatory mechanisms for sustainability. We believe that preserving this sustainable, open digital infrastructure is a critical public interest issue. We hope you will join us in building toward a more diverse and well-funded ecosystem for digital infrastructure. *For the best quality performance, please make sure you download the newest edition of Zoom <https://fordfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3f89269c6132144b6…> prior to the event. * *THURSDAY,* AUGUST 6 12:30 - 1:45 PM EDT 12:30 *Welcome* Micheal Brennan Josh Greenberg 12:40 *Equity & Sustainability in Open Source* Laura Dabbish Caroline Sinders Anushah Hossain Benedict Kingsbury 1:00 *Q&A* 1:10 *Re-Announce the RFP Q&A* 1:30 *End* <#m_1663524585708598919_m_-4529725785311105010_> REGISTER NOW → <https://fordfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3f89269c6132144b6…> *Missed the last event? View the recording, read the pre-read materials & more here <https://fordfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3f89269c6132144b6…>. Save the Date for the next Upcoming Session: August 20 Labor, Roles, and Incentives in Digital Infrastructure* ------------------------------ If you are unable to attend, please click the link below to be excluded from receiving future reminders about this event. Decline <rsvp@fordfoundation.org?subject=Unable%20to%20Attend%3A%20Equity%20and%20Sustainability%20in%20Open%20Source%20-%20August%206> [image: Ford Foundation Logo] <https://fordfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3f89269c6132144b6…> Ford Foundation 320 E 43rd Street New York, NY 10017 USA Ford Foundation Mailing List Unsubscribe <https://fordfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=3f89269c6132144b6…> | Update Preferences <https://fordfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/profile?u=3f89269c6132144b6f1c5…> | Forward <http://us10.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=3f89269c6132144b6f1c5ce78&id=04…> [image: Twitter icon] <https://fordfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3f89269c6132144b6…> [image: Facebook icon] <https://fordfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3f89269c6132144b6…> [image: LinkedIn icon] <https://fordfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3f89269c6132144b6…> [image: Youtube icon] <https://fordfoundation.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3f89269c6132144b6…> -- Beryl *********************************************** Beryl Aidi Freelance Campaign and Communication Specialist Skype: beryl.aidi Twitter: @thespannergal Darkness cannot put out the Light. It can only make God brighter. —Author Unknown.

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Ghana Telcos, ECG to rollout fibre across the country and reduce taxes
by Adam Lane 29 Jul '20

29 Jul '20

https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Telcos-ECG-to-rollout-fi… Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has noted that the future is about digitalization. He told parliament on Thursday July 23 that data is now becoming as essential as water and electricity, especially for our youth and businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic has reaffirmed this, especially as more people work remotely and also access education and health services. Presenting the mid year budget review statement to parliament , he said : “This caring Government has worked diligently to digitalise the economy over the last three and half years. “We need to further speed up the digitalisation effort where every citizen nationwide has access to the internet and other digital services. “As such going forward, government will work with the Telcos and ECG to rollout fibre across the country on the back of the electricity distribution network so every citizen nationwide will have access to high speed broadband. “In the short term, we will reduce the CST from 9% to 5% to reduce the cost of communication services to the consumer as more and more people work remotely and utilize online services. “We will count on the Telcos to match this reduction in the CST by reducing their tariffs. This is important for our youth, entrepreneurs and the burgeoning FINTEC industry.”

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Safaricom starts Sh20 a day loan for buying smartphones
by David Indeje 28 Jul '20

28 Jul '20

Dear Listers, Safaricom from Tuesday will start selling smartphones on credit to its subscribers who will make daily payments of as little as Sh20 a day for up to a year dubbed Lipa Mdogo Mdogo. This is a novel idea from the telco in ensuring the 'access gap is closed" The CEO Peter Ndegwa says it will enable users to access 4G. https://bit.ly/2EnOOew As this unfolds, the issue of: 1. affordability 2. right infrastructure - power 3. What are competitors doing? Will still need to be addressed going forward. *Kind Regards,* *David Indeje * +254 (0) 711 385 945 | +254 (0) 734 024 856

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The effects of digital taxes on smes in Kenya
by tevin mwenda 23 Jul '20

23 Jul '20

Hi Listers I wanted to share an article I wrote on the KICTANET website on the effects of the new digital taxes on SMEs in Kenya and possible solutions. Happy reading. https://www.kictanet.or.ke/kenyas-burden-the-effects-of-digital-taxes-on-sm… Thank you Kind Regards Tevin Mwenda Gitonga

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Fwd: [KPTJ_Communications] Fwd: New Ford-Funded RFP on Digital Infrastructure
by Beryl Aidi 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

