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August 2010 Bulletin
http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/august-2010-bulletin
<b>Greetings from the Centre for Internet and Society. We bring you news and media coverage, research and event updates for the month of August 2010</b>
<h3>News Updates</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>RIM Offered Security Fixes<br /> </b>In India Talks, BlackBerry Maker Said It Could Share Metadata, Notes Show<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/ahT7jD" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/ahT7jD</a><br /> <br /> <b>New Project to Assess Potential of Creating Open Government Data</b> <b>Initiatives in Chile, Ghana and Turkey</b><br /> Steve Bratt, CEO of the World Wide Web Foundation (founded in 2009 by Tim Berners-Lee) has made an announcement on moving forward with a project to assess the potential of creating open government data<br /> initiatives in Chile, Ghana, and Turkey - the first step of what we hope to be a global initiative focusing on low- and middle-income countries.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/d337Ex" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/d337Ex</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Govt and BlackBerry firm wait for the other to hang up</b><br />Sunil Abraham speaks to Archna Shukla on the stand-off between the Government of India and RIM. The news was published in expressindia.com.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/cGeipL" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/cGeipL</a><br /> <br /><b>Call, text, email complaint against rogue auto driver</b><br /> Harassed by an auto driver? Helplines give you no relief? Here's the people's way to help you out. Just report your issue online, call or even SMS sitting in a noisy restaurant, and be heard.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/atiiGW" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/atiiGW</a><br /> <br /> <b>Call to increase awareness of intellectual property rights<br /> </b>We need more knowledge on IPR itself, says IT Secretary<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/avxY16" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/avxY16</a><br /> <br /> <b>Civil Society groups urge State Judicial Academy to restructure agenda for Judges' Roundtable meet</b><br /> Some of the Civil Society groups in the country have urged the Maharashtra State Judicial Academy to restructure the agenda for the 'Judges Roundtable on Intellectual Property Rights Adjudication' being held in Mumbai on July 24 and 25 to promote public interest and a deeper understanding of intellectual property amongst judicial officers. FICCI is the joint organiser of the event.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/dCDZl0" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/dCDZl0</a><br /> <br /> <b>More Debate on UID Project Needed<br /> </b>A press conference on UID was held at the Press Club in Bangalore on 26 July, 2010. It was co-organised by Citizen's Action Forum, Alternate Law Forum and the Centre for Internet and Society. Mathew Thomas and Vinay Baindur spoke about the UID. Proceedings from the conference was covered in the Hindu on 27 July, 2010.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/cSEsaP" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/cSEsaP</a><br /> <br /> <b>UID coverage in Udayavani</b><br /> A press conference was held at the Press Club in Bangalore on 26 July, 2010. It was co-organised by Citizen's Action Forum, Alternate Law Forum and the Centre for Internet and Society. Mathew Thomas and Vinay Baindur were the speakers. Leading Kannada newspaper Udayavani covered this event.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/c3AU5s" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/c3AU5s</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Open is the Future<br /> </b>The third Open World Forum will gather together decision-makers from the open digital world, in Paris. 1,500 participants from 40 countries will come together to analyze the technological, economic and social impact of Open Source, the invisible engine behind the digital revolution. The aim: to interpret future trends and cross-fertilize initiatives.<a href="http://bit.ly/amY9Qc" target="_blank"><br />http://bit.ly/amY9Qc</a></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://bit.ly/amY9Qc" target="_blank">
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</a>Upcoming Events</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>No UID till Complete Transparency, Accountability and People's Participation: A Public Campaign <br /></b>An interactive meeting on UID's lack of a feasibility study, cost involved and dangers of abuse is being held in New Delhi at the Constitution Club Auditorium, Rafi Marg on 25 August, 2010. The meeting is jointly organised by INSAF, PEACE, Citizens' Action Forum, People's Union for Civil Liberties - Karnataka, Slum Janandolana - Karnataka, Alternate Law Forum, The Centre for Internet and Society and concerned individuals.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/8YsBIJ" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/8YsBIJ</a></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Internet Governance and Human Rights: Strategies and Collaborations for Empowerment</b><br />Leading up to the 2010 IGF, The Association for Progressive Communications (APC), Global Partners, the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) and the Dynamic Coalition on Internet Rights and Principles are hosting, on 13 September 2010 in Vilnius, an event on 'Internet Governance and Human Rights: Strategies and Collaborations for Empowerment'.