EMFA: T2E4 - Univ Access and Developing World - Peizer

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Theme: Universal Internet - Essay 4
Author: Jonathan Peizer, Chief Information Officer
        Open Society Institute
E-mail: jpeizer@sorosny.org

[Jonathan Peizer is a member of the E-Mail for All Advisory 
Board.]


Universal Access and the Developing World

   Universal access to the Internet is still too often thought of
as a national issue.  The problem is focused upon vertically,  
in terms of  providing access to different strata of the local
population. The importance of providing it horizontally and
equally, across the developed and developing world, is still not
well understood. 

   The concept of `universal' connotes all-encompassing. Internet
is geographically independent, allowing global virtual 
communities to form around any issue. One of the core elements 
of a global economy is the ability to communicate and access 
information effectively. The Internet has become a de facto 
standard. In a real sense, the paradigm for economic success has 
changed for nations in the midst of developing their economies. 
It's no longer enough to simply convert raw materials to 
manufactured products. One must be a part of the information 
society and have an effective on-ramp to the Information 
superhighway to truly be part of the global economy. Resources 
that might have taken months to collect using traditional 
communication mediums like phone, fax and mail can now be 
cultivated by a combination of a couple of hours of Internet 
searching and a few well-directed E-mails. The Internet provides 
two-way benefits for the developing world. It creates a means of 
accelerating development through knowledge acquisition. It also 
provides others interested in fostering relations with a 
developing country some valuable background information, 
contacts and a better understanding of a society and culture 
they might not otherwise have access to.  

  Most challenges in any field of endeavor like medicine or
education consist of two core components which carry equal
weight: Lack of resources and lack of information. While
providing all the medical supplies necessary to a location in
Eastern Europe or Africa might bankrupt the economy of even a
developed country. However, using the Internet to provide
information related to health can be done at a fraction of the
cost while providing significant benefits. I know a surgeon  in
Mongolia who regularly communicates with doctors around the
globe, sending  digital images of patient cases for diagnosis and
helping others diagnose rare cases. Similarly, I know of many
countries in Eastern Europe whose high school kids regularly
communicate with other kids all over the world on collaborative
educational projects. It doesn't require costly cables laid
across the country over many years to achieve this. Rather these
implementations very often consist of wireless technologies like
microwave, satellite, spread spectrum or ham radio technology
which are relatively easy to implement and effective in conveying
Internet traffic. 

  It is said that 50% of the world's population has never made 
a phone call. Universal access should therefore be defined
realistically. Not every farmer on the Yucatan peninsula or
family in the Appalachian Mountains needs access to the Internet.
Moreover issues of basic literacy need to be addressed before
discussing universal access to the Internet. However, if the
local clinic or agricultural office has Internet access, it can
make the world of difference to the entire population served by
people with the requisite skills to use and disseminate the
information. Internet public access centers also play an
important role providing access, training and support in
locations where people with ability but no end user equipment can
go to make use of this resource. 

  Universal access should not be seen as a national, but a 
global priority. We have the means of accomplishing it with 
today's technologies, a better definition of universal access, 
and an understanding of the benefits it accrues. 

Jonathan Peizer
Chief Information Officer
Open Society Institute





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