Hi Listers Might be of interest to you. There is also a web event tomorrow in addition to the RFP. Beryl ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Ochiel, Linda <l.ochiel(a)fordfoundation.org> Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2020 at 16:06 Subject: New Ford-Funded RFP on Digital Infrastructure To: Linda Ochiel <l.ochiel(a)fordfoundation.org> Hello, This may be of interest. Please, feel free to disseminate to those who may be interested in looking into public interest digital infrastructure. All the best, L ---------- Forwarded message --------- Hello! As many of you know, Ford works in the realm of digital infrastructure - the technical underpinnings of a free and open internet. This is a complement to our long-standing strategy on internet policy issues. One of our focus areas is open source code as a public good. As part of that we are launching a new RFP focused on the research and implementation of open source infrastructure: how do we ensure its sustainability, security and maintenance? We are having an event *tomorrow at 12:30pm ET* to launch the RFP. If interested, you can register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/digital-infrastructure-building-our-digital-wo… You can also view the RFP directly here: https://fordfoundation.forms.fm/2020-digital-infrastructure-research-rfp/ Please do share this with anyone you think might be interested. One of our failings in our last effort is the lack of grantees based outside of global north countries and I would like to focus efforts to build a more globally diverse set of grants this time. Ford Tech and Society Team _______________________________________________ Kptj_communications mailing list Kptj_communications(a)kptj.africog.org http://kptj.africog.org/mailman/listinfo/kptj_communications_kptj.africog.o… -- Beryl *********************************************** Beryl Aidi Freelance Campaign and Communication Specialist Skype: beryl.aidi Twitter: @thespannergal Darkness cannot put out the Light. It can only make God brighter. —Author Unknown.

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Kindly WhatsApp Me!
by David Indeje 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

Listers, How many times have you asked folks to share something with you on your WhatsApp platform? This is an interesting read from Mail and Gurdian. A school of thought says in future, elections will be won via such platforms. How true would they be? Is WhatsApp shaping democracy in Africa? https://mg.co.za/africa/2020-07-21-is-whatsapp-shaping-democracy-in-africa/

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Webinar on 4IR for Africa
by Adam Lane 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

May be of interest…. https://twitter.com/go2uj/status/1284055999750590465?s=20 【Link】 https://zoom.us/webinar MEETING ID: 93948312212 ALL WELCOME [cid:image001.png@01D65BBF.985867A0]

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Thank you for attending the Engagement between the Senate Standing Committee on ICT and KICTANet
by Grace Githaiga 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

Dear Listers We are grateful to all those who attended the meeting between the Senate ICT committee and KICTANet on July 15. The meeting deliberated on challenges and emerging issues that require attention in particular during this covid 19 period. A report of the meeting will be shared as soon as it is finalized. Again, asanteni sana. Rgds Grace

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July 29 Better World Summit 2020
by Adam Lane 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

Dear KICTANeters We would like to invite you to attend our global online Better World Summit, which will be held on July 27th-29th, 2020 and is entirely free. The pandemic has changed the world around us, touching on every aspect of work and life. Throughout this process, ICT infrastructure has proven to be a potent bulwark in our fight against the coronavirus and the broader social challenges it brings. This summit is designed to explore how ICT can be used to more effectively combat the spread of COVID-19 and boost post-pandemic economic recovery. Alongside telecom carriers, regulators, analysts, media, and our partners around the globe, we will delve into how ICT is providing new value in a wide range of fields, including telemedicine, remote education, telework, and public health services. And we will also explore the strategic foundations it lays for a brighter, more prosperous tomorrow. It is several hours split over 3 days, though the July 29 will focus more on policy and may be of interest to those on the list. Here is the agenda for the July 29 Policy related session. [blob:https://web.whatsapp.com/c21cb8f1-5fa0-4122-ae35-1b7d0815c223] 　Time Topic Confirmed Speakers 16:00-16:15 Huawei： Share the responsibility, Build the Future Catherine Chen Corporate Senior Vice President and Director of the Board, Huawei 16:15-16:55 International Industry organization: Accelerating Digital Inclusion to Embrace the New Normal Mario MANIEWICZ, Director of Radio communication Bureau, ITU Derek O'Halloran, Head of the Shaping the Future of Digital Economy and New Value Creation, WEF John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer, GSMA Luc Hindryckx, Director General, ECTA 16:55-17:45 National regulatory/industry association： Strengthen the development of ICT infrastructure and digial economy Wei Liurong, Deputy Chief Engineer of Policy and Economic Research, China Academy of Information and Communication Technology Mrs.Vunnaporn Devahastin, Secretary-General of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission, Thailand Stella Tembisa Ndabeni-Abrahams, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, South Africa Alexander Rabe, CEO of ECO, Germany 17:45-18:00 Analyst： How ICT Industry Policies and digital economies Boost National Economies Stuart Carlaw, Chief Research Officer, ABI Research Rajesh Duneja, Partner, Head of Regulatory Competence Centre, ADL Please view the entire agenda and register here: https://carrier.huawei.com/en/events/bws2020 [cid:image002.jpg@01D65BBE.8D0CD2B0] [cid:image004.png@01D65492.C1312470]

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Re: [kictanet] Something that We Cannot See Is Holding 5G Back in Africa
by Kathy Mwai 16 Jul '20

