IGF 2018 WS #165
Public Policies to eradicate the digital divide

Digital inclusion is defined by de International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as the as the empowerment of people through information and communication technologies (ICTs). In accordance with the ITU, over 1 billion people living with some form of disability and growing numbers of senior citizens are often cut off from the digital revolution when ICTs lack accessibility features. Furthermore, there are other vulnerable individuals and communities, as women and girls, youth and children, indigenous peoples, among others. Ensuring widely available, affordable, accessible and assistive technologies requires innovative business, policy and regulatory practices.

Related to accessibility, the European Commission indicates that it has become necessary due to the rapid growth of online information and interactive services provided on the web and by mobile applications. Some examples are online banking and shopping, using public services online, communicating with our relatives and friends. The lack or absence of accessibility contributes to the exclusion or partial exclusion of many people from society. For that reason, web accessibility is not just about technical standards, web architecture and design; it is an issue of political will and of moral obligation.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, on the fundamental issue of accessibility, requires countries to identify and eliminate obstacles and barriers and ensure that persons with disabilities can access their environment, transportation, public facilities and services, and information and communications technologies. Therefore, States must work so that the Internet and ICTs provide people with disabilities the means to live more equitably within the global community.

This is way, access and inclusion to digital technologies, especially broadband Internet, has become an essential part of the lives of all people, whether in the social, educational, health or rural development fields. In fact, the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development clearly specifies that Information and Communication Technologies are essential enablers for the three pillars of sustainable development: economic development, social development and environmental protection. Hence the importance of creating and fostering an inclusive world and connecting the unconnected.

In its Declaration Ensuring that no one is left behind, the Broadband Commission recognizes the benefits of inclusion in a digital environment, for example:

• Economic growth, prosperity and sustainability: connectivity promotes GDP growth, fosters innovation and the generation of new jobs, financial inclusion and the improvement of agricultural productivity, labor and energy efficiency.
• Coverage of basic needs: connectivity can help meet the needs of food, water and energy thanks to the broadband Internet infrastructure that allows the construction of smart and more sustainable cities.
• Poverty reduction and education improvement: broadband infrastructure can contribute to distance education or lifelong learning in such a way that people can be empowered through digital skills training.
• Improvement of health services: there is an opportunity to improve access to information, specialized knowledge, and remote diagnosis.
• Monitoring of climate change: providing data for scientific research and development.

Considering all these benefits, it is not surprising that the use and adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT), including the Internet, has grown considerably. According to data from the World Bank, the total number of Internet users has more than tripled in a decade, from 1,000 million in 2005, it is estimated that by the end of 2015 there were 3200 million users.

Similarly, the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the general review of the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society recognized that, in the last decade, a considerable increase in connectivity has been achieved. This mainly as a result of the use and exploitation of new technologies, especially the Internet and fixed and mobile broadband, which allows the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. It also recognizes the current Internet governance mechanisms that have worked effectively to turn the Internet into the solid, dynamic and geographically wide media that it is today.

However, the World Bank itself indicates, in its "World Report: Digital Dividends", that the digital divide has also increased since today, almost 60% of the world's population does not have access to the Internet, so it can not take advantage of the benefits of the digital environment.
On the other hand, the WSIS estimates that almost 4,000 million people, who represent approximately two thirds of the people residing in developing countries, remain outside the connection. While the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development estimated that there is still 57% of the world's population without Internet access or broadband because connectivity is not available or is not affordable.

Considering the above, it is evident that it remains a global priority to be able to make the Internet universally accessible and to make it accessible to all. In countries where there is little access to the Internet and the digital economy is still emerging, the task is to create the conditions for increased adoption and use. The reforms include the elimination of such fundamental obstacles as the lack of basic ICT and support infrastructure; the excessive regulation of product markets, and the application of high tariffs to digital goods.

As previously mentioned, one of the main obstacles to get access and inclusion to the non-connected, is the infrastructure, that is, the access and deployment of broadband Internet networks. The deployment of this infrastructure is essential because they are indispensable for the whole ecosystem of Internet governance, because if you do not have the necessary infrastructure to bring this type of technology to the most isolated areas, you will never be able to achieve the goal of connecting to those not connected.

However, it must also be recognized that the task does not end with the deployment of the necessary infrastructure, but it is also vital to generate capacities so that people can use and take advantage of them in such a way that they benefit from the use of the Internet. Both topics are directly related, and both are necessary to reduce the digital divide and bring the Internet to all those who remain offline.

At this point, the manual by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Inter-American Development Bank, on "Broadband policies for Latin America and the Caribbean”, highlight the main objectives of these policies and digital strategies that contribute to broadband Internet access and inclusion.

Although this manual analyzes a large series of policies and strategies, this panel will only take into account those policies related to the deployment of broadband network infrastructure and the improvement of the inclusion of all people in the use and adoption of this type of technologies.

The manual indicates that, among the main challenges to achieve complete access to broadband Internet are the following:
• Lack of incentives for infrastructure deployment,
• The lack of national, regional and international backbones,
• The affordability of broadband services.

It also identifies some good practices such as the deployment of networks and the provision of broadband services by private investors, complemented by the public sector, the design of digital strategies and national broadband plans, the investment to reduce bottlenecks in infrastructure, reduction of deployment costs to stimulate competition, among others.

On the other hand, it is also important that, in addition to analyzing policies that contribute to increasing the affordability of broadband Internet services, an analysis is made of the best practices that promote the inclusion of all people in the digital environment, especially in relation to the creation of capacities that allow the full adoption and use of all digital tools.

In the case of Mexico, according to the study of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on telecommunications and radio broadcasting in Mexico 2017, one of the most prominent areas of discussion in those countries where detailed guidelines have been established on ways to preserve an open internet, has been the relationship between video transport and the price differential or discounts on specific traffic.
In view of this it is indicated that one of the main actions of the IFT in this issue, is the analysis of the neutrality of the network and the supervision of its possible defaults, as well as the evolution of differential prices (zero-rating) and specialized services.

Taking into consideration the foregoing, it is proposed to hold a workshop focused on analyzing all those stages involved in digital inclusion and accessibility, among which the deployment of infrastructure, the creation of capacities and policies that allow the use of technology by the entire population. In addition, this panel will seek to identify the challenges in the generation of public policies to reduce the digital divide on the Internet, with special emphasis on equitable and affordable access, the promotion of an inclusive and sustainable industrialization, the improvement of infrastructure through the adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. Likewise, it will seek to analyze the role played by each of the interested parties in each of the stages and actions described previously.