Keeping the Internet’s Promise: Universal, Open and Safe
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-5899.2010.00007.x |
| Author | Dorothy Attwood |
| Date | 01 October 2010 |
| Published date | 01 October 2010 |
Keeping the Internet’s
Promise: Universal, Open and Safe
Dorothy Attwood
Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Chief Privacy Officer, AT&T
Looking back on 2009, it is clear that telecommunica-
tions policy worldwide is in a potentially valuable and
far-reaching period of change, as governments consider
the most effective role they can play in spreading broad-
band technologies and connecting their citizens to the
Internet.
Approaches to connectivity vary across developed and
developing economies. Singapore has developed a plan for
a heavily regulated next generation
network that will be divided into at
least four tiers. Australia is weighing
the feasibility of a government-
financed fiber-to-the-premises net-
work, which aspires to connect 90 per cent of its homes
and businesses, but would require an investment of
US$34 billion. The United Kingdom’s ‘Digital Britain’
report, released in June 2009, seeks universal broadband
access by 2012 and also recommends a tax on phone lines
to pay for extending advanced networks to areas that are
unlikely to receive commercial service. In the United
States, the Federal Communications Commission has
embarked on an expansive process to develop a National
Broadband Plan to be delivered to Congress in March
2010.
Despite the different paths these countries may choose
to meet their own particular market facts, they are all
seeking to strengthen their citizens’ national and interna-
tional sense of community by deliver-
ing next generation Internet
connectivity to all. Importantly, the
goal of connectivity extends beyond
national borders. As the Internet
Governance Forum has noted, it is vital that govern-
ments and nongovernmental groups consider ‘ways and
means to accelerate the availability and affordability of
the Internet in the developing world’ (http://www.in-
tgovforum.org/cms/index.php/aboutigf). The international
community recognizes, among developing and developed
economies alike, the profound importance of inclusiveness
through connectivity to the Internet and high-speed
deployment.
In this way, broadband serves as a great unifier, an
agent of inclusiveness that brings Internet users from all
corners of the world into a single online community that
can widely deliver new opportunities. The global inclu-
siveness brought by broadband connectivity is essential for
achieving broad societal goals by helping to build stronger
economies, facilitate more efficient use of resources to fos-
ter environmental sustainability, deliver better health care
and empower individuals with a greater ability to commu-
nicate, exchange information and access educational
resources.
In addition to connectivity and
inclusiveness, policy must seek to
ensure that users have a quality expe-
rience when online. Users will benefit
if policy makers take a holistic
approach to broadband policy. Just as each component of
a network has an effect on other pieces, every decision
that governments make about broadband and the Internet
will shape the broader digital society that is now emerg-
ing around the world. An Internet that truly works for
everybody must be universal, open, respect individual pri-
vacy and be safe for all users.
By universal, I mean that broadband service must be
available and affordable to consumers everywhere. When all
are connected, all can share the benefits made possible by
this unique ‘many-to-many’ platform that we call the Inter-
net.
Openness means an Internet ecosystem that enables
users to exchange ideas and communicate freely; connect
to the lawful applications and con-
tent of their choice; and select the
service and equipment packages
that best meet their needs. It also
means that content providers, net-
work operators, search engines, websites and other Inter-
net participants promote interoperable platforms and
technologies in order to innovate with new products,
ideas and business models that provide more choices to
consumers.
Providing a safe experience and protecting users’ privacy
and personal data must also be high priorities. Sadly, the
Internet’s benefits can be placed at risk by cybercrime,
phishing, viruses, spamming and other harmful behavior.
Because global networks are linked and freely cross national
borders, fighting these online threats requires the same
level of international cooperation that is needed to fight
First, focus on broad goals.
Do not gear policy toward
specific technologies.
Second, listen to consumers
and embrace broadband diver-
sity.
Global Policy Volume 1 . Issue 3 . October 2010
Global Policy (2010) 1:3 doi: 10.1111/j.1758-5899.2010.00007.x 2010 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.
Practitioner Commentary
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