Enabling Access Initiative

Enabling Access Policy, Regulation, and the Access Environment

The Internet Society’s Enabling Access initiative
focuses on enabling access to the Internet by address-
ing the fundamental impediments to Internet growth
and usability.
The challenges of improving Internet growth are multi-
faceted and interrelated, particularly in developing
countries. They include access to technical skills and
knowledge, the regulatory and policy environment for
information and telecommunications services, eco-
For many, access to
nomic and market factors, language diversity, and the
diffusion and reliability of basic infrastructures and
the Internet is key to
services.
an improved quality
2008 Programmes
of life. By directly
The Enabling Access initiative focuses on the follow-
addressing local and ing major programmes.
Regulatory impediments to internetworking, onerous
licensing requirements, and other regulatory and
policy factors can slow or prevent Internet growth.
Activities of the Policy, Regulation, and the Access
Environment Programme include:
• Encouraging policy makers at
national and international levels
to adopt information and communica-
tions technology (ICT) policies and
positions that promote the expansion
and reach of Internet infrastructure
on national and global bases
• Facilitating the elimination or revision
of national Internet and telecommuni-
cations regulatory impediments to
Internet growth

Technical Capacity Building • Educating policy makers on contempo-

regional variables, rary Internet issues in order to promote
For the Internet to grow and be sustainable, network
the Internet Society operators need the technical capacity to build, main- sound decision making
tain, and protect networks, as well as make informed • Educating policy makers and regula-
provides a growing choices about new infrastructure implementations and tors on the broader economic, market,
methodologies. Rapid changes in Internet technology and social factors that impact Internet
population of under- mean that capacity building must be an ongoing pro- development
cess and local information-sharing mechanisms must
served populations Enabling Access for Underserved Communities
be in place to sustain knowledge transfer beyond
classroom trainings. Activities of the Technical Capac- Underserved communities—including those that use
with increased access
ity Building Programme include: non-Latin-language scripts, people with disabilities,
to Internet infra- and geographically remote and dispersed commu-
• Training network operators on basic
structure, equipment, and advanced internetworking skills
and techniques
and services. • Building regional and functional opera-
tor communities, which can maximise
knowledge, experience, and skills
transfer and problem solving
• Fostering technical leadership within
those communities that sustain and
advance local capacity and that par-
ticipate in regional and global Internet
technical and governance forums

Participants at PacINET 2007 in Honiara, Solomon Islands,

14–24 August 2007. Photo by Franck Martin.

The Internet Society http://www.isoc.org

 nities—face additional challenges in accessing the
Internet. Activities of the Enabling Access for Under-
served Communities Programme include:
• Advancing the development and
distribution of technologies that support
the use non-Latin language scripts on
the Internet (in a manner that upholds
the overall end-to-end connectivity of
the network)
• Advancing the development of techno-
logies and the business case for facili-
tating the use of the Internet by people
with disabilities
Participants at the ccTLD Workshop for the Caribbean Region
held in Georgetown, Guyana, February 2007.
• Educating policy makers and industry
on the challenges, needs, technologies,
and opportunities involved in increasing
Internet access to those underserved
communities

For more information, visit http://www.isoc.org/isoc/mission/initiative/access.shtml

A nonprofit organisation, the Internet Society was founded in 1992 as a leader in promoting the evolution and growth of the Internet.
Through our members, chapters, and partners, we are the hub of the largest international network of people and organisations that
work with the Internet. We work on many levels to address the development, availability, and technology of the Internet.
The Internet is critical to advancing economic growth, community self-reliance, and social justice throughout the world. Become a
member of the Internet Society, and share this vision. For more information, visit http://www.isoc.org.

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