CTCnet Con 2005 WSIS
More session notes for a discussion about The World Summit on the Information Society led by Andy Carvin, Mark Surman, and John Zoltner. ctcnet2005
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
WSIS
The World Summit on the information Society
Andy Carvin
Policy – The UN, NGOs, and other groups working for a civil society are debating how to bridge the digital divide.
Mark Surman
Networking – It’s important that CTC groups and grassroots NPOs communicate with policy makers developing plans to bridge the Global Digital Divide.
Q: (audience) What affect do multinational corporations have on the world summit?
A: (Andy Carvin): “Not as much as you think.” They rather go straight to “the horses mouth”. Big debate on how Civil Society should collaborate with the private sector.
Q (audience): Why isn’t the CTCnet involved directly in the WTO?
A: (john Zoltner) It’s easier to work with WISIS at this point. Trying to get funding to go to WSIS is difficult. Micro$oft funded CTCnet’s participation in WSIS last year.
Q: What are the characteristics of a local elected official that might attend a WSIS event?
A: (me)
+ Personal involvement in tech, not a techie really, a blogger perhaps
+ Interest in the effects of tech on local communities in need
+ Open to putting the digital divide in their political platform
MI: I want to educate and motivate local politicians towards working on bridging the digital divide.