[UgaBYTES] Rural Communication Development Policy-II 2009/14| Draftfor feedback

Fri Aug 7 06:11:47 GMT 2009

Looking at the previous RCDF policy which covered the period 2001/2008
much emphasis was placed on the development of rural ICT
infrastructure with slightly over 50% of the budget allocated for
this. This was a good move as it helped improve infrastructure and aid
in access to communication services in rural areas reducing isolation
of communities in remote areas and improving service delivery in the
fields of health, education, agriculture etc.
With the Ugandan national fiber-optic backbone  set to be completed
before the end of this year bringing with it expectations that the
quality of communication services will be higher and the prices lower,
shouldn’t this policy that is intended to cover the period running to
2014 add more emphasis on development of content? The draft policy has
allocated 4.45% of its budget to this and with infrastructure almost
already in place the question will be how people will adapt ICTs into
their daily lives and benefit. The answer lies in availability of
suitable content.
In page 25 of the draft at least 3 content initiatives (in areas of
health, education, market information, agriculture, local
administration and commerce) are to be supported each year.

Will this exhaust the content requirements of the rural population
that due to improved ICT infrastructure is expected to rise and will
the budget allocated be enough adequately address this?

With our contribution expected to be forwarded to Uganda
Communications Commissions (UCC) by the end of next week, I would like
to invite you all to also consider this module of content and give
your thoughts on it. Pete Cranston, you are one of our more
experienced members with a lot of experience on content and content
development, I hope to hear your views alongside those of the rest.

Welcome.

