If this is true then I wonder what could be happening. If at all what the government spokesperson said yesterday was "official", then what has changed? New evidence of sorts? or the final push for whichever fruit? Selective application of "regulations" is not what this country needs. Maybe it is true that some old habits die hard. Granted, we want a responsible media.But is shutting down a station the best way to go for a supposedly "progressive country" ? What other possible alternatives exist without resorting to fining a media house out of existence? Suggestions ...ideas ...please? The Electoral Commission Chairperson is quoted arguing that the country has no laws that control the media...(no idea how this relates to his work) but isn't it time the debate about media regulation and self-regulation was revived? Maybe it is time to revisit the issues again.Media council...whatever happened? John Walubengo <jwalubengo@kcct.ac.ke> wrote: In an even more suprising move, the .KE Govt seems to have put back on air the recently disabled vernacular station... Incidentally, I do not support abuse of the press freedom by the media. However, Government has an obligation to follow laid down regulatory procedures with regard to implementating some of its penalty clauses. The Radio Station's lawyers would (may have) argue(d) that CCK may not have followed the procedurs when it came to shutting down the stations operations. Such regulations apparently provide for written notices of intention to shutdown - complete with reasons as to why the action is to be taken. This would give the offending station an opportunity to mend its way, or face the penalty it may deserve in 'due' course. walu.
"Wainaina Mungai" 11/17/05 10:00AM >>> Dear Walu,
In the interest of public good and a responsible media, I believe it is unfair for us to condone a media house that encourages violence no matter what side of the political divide it may support. We need a more responsible media and should not allow a bad press to hide behind "press freedom" whenever they are caught breaking the law. Even the KANU government had a good basis for shutting down a certain media house in the past. There was clear evidence of slunder and some of you may have listened to some broadcasts. That aside, the media house had installed masts in locations where it had no clearance for the same and used signal strengths higher than required resulting in interference witrh other communication equipment. Residents (consumers) especially in Karen complained to CCK and action was taken. Not everything done by CCK (govt for that matter) is politically motivated. --- Wainaina Mungai http://www.madeinkenya.org SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
-------Original Message------- From: John Walubengo Subject: Re: [Kictanet] US RETAINS INTERNET CONTROL-as Kenyan Govt Cracks down on Broadcasting Station Sent: 17 Nov '05 09:10
Meanwhile, back home, the .KE govt shut down a local broadcasting station in a move reminiscent to the old days of a former Kenyan regime. The station is assured that they will be back on air AFTER the crucial referendum vote on a proposed National constitution scheduled for early next week...
mhhhh...very interesting and contentious development on the local ICT scene.
walu.
11/17/05 07:06am >>> US RETAINS INTERNET CONTROL 17.11.2005. 10:36:34
Control of the domain name system that governs internet traffic will remain in US hands under an agreement adopted at a United Nations technology summit in Tunisia.
Under the eleventh- hour deal the California-based Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann), which answers to the US government, will remain in control of the daily management of the internet.
The European Union says the agreement will lead to "further internationalisation of Internet governance, and enhanced intergovernmental cooperation to this end".
But despite EU pressure, there is no mechanism forcing United States to share oversight of the domain name system.
US Ambassador David Mr Gross, who is the head of the US delegation at the meeting, says the deal essentially endorsed the status quo.
"There's nothing new in this document that wasn't already out there before," Ambassador Gross said.
Nations such as China and Iran had been pushing for an international body under UN auspices to oversee the net.
Widening the web
The three-day meeting, convened by more than 170 countries, aims to find ways to use information communication technologies to help improve living standards in some of the world's poorest nations.
Opening the event, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called on the world to do more to narrow the technology gap between rich and poor.
But worldwide only 14% of the population is online, compared with 62% in the US.
In his address to the meeting, Mr Annan said that "for far too many people, the gains remain out of reach".
"There is a tremendous yearning, not for technology per se, but for what technology can make possible," he said, urging delegates to take action.
"The hurdles are more of a political than financial nature," he added. "It is possible to lower the costs of connectivity, computers and mobile phones."
But money remains a key issue. A voluntary Digital Solidarity Fund intended to help finance technology projects in developing countries has so far only raised $9 million in cash and pledges.
"The challenge to the developing world is now to make sure they have the infrastructure, rules, legal processes and the market systems to attract the investment of the technologies that we see on display at the summit," said US Assistant Secretary for Commerce Michael Gallagher.
Wind-up Computer
At the conference, team of researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) unveiled a wind-up laptop computer that can be bought for as little as $130- a price tag low enough to offer bring the benefits of the Internet to many people living in developing countries.
The relatively basic machine uses a 500 MHz processor and is installed with the reliable and free Linux operating system.
Other features include wireless Internet connectivity and a small, 1 Gigabyte memory space, still enough to allow users to access the Internet.
The most outstanding feature is a crank-handle fitted on one side of the machine that allows its battery to be recharged by manual winding - a precious asset where access to electrical power is scarce.
The model, which is scheduled to go into production in 2006, will not be available for sale but will be distributed to schools directly through large government initiatives.
A new, non-profit association, One Laptop per Child (OLPC), has been created to co-ordinate the computer's distribution.
The aim is to produce some five million units a year, with the first models destined for distribution in Brazil, China, Egypt, South Africa and Thailand.
SOURCE: World News
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