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/aoOkPR" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/aoOkPR</a><br /> <br /> <b>Freedom of Expression or Access to Knowledge: Are We Taking the Necessary Steps Towards an Open and Inclusive Internet?</b><br /> The Centre for Internet and Society is co-organising a workshop on Freedom of Expression or Access to Knowledge: Are We Taking the Necessary Steps towards an Open and Inclusive Internet? at the Internet<br /> Governance Forum on 14 September, 2010.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/dl1WRL" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/dl1WRL</a></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Sexual Rights, Openness and Regulatory Systems</b><br />The Centre for Internet and Society is co-organising a workshop on Sexual Rights, Openness and Regulatory Systems at the Internet Governance Forum on 14 September, 2010.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/dl1WRL" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/dl1WRL</a><br /> <br /> <b>Data in the Cloud: Where Do Open Standards Fit In?<br /> </b>The Centre for Internet and Society is co-organising a workshop on Data in the Cloud: Where do Open Standards Fit In? on 16 September, 2010 at the Internet Governance Forum.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/94AF4h" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/94AF4h</a><br /> <br /> <b>International Conference on Enabling Access to Education through ICT<br /> </b>The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), Bangalore in cooperation with the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICT (G3ICT), a flagship advocacy organization of the UN Global Alliance on ICT and Development (UN-GAID), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), UNESCO, Digital Empowerment Foundation, Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment and the Deafway Foundation is organizing an international conference, Enabling Access to Education through ICT in New Delhi from<br /> 27th to 29th October, 2010....Registrations to begin soon!<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/9flyEK" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/9flyEK</a></p>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Research</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Political is as Political does<br /> </b>The Talking Back workshop has been an extraordinary experience for me. The questions that I posed for others attending the workshop have hounded me as they went through the course of discussion, analysis and dissection. Strange nuances have emerged, certain presumptions have been questioned, new legacies have been discovered, novel ideas are still playing ping-pong in my mind, and a strange restless excitement – the kind that keeps me awake till dawning morn – has taken over me, as I try and figure out the wherefore and howfore of things. I began the research project on Digital Natives in a condition of not knowing, almost two years ago. Since then, I have taken many detours, rambled on strange paths, discovered unknown territories and reached a mile-stone where I still don’t know, but don’t know what I don’t know, and that is a good beginning.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/9hY9sR" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/9hY9sR</a><br /> <br /> <b>Digital Natives: Talking Back<br /> </b>One of the most significant transitions in the landscape of social and political movements, is how younger users of technology, in their interaction with new and innovative technologised platforms have taken up responsibility to respond to crises in their local and immediate environments, relying upon their digital networks, virtual communities and platforms. In the last decade or so, the digital natives, in universities as well as in work spaces, as they experimented with the potentials of internet technologies, have launched successful socio-political campaigns which have worked unexpectedly and often without precedent, in the way they mobilised local contexts and global outreach to address issues of deep political and social concern. But what do we really know about this Digital Natives revolution?<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/bZNoSX" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/bZNoSX</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Beyond the Digital: Understanding Digital Natives with a Cause</b><br />Digital Natives with a cause: the future of activism or slacktivism? Maesy Angelina argues that the debate is premature given the obscured understanding on youth digital activism and contends that an effort to<br /> understand this from the contextualized perspectives of the digital natives themselves is a crucial first step to make. This is the first out of a series of posts on her journey to explore new insights to understand youth digital activism through a research with The Blank Noise Project under the Hivos-CIS Digital Natives Knowledge Programme.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/b1GS7F" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/b1GS7F</a></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Accessibility</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Access to Knowledge: Barriers and Solutions for Persons with Disabilities in India</b><br /> Consumers International, Kuala Lumpur and Consumers Association of India in association with Madras Library Association organised a seminar on Access to Knowledge on 31st July, 2010 at the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Auditorium in Guindy, Chennai. The Principal Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu Department of Information Technology was the chief guest. Former Central Vigilance Commissioner N. Vittal gave the keynote address. Prof Subbiah Arunachalam, Nirmita Narasimhan and Pranesh Prakash participated in the seminar. Nirmita and Pranesh made presentations on access to knowledge.