On 8/6/09, Sandra Nassali <snassali at ugabytes.org> wrote:
> Thanks Sulah for sharing this. I have gone through the policy and i think
> the Draft Communications Policy (2009/2014) covers most of the pertinent
> issues necessary in addressing issues as regards universal access to under
> deserved communities as regards  rural and under served since it encompass
> most of the aspects that communities that are not able to have access to
> information and communications services as well as those that are under
> served either due to geographical isolation, poverty or any social exclusion
> factor such as gender, disability or age through the use of  content,
> connectivity and coverage.
>
>  Looking at the budget, a lot of emphasis (over 80% of the resources) is
> allocated to putting up infrastructure i.e telecentres, IT facilities in
> schools, broadband infrastructure etc. Little is mentioned about the
> sustainability of this infrastructure yet as you all know, a lot of IT
> facilities have been put up by lots of organizations in the telecentre
> movement in previous years but have failed due to sustainability issues. Is
> there any way this can be addressed further in this policy?
>
>  Another neglected factor is networking of all organizations in the country
> that support rural connectivity to ICT. Though talked about in the policy,
> this doesn't have any reflections in the budget yet this is important
> because it enables different organizations to share experiences/ knowledge
> so as to learn from one another for continuous progress.
>
>  Also, little emphasis is put on the establishment of institutions of
> learning ( in this case telecentre/ ICT4D academics) that would equip
> students with knowledge and skills on how to run the ICT infrastructures/
> businesses. What is emphasized mostly in the budget is establishment of IT
> facilities in institutions of learning. How will these facilities be managed
> if people do not have the necessary acumen? Though this was identified in
> the 1st policy, its not addressed any where in the budget.
>
>  Since budgetary priorities include establishment of ICT infrastructure but
> not what most of us know is more important for instance sustainability,
> networking and knowledge on how to manage this infrastructure, I would
> invite you all to share you views as we discuss this further.
>
>  Hope to hear from you all as our feedback is needed before the 14th of
> August 2009.
>
> NB; please find budget implications on Pg 18 of the attached document.
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 10:59 AM, Cleopa Timon Otieno <
> timonson at googlemail.com> wrote:
>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> Thanks Sulah for sharing this, its indeed a leap forward for Uganda as a
>> country towards shaping this fast growing industry. Good policy is the
>> ultimate determinant of the success of ICT4D as well as EQUITABLE
>> information access to all. Apart from streamlining the sector it also
>> informs ICT investors in the diaspora.
>>
>> Several issues that hindered telecentre operators for example in Kenya in
>> the past like sharing connectivity, use of VOIP, community radio frequency
>> and licensing regulation as well as cyber crimes among others have been
>> well
>> addressed through the policy.
>>
>> One challenge has been capturing in real time the ever changing and
>> dynamic
>> ICT industry; who would have known a few years ago that mobile phones for
>> example would be used to send and receive money and if this wasn’t
>> factored
>> in the policy how can it be addressed now that it here, issues of cyber
>> crimes and fraud are definitely addressed but not specifically on mobile
>> phones. It is therefore in order for policy makers to be flexible and
>> effect
>> change when called upon to.
>>
>> Attached are some documents that could give insight on the issue, I am
>> sure
>> most of you have them or have come across them anyway.
>>
>> This may also be relevant -
>> http://www.ictregulationtoolkit.org/en/PracticeNote.2643.html
>>
>> Hope the attachements can go through the list as well.
>>
>> Best Regards.
>> Cleopa.
>>
>> 2009/8/5 Meddie Mayanja <mmayanja at idrc.ca>
>>
>> > Agree with Rita
>> >
>> > ...and thanks Sulah for pushing this up.
>> >
>> > This is one of the functions of networks - informing policy processes.
>> > In
>> > this case, its an important policy that would essentially impact
>> > telecentres. I know that this list has many people with expertise in
>> > this
>> > area or whose countries are already implementing specific policies.
>> >
>> > It would be highly appreciated anyone can provide feedback/comments.
>> Sulah,
>> > you can break this up as you have already started and lead us in a
>> focused
>> > discussion. That, would be great!
>> >
>> > Will share mine shortly.
>> >
>> > Best, Meddie
>> >
>> > ________________________________________
>> > From: ugabytes-bounces at lists.ugabytes.org [
>> > ugabytes-bounces at lists.ugabytes.org] On Behalf Of Uganda Development
>> > Services [udsproj at infocom.co.ug]
>> > Sent: July 31, 2009 6:09 AM
>> > To: ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org
>> > Subject: Re: [UgaBYTES] Rural Communication Development Policy-II
>> 2009/14|
>> >      Draftfor feedback
>> >
>> > Thanks Sulah for this summary.
>> >
>> > I had the oppotunity to attend this meeting but to reiterate, this is
>> > the
>> > opportunity for us to
>> > input into this document as the telecentre fraternity. This is the
>> > policy
>> > that directly impacts on us. I suggest we discuss the issues here on
>> > this
>> > list so that we give collective feedback and Ugabytes can help us
>> > synthesize
>> > and make a submission. We do not have much time so please act now do not
>> > postpone giving your contribution to another day.
>> >
>> > Rita
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Ndaula Sulah" <ndaulasula at ugabytes.org>
>> > To: "ugabytes" <ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org>
>> > Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 12:16 PM
>> > Subject: [UgaBYTES] Rural Communication Development Policy-II 2009/14|
>> > Draftfor feedback
>> >
>> >
>> > > Dear Friends,
>> > >
>> > > Yesterday; In a public plenary workshop chaired by Dr. Dorothy Okello
>> > > (who is the new chair for RCDF) at Imperial Royal Hotel, Uganda
>> > > communication Commission called for stakeholders' open, free and fair
>> > > feedback into Uganda's ICT4RD policy driver for year 2009/14. The
>> > > panelists included Mr. Isaac Kasaana, Mr. Bob Lyazi - Fund manager,
>> > > Eng. Patrick Masambu - the Executive Director of UCC
>> > >
>> > > Although, the meeting was highly attended, by over 250 people -
>> > > feedback to the policy document is still open until Friday 14 August,
>> > > before the policy gets into action.
>> > >
>> > > The Rural communication Policy is the top most white paper that points
>> > > out and drives government thinking and investment priorities into the
>> > > stimulus Rural communication Development program, that is aimed at
>> > > ensuring equitably access and usage of ICT tools in under served parts
>> > > of Uganda. This policy in particular replaces RCDP-I, which guided ICT
>> > > investments in the year 2003/8.
>> > >
>> > > Highlights; The Draft policy highlights the following key issues
>> > >
>> > > #1. States investment priorities as; Coverage, Connectivity and
>> > > Content
>> > > #2. Defines beneficiaries as underserved communities dues poverty or
>> > > isolation
>> > > #3. The focus of the vision and mission is on socio-economic
>> development
>> > > #4. It allocates the US$ 17 million to 11 budgetary priorities
>> > > including, pay phones, Community Information Centres, IT facilities in
>> > > schools and for service delivery, Broadband infrastructure, regional
>> > > demo centres, content, postal services, ICT4RD research, admin. and
>> > > M&E.
>> > > #5. states eight criteria for selecting winning projects that will
>> > > benefit from the fund as private partner who will develop and manage
>> > > the facilities.
>> > >
>> > > For the full draft policy visit http://www.ucc.co.ug/index.php under
>> > > policies driving the sector <Draft Rural communication Policy
>> > > (2009-2014)>. For executive readers see pages 12 -25.
>> > >
>> > > Feedback issues...?
>> > >
>> > > #1. Do you see any missing things given todays issues in telecentre
>> > > movement?
>> > > #2. Do the policy actions reflect the gaps in RCDP-I, the three invest
>> > > priorities and current lessons?
>> > > #3. Is the budget fairly allocated, are all the keys issues budgeted
>> for?
>> > > #4. Is the selection criteria for partners sufficient?
>> > > #5. Is the policy internally consistent to create the desired results?
>> > > #6. And whatever else you want to feedback..........
>> > >
>> > > You may choose to discuss the issue (s) here or give your feedback
>> > > directly to UCC using the following contacts; ucc at ucc.co.ug or
>> > > rcdf at ucc.co.ug or call +256414339000. But not latter than 14 August.
>> > >
>> > > Best regards,
>> > > ---
>> > > Sulah
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > --
>> > > Executive Director
>> > > UgaBYTES Initiative
>> > > Tel: +256414370163
>> > > Mob: +256712314969
>> > > Skype: sulah.ndaula
>> > > Yahoo: ndaulasula
>> > > Email: ndaulasula@
>> > > (ugabytes.org,yahoo.co.uk or gmail)
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > ugabytes mailing list
>> > > ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org
>> > > http://lists.ugabytes.org/mailman/listinfo/ugabytes_lists.ugabytes.org
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > ugabytes mailing list
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>> > http://lists.ugabytes.org/mailman/listinfo/ugabytes_lists.ugabytes.org
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> > ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org
>> > http://lists.ugabytes.org/mailman/listinfo/ugabytes_lists.ugabytes.org
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Cleopa Timon Otieno
>> www.ugunja.org , www.kenyatelecentres.org
>> P.O.Box 330-40606, Ugunja
>> Cell: +254-720-950-220
>> skype: timonson1
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> ugabytes mailing list
>> ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org
>> http://lists.ugabytes.org/mailman/listinfo/ugabytes_lists.ugabytes.org
>>
>>
>
>
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> Sandra Nassali
> Community Facilitator
> UgaBYTES Initiative (www.ugabytes.org)
> Telecentre.org  (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
> Plot 2218 Ggaba Road,
> 2nd Floor Kangave House
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> Email  snassali at ugabytes.org
> chat    (skype)- n.sandra.
> Tel      +256-414-370163
>

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