Meaningful Connectivity: Advancing the Open Internet during COVID19

AutorDhanaraj Thakur - Teddy Woodhouse - Sonia Jorge
Ocupação do AutorResearch Director at the Center for Democracy & Technology, where he leads research that advances human rights and civil liberties online - Research manager for access and affordability at the Web Foundation and focuses his time on the Alliance for Affordable Internet's research program - Executive Director of the Alliance for Affordable ...
Páginas37-40
37The Value of Internet Openness in Times of Crisis
The public health, social, economic, and political challenges that we now face
around the world because of the COVID19 pandemic are severe. What has also
become obvious in a short space of time is that this global phenomenon does
not impact everyone in the same way – with the digital divide representing a
key difference for many. One of the ways that people everywhere are trying to
cope is by accessing information, entertainment, and other content online, as
well as bystudying1and working from a safe location. However, half of the
world who are offline today cannot access these benefits. On currenttrends2, the
offline are coming online at slower rates than before.
Indeed, it is especially important now for governments, the private sector, and
civil society to accelerate efforts to achieve universal internet access. The Alliance
for Affordable Internet (A4AI) recently shared a set of policyrecommendations3
[3]for doing just that during the pandemic with the position that internet access
is an essential public good. This includes providing free or subsidized devices
to public institutions, low income households and under-served groups (e.g.,
women, rural and remote populations); making it easier for smaller companies
to enter the market and alternative models like community networks to thrive;
increasing data allowances on all mobile data packages; and opening up pub-
lic-facing wifi so residents in close proximity can log on to free wifi in areas
covered by an operator.
Another way in which existing inequalities mediate the impact of the pandemic
ONE
Meaningful Connectivity: Advancing the
Open Internet during COVID19
Dhanaraj Thakur
Teddy Woodhouse
Sonia Jorge
26/10valueOfINet.qxp_Layout 1 03/11/20 5:54 PM Page 37

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