16 Jul '20

You do make a case for 5G in Africa, and Kenya specifically. It was only yesterday however that Britain decided to strip Huawei out of its 5G network implementation. While I am not indicating this is the trend that Kenya should follow, the point I want to make is that I do not think we are going to accept 5G infrastructure in our residential areas particularly without questioning it. Yes, they may just be conspiracy theories about the radiation dangers of 5G, but if I could use my neighbourhood as an example, the residents here have decided to contend with poor network connection than have the telecommunications company install a mast. It is not an easy decision because the emerging technologies do require 5G strength to work optimally. I wonder if there are groups working to educate people on how to mitigate the radiation effects of 5G. There are some I know online and it would help everyone to get themselves educated on it so that when the inevitable time of 5G rollout comes, then you can protect yourself - to an extent! Kathy On Wed, 15 Jul 2020 at 15:47, Adam Lane via kictanet < kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > > https://blog.huawei.com/2020/07/14/something-that-we-cannot-see-is-holding-… > > > Something that We Cannot See Is Holding 5G Back in Africa > > > > There is an intangible resource that most people do not know exists and > cannot be seen or touched. That resource is holding Africa back from > rolling out high-speed 5G mobile services. If we don’t solve managing this > resource better, then we won’t get 5G in Africa and we’ll be left behind. > > > Spectrum is of critical importance in Africa. Not necessarily because > Africans need high-speed mobile phone services, nor because they are likely > to have tens of thousands packed into stadiums or highly dense areas > (especially this year). And it’s not because self-driving cars will be > populating the continent’s roads any time soon. > > > It is of critical importance because so few homes and businesses have > fiber in Africa. > > > However, through Fixed Wireless Access (FWA/WTTx) solutions, 5G can > provide fiber-like services without requiring the expense or time needed to > install fiber. Upgrading existing base stations and deploying a CPE > (Customer Premises Equipment) like a mobile router or dongle inside or > outside an office or home instantly yields the fiber-like speeds that are > critical for e-commerce and online learning. And now more than ever, it is > clear how important both are. > > > Spectrum 101 > > > Most people may think of spectrum as a range of colors in a rainbow, or a > range on which political opinions belong. > > > But it also refers to the range of wavelengths of electromagnetic > radiation. Even though these are generally invisible to the human eye, > spectrum matters for communications, whether it is radio, Wi-Fi, mobile > phones, or satellite broadcasts — all use electromagnetic waves to travel > and reach a user. > > > The Role of Governments > > > The use of these intangible wavelengths are regulated by governments to > prevent multiple users using the same frequencies of spectrum, as this > would cause interference and nothing would reach the user. At a global > level, the UN oversees a process for all countries to agree on the kind of > users for different frequencies (such as for Wi-Fi, mobile phones, or > meteorological use). At the national level, the government decides which > specific organisations or companies can use that spectrum. > > > National governments often charge a fee to commercial companies for using > this — one purpose is to recoup the costs for managing, monitoring, and > enforcing the regulation of spectrum. Another is to generate revenue for > the government. And a third (and arguably the most important) is to weed > out those who may not be serious about using the spectrum. In other words, > they want companies that have the resources to invest in the infrastructure > to use it. So the thinking goes that if serious players can afford the > spectrum, they can also afford to pay for the infrastructure. > > > Regulators want to support existing actors with solid track records to > deliver infrastructure, but they don’t want to restrict new entrants to the > market or innovation. So, they face striking a balance — to allow new > companies to come in even if they do not have much in the way of resources > yet, but are serious and could still make good use of the infrastructure in > the future. There is also pressure from the treasury to generate as much > money as possible. This may come from the richest companies, but could in > turn affect these companies’ finances, so they cannot subsequently invest > in building networks. > > > For high-speeds, it is necessary to have large amounts of spectrum in a > big block. But right now, few companies in Africa have that, which means no > company can provide it. Lots of companies each have small amounts of > spectrum, so none can provide a high-speed network to lots of people. It is > critical that this changes — and urgently. Companies, whether big or small, > existing or new, must be given access to that spectrum. And there must be > enough to go around, providing it is only given to companies that are > really serious about using it and are seriously able to make the necessary > investments. > > > During COVID-19, South Africa has temporarily made spectrum available to > its operators. This has resulted in two new operators launching 5G (one > launched last year with the spectrum it already had). With the > affordability of Internet data creating such a critical challenge in > Africa, the prices local operators are charging for 5G are telling: > > > - Comparing 5G with 4G, one operator will give you 10 times more data > for only 4 times the price, or 40 times more data for only 6 times the > price. > > -.Another provides unlimited data and charges by speed instead, just > like a traditional fiber service, even though they are using mobile. > > > Countries like Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya have strong technology sectors, > innovative local companies, a significant presence from international > companies, and a strong focus on creating jobs involving technology. They > need to move faster with 5G to ensure future development. > > > Future businesses in the technology industry and the profits, social > impact, and jobs that come with that, rely on having high-speed Internet > for consumers through FWA. Millions of Africans could use that connectivity > to get trained online, get jobs online, earn money online, and create tech > businesses. And now is the time to make that happen. > > -------------------------------------------------- > M: +254-790985886 > Deputy CEO, Government Affairs > Huawei Kenya > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > Unsubscribe or change your options at > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kathymwai%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. > -- *Dream and Your Dreams Will Fall Short <kathymwai(a)gmail.com>...*

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