Connectivity as a Right: Public Policies for Popular Neighborhoods and Community Networks
| Autor | Mariano Suárez and Natalia Vinelli |
| Páginas | 33-52 |
33
Connectivity as a Right: Public Policies for Popular Neighborhoods and Community Networks
2 Connectivity as a Right: Public Policies
for Popular Neighborhoods and
Community Networks
Mariano Suárez10 and Natalia Vinelli11
2.1 Abstract
The development of public connectivity policies for popular
neighborhoods, rural communities and indigenous peoples is still in
its infancy. In this article, we assume the premises of research/action/
reflection to raise questions and attempt to interpret the existing public
information in order to provide an answer and thus collaborate with
the improvement of public policy related to connectivity.
2.2 Introduction
The development of public connectivity policies for popular
neighborhoods, rural communities and indigenous peoples is still
in its infancy. Therefore, the provisional nature of this paper. In
addition, the authors of this article are part of these national policies.
However, this is not an official document. Nor is there any pretension
to maintain academic distance. Rather, we assume the premises of
research/action/reflection to raise questions and attempt to interpret
the existing public information in order to provide an answer and
thus collaborate with the improvement of public policy.
We start by recognizing the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic
on the quality of life and access to rights of socially vulnerable
populations. In Argentina there are 4416 popular neighborhoods
distributed throughout the country, with approximately 4 million
people living in social emergency. Of these neighborhoods, suburbs
and settlements, it is estimated that 60 percent lack connectivity,
according to data obtained by the National Registry of Popular
Neighborhoods (Renabap).12
10 Mariano Suárez is a lawyer, journalist and social communicator. He holds a PhD in Labor Law
from the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC). He is currently coordinator of the
Democratization and Pluralism Area of Enacom’s Special Projects Subdirection.
11 Natalia Vinelli is a social communicator, teacher and researcher based at IEALC-UBA. She holds
a PhD in Social Sciences (UBA) and is the founder of Barricada TV, a community channel that
broadcasts on digital television. She is currently deputy director of Special Projects at Enacom.
12 .
34 Community Networks: Towards Sustainable Funding Models
A recent report by the Secretariat of Socio-Urban Integration (SISU,
2021), on which Renabap depends, shows that “the main form of
internet access that households in poor neighborhoods have is
through the use of mobile data from a cell phone”. The data show
the use of prepaid cell phones (29.9 percent of those surveyed),
cell phones with a subscription (15.6 percent) and work without
connection (15.6 percent), which represents for the 2020 school
year, marked by the Preventive and Mandatory Social Isolation,
an overwhelming 61.1 percent of children and adolescents with
connection difficulties for the development of school work and for
the maintenance of the pedagogical link with their teachers.
In other words, the absence of connectivity and access to broadband
internet on equal terms is not only a problem in itself, pre-existing the
pandemic, but also impedes access to other rights. On the contrary
Internet access is a facilitator of other rights and, in this sense,
connectivity initiatives such as community networks can trigger an
ample range of positive externalities associated to these rights (Belli
2017). As we see, the right to education and information; the right
to meet with loved ones, or the right of women to access reliable
sources and channels of care and stable security to live a life free of
violence. Social isolation brought these inequalities into focus, and
the organizations and social movements presented and inserted in
the neighborhoods managed to put the issue on the agenda.
In this scenario, we start from the understanding that the State
plays a fundamental role in reducing the digital divide through the
definition of public policies aimed at guaranteeing the provision
of broadband service in optimal service conditions, which cannot
be left to the discretion of supply and demand, since these are
essential public services in competition (DNU 690/2020). It is the
task of the National State to ensure the provision of the Universal
Service to those who – due to their location or social condition – are
located in marginalized or underserved areas, guaranteeing access
to connectivity to all the inhabitants of the country “in conditions of
quality, affordability and at fair and reasonable prices”, in accordance
with Law 27.078 Argentina Digital.
As we will see below, this right is ensured through the Universal
Service Trust Fund (FFSU), made up of investment contributions from
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