Computer and Library Learning (Archived)

(Note:
The purpose of this blog post is to share information and opinions about the
upcoming World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12) and the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) regarding the Internet. This blog post does NOT reflect NOR imply
any policy or position pronouncements on behalf of Toronto Public Library.)

Did
you think that the Internet was ungoverned and/or unregulated? Your answer
might depend on where you live. Needless to say, you might be interested in
learning about the upcoming World Conference on
International Telecommunications (WCIT-12) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates,
from 3-14 December 2012, held under the auspices of the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations agency.

The
Secretary-General of the ITU, Dr. Hamadoun I. Touré, noted that the
current challenge is to provide internet access for the two-thirds of the
Earth’s population that is still offline, while concurrently providing
affordable and safe connectivity for everyone. Dr. Touré stated that the goal
of WCIT-12 is to review the International
Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs) global treaty agreed to in Melbourne,
Australia in 1988. Dr. Touré noted that information and communication
technologies (ICTs) have changed in the past 25 years and sufficient capacity
is needed to deal with the enormous increase in voice, video, and data formats.
He highlighted several areas of focus including cybersecurity (Article
34 of the ITU Constitution supports the right of member states to block
private telecommunications appearing to be dangerous to state security, or in
contravention to law, public order or decency.),  infrastructure (The Conference will examine
how ICTs (especially broadband) can lead to affordable, sustainable and
effective socioeconomic progress), and access (Article
33 of the ITU Constitution recognizes the right to be connected by each
international service of “public correspondence”. WCIT-12 will also look at
access and connectivity for about one billion disabled individuals globally.).

A
potential showdown is shaping up at WCIT-12 over whether
the ITU should get wide, regulatory authority to govern the Internet or the
status quo of an “open Internet” should continue as advocated by the United
States, the European Union, and private web-based organizations. A majority of
the 193 member countries of the ITU are keen on the ITU extending its influence
over the Internet. Many developing countries are seeking revenue sources by
charging for Internet transmission, while there are countries that are considered
authoritarian that wish to exercise further control over the Internet. Other
countries are advocating total identification of Internet users. The potential
exists for division in some countries with technological and web-based
companies urging citizens to oppose the treaty and the possibility of some
telecommunications carriers urging support.

Dr.
Michael Geist, the Canada Research Chair in Internet and Ecommerce Law at
the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, acknowledged reasons for concern over
the governance issue since public input and transparency have been limited.
However, Dr. Geist argued that the Internet governance initiative is not likely
to pass and the
real concern is the push by telecom companies and others to find new revenue
sources by changing how one pays for Internet access. During pre-Internet
times, telecom companies within some countries enjoyed monopoly status with the
ability to charge large fees for long-distance telephone calling and other
services. The intent of some telecom companies and developing countries with
government-supported monopolies is to apply the pre-Internet telecommunications
model to the Internet and any associated costs that go with it. The European Telecommunications Network Operators’
Association (ETNO), comprised of 41 telecom companies, has proposed the establishment of a
sender pay (or termination fee) approach for Internet traffic.
Consequently, major web content providers such as Google and Netflix would have
to pay large, additional costs. Dr. Geist expressed additional concern over ETNO’s
proposed new quality of service rules for the Internet that threatens the
concept of net neutrality and equal treatment of Internet traffic. Some
countries, web-based companies, and North American-based telecom companies have
expressed their opposition to ETNO’s proposals.

Google
has stated its opposition to the ITU proposals with its Take Action website that includes
an online petition “in support of the free and open Internet”. The What’s at stake
section outlined Google’s important concerns including the dependence of a free
and open world on a free and open Internet, the threat of increased censorship
and reduced innovation, and the need for an open and inclusive Internet policy.

The
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Greenpeace International
issued a joint letter to the United Nations Secretary-General His Excellency
Mr. Ban Ki Moon, expressing concern over potential damage to Internet
governance by the attempts of some governments to invoke their control “over
this extraordinarily valuable global resource, which has until now benefitted
from a unique system of multi-­stakeholder direction.” These organizations
concurred with the recommendation of the 2005 World Summit on the Information
Society in Tunis that a multi-stakeholder approach toward Internet governance remained
the best option.

The
European Parliament of the European Union passed a resolution by a large
majority stating its opposition to the ITU taking regulatory control of the
Internet. The resolution
noted that the ITU or any, centralized, international body is not the
appropriate way of exerting regulatory control over either Internet traffic
flows or Internet governance; and, that the European Parliament understands the
importance of protecting “a robust best-effort internet”, thereby encouraging
innovation and freedom of expression, ensuring competitiveness and the
avoidance of another “digital divide”.

The
United States Administration is on record being against proposals that
would increase the scope of Internet governance. In August 2012, the
U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution by 414-0
supporting the current, multi-stakeholder approach to the Internet and urging
the Administration to stand up for a worldwide Internet free of governmental
control. In October 2012, Terry Kramer, the U.S. special envoy named for the
WCIT-12 Conference, stated that the
United States did not want cybersecurity to fall under the auspices of the ITU
and would oppose any significant revisions to the ITRs.

What
does Canada have to say about WCIT-12 and the ITU? In October 2012, the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)
stated its continuing support for the Internet’s multi-stakeholder governance
model at the ICANN (Internet Corporation
for Assigned Names and Numbers) 45 Conference in Toronto. This support was unequivocally
echoed by the Government of Canada represented by the Hon. Tony Clement,
President of the Treasury Board. Recently, in November 2012, Canada’s Minister
of Industry Christian Paradis stated that Canada supported “an
open, private sector-led internet” as the best way for encouraging
innovation, establishing new digital industries, and providing a safe, stable,
and lasting Internet. Canada
and the United States submitted a joint proposal that argued that the
proposed changes to the definition of telecommunications and the application of
treaties must be dealt with first before dealing with detailed revisions.

The
website WCITLeaks.org has been monitoring
the positions, pronouncements, and proposals of member countries of the ITU. Its
creators, academics Jerry Brito and Eli Dourado, established WCITLeaks on their
own initiative as a public service with the intention of shedding greater
transparency on WCIT-12 and the ITU.

How
will the issues at WCIT-12 play out? One has to wait and see what will happen
in the near future…