On the ministerial conference these topics might be discussed in details:
Knowledge Based Society and its Economy
Society was changed drastically during industrial revolution with the invention of machines. Their modern counterpart is of course information, a basis for all human knowledge. Its importance can't be overlooked and is of course setting a general direction in the development of today's world towards an information/knowledge - based society. However, knowledge itself is not enough. Market driven global economy demands a medium for sharing it, thus the inevitable power of information and communication technologies. Knowledge-based society, therefore has to have the ability to generate and capture new knowledge, to access, absorb, share and use information, knowledge, data, communications, and best practises.
G2B Dialogue - Main Issues and Expectations
One of the major factors leading to the successful implementation of Community policies and the Community decision-making process is the co-operation between Community, State administrations, and private sector.
Public Data Interchange - A G2B Driving Force
Collaborating administrations and private sector must be capable of rapidly exchanging large quantities of information between themselves and with industry, keeping pace with the transformations that the advent of the information society has brought about, and thus, become the driving force of G2B. This goal can only be achieved by means of coordinated use of modern technologies. The implementation of Community policies and activities by co-ordinating the establishment of Trans-European telematic networks between administrations is the mission of IDA (interchange of data between administrations).
The Global Business Dialogue - Could it Serve Everyone?
The Global Business Dialogue on Electronic Commerce embodies the spirit and dynamic features of the digital age. Today, it is increasingly recognized as one of the world's leading private sector voices on e-commerce policy. The GBD has, within an extremely short period of time, created a process, which is truly global in scope. The GBD has developed a framework through which consensus continues to be achieved between companies of different countries, cultures and sectors, many of which are fiercely competitive. The GBD policy development program represents a major step forward in establishing a foundation for an international approach to crucial electronic commerce issues. Ongoing efforts in 2002 are focused on eight key areas: Consumer Confidence, Convergence, Cyber Security, Digital Bridges, E-Government, Intellectual Property Rights, Taxation, and Trade.
The Global Business Dialogue recognized the existing and potential disparity in internet access around the globe. It has, and continues to, identify and support efforts to shape policy environments that are critical to the phenomenal growth of the internet. To succeed in this effort, all stakeholders - business, governments, non-governmental organizations, private foundations, consumer organizations and multilateral institutions - must all work together in partnership. The Global Business Dialogue strongly feels that it is imperative we ensure every country and every individual has the opportunity to be part of the information technology revolution and, further, recognizes that special initiatives should be developed to create digital opportunities in these countries, especially in underdeveloped regions (http://digitalbridges.gbde.org/).
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The New Regulatory Framework to Ensure Access, Security and Consumer Confidence
There's a clear convergence among industries that are involved in deploying the information infrastructure. As products and services overlap and compete, and new technologies evolve, standards to facilitate interconnection and interoperability are critical. Competition without chaos can only be achieved through appropriate regulatory framework. At the same time security can only be strengthened by encryption codes that facilitate interconnection and interoperation between networks, and ensure privacy of the persons, security of the information carried, as well as security and reliability of the networks. Electronic commerce will never reach its full potential unless consumers feel confident dealing with online merchants. Businesses, especially small and medium-sized businesses, will not be able to use the internet to maximum effect unless they can find a way to assure potential customers that they will be treated fairly and that they will have a cost-effective way to resolve problems. Strong consumer confidence also will improve prospects for keeping the legal and regulatory framework governing electronic commerce open and competitive across national borders.
The proposed new regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services comprises five proposed European Parliament and Council directives for a new regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (proposed by the Commission in July 2000 under Article 95) together with one Commission directive which consolidates the existing 'liberalisation' directives (Directive on Competition in the market for communications services to be adopted under Article 86), the Regulation for unbundled access to the local loop, which was adopted by the European Parliament and Council in December 2000 and has been in force since 2 January 2001 and is now considered to be part of the current regulatory framework; in addition, there is a proposed Commission Decision on a Regulatory Framework for Radio Spectrum Policy in the European Community (http://europa.eu.int/information_society/topics/telecoms/regulatory/new_rf/index_en.htm).
The proposed regulatory framework consists out of Directives of the European Parliament and of the Council on:
- A common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services.
- Universal service and users' rights relating to electronic communications networks and services.
- Access to, and interconnection of, electronic communications networks and associated facilities.
- The processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector.
- The authorisation of electronic communications networks and services.
Key aspects of the new package relate to:
- Significant market power: a new definition of significant market power (SMP) will align SMP in the new package to the competition law notion of dominance, thus raising the threshold for ex ante regulation.
- Scope: all electronic communications networks and services are in principle within the scope of the package, in order to provide consistency of approach across different infrastructures. It covers satellite and terrestrial networks (fixed or wireless), including the public switched telephone network, networks using Internet protocol (IP), cable TV networks and broadcast network infrastructures.
- Market entry (licensing): operators will be granted market access under a new system of general authorisations, combined with specific rights of use for the assignment of spectrum and numbers, where required.
- Number Portability: mobile number portability will be introduced as a consumer facility alongside number portability for fixed telephony.
- Universal Service: the current scope of universal service obligations will be maintained, while introducing a procedure to review and revise the scope as necessary.
The Broadband - A Precondition for Media Convergence
Media convergence encompasses digitalisation of content, hardware, services, and transport. The demands that different forms of content: text, graphics, voice, music, motion pictures, etc., impose on the global information infrastructure are huge. A solution is broadband technology, that is, the availability of high-speed, switched telecommunications that enables users to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video. It is only the broadband technology that allows all forms of media to converge (http://www.gbde.org/convergence/).
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E-Government: a Requirement for Good Governance
E-business solutions in government and associated bodies, known as e-Government initiative, are to cover solutions in different fields government-to-government (G2G), government-to-citizen (G2C) and a government-to-business (G2B). The public sector's intent to conduct its business online is being driven by the need to make dramatic cost savings, increase efficiency internally and for the citizen through faster service delivery and higher quality. Becoming more citizen/customer focused and meeting expectations, maximising all channels of delivery, implementing back and front office systems, exploiting opportunities and better managing of information. All these lead countries and regions to higher level of electronic democracy which enable also better governance.
The Global Cities Dialogue
The Global Cities Dialogue is a strategic initiative started by the Telecities network and the Stockholm Challenge Award. The Information Society Activities Centre of the European Commission supports this initiative. The GCD is an initiative proposing an open framework for action for all cities interested in working together to realize the potential of an information society free from social exclusion and based on sustainable development. It builds on the premise that cities have a key role to play in the information society. They are the geographical, political, socio-economic and cultural entities where millions live, work and directly exercise their rights as citizens and consumers. They are close to grassroots processes and directly face a number of information-society issues, changes and opportunities from local democracy to more cost-effective services (http://www.globalcitiesdialogue.org/).
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