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CWG-Internet Consultation Repository

 ​​​​​​​CWG-Internet Consultation Repository 

​This repository contains information on all the open public consultations held by the Council Working Group on International Internet-related Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet)​ since 2013.  For ease of reference, consultations have been grouped under the following themes: Capacity Building, Digital Inclusion,​ Technical Aspects and Enabling Environment. ​All stakeholders are invited to participate in the consultation process. For the ​latest consultation, please refer to the tab on the right.

CAPACITY BUILDING

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THE ROLE OF THE INTERNET AND INTERNATIONAL INTERNET-RELATED PUBLIC POLICY IN MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND POSSIBLE FUTURE PANDEMICS (2021)

CWG-Internet invites all stakeholders to submit contributions on international internet-related public policy issues relating to the role of the Internet and international Internet-related public policy in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and possible future pandemics.

See the responses received in open consultation with all stakeholders

EXPANDING INTERNET CONNECTIVITY (2020-2021)

CWG-Internet invites all stakeholders to submit contributions on international internet-related public policy issues relating to expanding internet connectivity, focusing on the following questions:

1.   What are the challenges and opportunities for expanding internet connectivity, particularly to remote and under-served areas? What are the roles of governments and non-government actors in overcoming these challenges?

2.    Are there particular challenges facing land-locked countries in securing affordable Internet access? What can be done to overcome these challenges?

3.   How can small/community/non-profit operators help in promoting the increase of Internet connectivity?

See the responses received in open consultation with all stakeholders

INTERNATIONAL INTERNET-RELATED PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES ON HARNESSING NEW AND EMERGING TELECOMMUNICATIONS/ICTS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (2019-2020)

CWG-Internet invites all stakeholders to submit contributions on international internet-related public policy issues relating on harnessing new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs for sustainable development, focusing on the following questions:

1.   How will new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs impact both the internet and sustainable development, including the digital economy?

2.   What are the opportunities and challenges for the adoption and growth of the new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs and the Internet?

3.   How can governments and the other stakeholders harness the benefits of new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs?

4.   What are the best practices for promoting human skills, institutional capacity, innovation and investment for new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs?

See the responses received in open consultation with all stakeholders​

DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE INTERNET (2016-2017)

The CWG-Internet held an open consultation on the following topic:

“Considering the importance of Internet to the global digital economy, all stakeholders are invited to submit their comments on the following key aspects:

1.   What are the development aspects of the Internet (for example, economic, social, regulatory and technical aspects), especially for developing countries?

2.    How can governments other stakeholders promote the developmental aspects of the Internet?

3.   What are the challenges and opportunities?"

See the responses received in open consultation with all stakeholders​

DIGITAL INCLUSION


BRIDGING THE DIGITAL GENDER DIVIDE (2017-2018)

The CWG-Internet held an open consultation on the following topic:

1.   What approaches and examples of good practices are available to increase Internet access and digital literacy of women and girls, including in decision-making processes on Internet public policy?​

2.    What approaches and examples of good practices are available to promote the access and use of ICTs by SMEs in developing and least-developed countries, particularly those owned/managed by women, in order to achieve greater participation in the digital economy?

3.    Which are the available sources and mechanisms for measuring women's participation in the digital economy with focus on SMEs and micro-enterprises?

4.    What measures/policies could be envisioned in order to foster the role of women as entrepreneurs and managers of SMEs, specifically in developing and least-developed countries?

5.    What are the gaps in addressing these challenges? How can they be addressed and what is the role of governments?

See the responses received in open consultation with all stakeholders​

​ACCESS TO THE INTERNET FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIFIC NEEDS (2015-2016)

The CWG-Internet held an open consultation on the following topic:

“Access to the Internet for persons with disabilities and specific needs
-       What are the different challenges facing persons with disabilities and specific needs (e.g. lack of ICT skill sets etc.) in accessing and using the Internet?
-       What possible approaches and examples of good practices are available to address these challenges?
-       What are the gaps in addressing these challenges and how can these gaps be filled?
-       What is the role of governments in addressing these challenges and gaps?"

See the responses received in open consultation with all stakeholders ​​​

TECHNICAL ASPECTS


IXPS CHALLENGES AND BEST PRACTICES (2015)

Stakeholders were invited by the CWG-Internet to:

“[E]laborate and exemplify on the challenges faced and identify widely accepted best practices for the design, installation and operation of IXPs".

See the responses received in open consultation with all stakeholders

ONLINE OPEN CONSULTATION – SPAM, Ipv4, DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS (2013)

On 10 July 2012, the ITU Council resolved that the Council Working Group on international Internet-related public policy issues (CWG-Internet) would hold online consultations for all stakeholders on certain policy issues to be decided by the Group. Council also resolved that all stakeholders could submit their responses to a reflector set up by the ITU and that all responses received from stakeholders would be posted, without edits, to the CWG-Internet website.

On 31 January 2013 the Council Working Group decided that Open Consultations would be convened on the following issues:

-       Issue 1: Consultation on effectively countering and combating spam.

-       The Council Working Group on International Internet-Related Public Policy Issues invites all stakeholders to provide input on international public policy issues related to effectively countering and combating spam.

-       Issue 2: Consultation on international public policy issues concerning IPv4 addresses.

-       The Council Working Group on International Internet-Related Public Policy Issues invites all stakeholders to provide input on international public policy issues related to (a) unused legacy IPv4 addresses, and (b) inter-region transfers of IPv4 addresses.

-       Issue 3: Consultation on developmental aspects of the Internet.

-       The Council Working Group on International Internet-Related Public Policy Issues invites all stakeholders to provide input on international public policy issues related to developmental aspects of the Internet.

See the responses received in open consultation with all stakeholders



ENABLING ENVIRONMENT

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THE DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS TO STRENGTHEN THE INTERNET (2024)

CWG-Internet invites all stakeholders to submit contributions on international internet-related public policy issues relating to the developmental aspects to strenghten the internet, focusing on the following questions: 
​
• How relevant multilateral and multi-stakeholder processes, including but not limited to UN-based processes such as Summit of the Future, WSIS+20 and the IGF, could address aspects related to Internet development?? 

• What are the challenges and opportunities, good practices and favourable policy environments to strengthen the Internet, including in areas such as:
  • fostering meaningful connectivity
  • equitable access for all
  • promoting a secure and resilient Internet
  • achieving universal access
  • the deployment of IPv6
  • using satellite communication to reach remote and underserved remote areas
  • ensuring services are affordable for people
  • promoting digital inclusion and skills
  • fostering multi-stakeholder participation and
  • encouraging public and private sector investment in Internet infrastructure.
 ​• How can we promote international multistakeholder cooperation on public policy issues that are focused on promoting the development aspects of the Internet? 

THE ENVIRONMENTA​L IMPACTS AND BENEFITS OF THE INTERNET (2021)

CWG-Internet invites all stakeholders to submit contributions on international internet-related public policy issues relating to the environmental impacts and benefits of the internet, focusing on the following questions: 
​
• What effects does the Internet have on the environment and vice-versa? 

• How can we improve the impact the Internet has on the environment and take advantage of its potential to help address climate-related issues? 

• What role should stakeholders play in shaping the environmental impacts and benefits of the Internet? 

• What are the policy, regulatory and other relevant matters associated with the environmental impacts and benefits of the Internet?    ​

See the responses received in open consultation with all stakeholders

PUBLIC POLICY CONSIDERATIONS FOR OTTS (2017)

The CWG-Internet held an open consultation on the following topic:

“Considering the rapid development of information and communications technology (ICT) which led to the advent of Internet-based services commonly known as “over-the-top" (hereafter: OTT), all stakeholders are invited to submit their inputs on the following key aspects from policy perspective:

1.   What are the opportunities and implications associated with OTT?

2.   What are the policy and regulatory matters associated with OTT?

3.   How do the OTT players and other stakeholders offering app services contribute in aspects related to security, safety and privacy of the consumer?

4.    What approaches might be considered regarding OTT to help the creation of an environment in which all stakeholders are able to prosper and thrive?

5.   How can OTT players and operators best cooperate at local and international levels? Are there model partnership agreements that could be developed?"

See the responses received in open consultation with all stakeholders​

BUILDING AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR ACCESS TO THE INTERNET (2016)

​The CWG-Internet held an open consultation on the following topic:

“Building an enabling environment for access to the Internet​

1.   What are the elements of an enabling environment to promote Internet connectivity?

2.   What are the elements of an enabling environment to promote an affordable Internet?

3.    What are the elements of an enabling environment to promote the quality of access to the Internet?

4.    What are the elements of an enabling environment to build confidence and security in the use of the Internet?

5.   What is the role of Governments in building an enabling environment?

See the responses received in open consultation with all stakeholders

ACTIONS ON INTERNET-RELATED PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES (2014)

Responses of Member States to the question agreed by the CWG-Internet:

“What actions have been undertaken or to be undertaken by governments in relations to each of the international Internet-related public policy issues identified in Annex 1 to Resolution 1305 (adopted by Council 2009 at the seventh Plenary Meeting"?"

See the responses received from Member States

See the responses received in open consultation with all stakeholders





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​​See previous open consultations


​The content of this repository has been integrated with the WSIS Stocktaking Database as well. To search for these consultations or other ICT-related initiatives and projects carried out by governments, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, and other WSIS stakeholders​, please visit the WSIS Stocktaking Database. 

​To also submit any ICT-related projects for a WSIS Prize, please visit the WSIS Prizes webpage.​​





KEY RESOLUTIONS

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