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/cJXSX8" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/cJXSX8</a></p>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Intellectual Property</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Privacy and the Indian Copyright Act, 1857 as Amended in 2010 <br /></b>In this post the author examines the issue of privacy in light of the Indian Copyright Act, 1857 as amended by the Copyright Amendment Bill in 2010. Four key questions are examined in detail and the author gives<br /> suitable recommendations for each of the questions that arise.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/cJXSX8" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/cJXSX8</a></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Internet Governance</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Does the Government want to enter our homes?</b><br />When rogue politicians and bureaucrats are granted unrestricted access to information then the very future of democracy and free media will be in jeopardy. In an article published in the Pune Mirror on 10 August,<br /> 2010, Sunil Abraham examines this in light of the BlackBerry-to-BlackBerry messenger service that the Government of India plans to block if its makers do not allow the monitoring of messages. He says that civil society should rather resist and insist on suitable checks and balances like governmental transparency and a fair judicial oversight instead of allowing the government to intrude into the privacy<br /> and civil liberties of its citizens.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/dkVHoS" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/dkVHoS</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>UID Project in India - Some Possible Ramifications</b><br />Having a standard for decentralized ID verification rather than a centralized database that would more often than not be misused by various authorities will solve ID problems, writes Liliyan in this blog entry. These blog posts to be published in a series will voice the expert opinions of researchers and critics on the UID project and present its unique shortcomings to the reader.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/bOyBS8" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/bOyBS8</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Civil Liberties and the amended Information Technology Act, 2000</b><br />This post examines certain limitations of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (as amended in 2008). Malavika Jayaram points out the fact that when most countries of the world are adopting plain English instead of the conventional legal terminology for better understanding, India seems to be stuck in the old-fashioned method thereby, struggling to maintain a balance between clarity and flexibility in drafting its laws. The present Act, she says, is although an improvement over the old Act and seeks to address and improve on certain areas in the right direction but still comes up short in making necessary changes when it comes to fundamental rights and personal liberties. The new Act retains elements from the previous one making it an abnormal document and this could have been averted if there had been some attention to detail.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/croc9T" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/croc9T</a><br /> <br /> <b>Feedback to the NIA Bill<br /></b>Malavika Jayaram and Elonnai Hickok introduce the formal submission of CIS to the proposed National Identification Authority of India (NIA) Bill, 2010, which would give every resident a unique identity. The submissions contain the detailed comments on the draft bill and the high level summary of concerns with the NIA Bill submitted to the UIDAI on 13 July, 2010.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/bhinUB" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/bhinUB</a></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Openness</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Open Access to Science and Scholarship - Why and What Should We Do? The National Institute of Advanced Studies held the eighth NIAS-DST training programme on “Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Science, Technology and Society” from 26 July to 7 August, 2010. The theme of the project was ‘Knowledge Management’. Dr. MG Narasimhan and Dr. Sharada Srinivasan were the coordinators for the event. Professor Subbiah Arunachalam made a presentation on Open Access to Science and Scholarship.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/ciohYy" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/ciohYy</a><br /> <br /> <b>Civic Hacking Workshop<br /> </b>CIS, with the UK Government's Foreign Office and the Cabinet Office Team for Digital Engagement, and Google India, is organizing a workshop on open data (or the lack thereof) and 'civic hacking'.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/c3TF2t" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/c3TF2t</a></p>
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<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Telecom</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>'Containing Inflation' - A myth</b><br /> We need problem-solving, not confused rhetoric or misguided action, says Shyam Ponappa. The article was published in Business Standard on 7 August, 2008.<br /> <a href="http://bit.ly/9frC8q" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/9frC8q</a></p>
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For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/august-2010-bulletin'>http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/august-2010-bulletin</a>
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No publisherpraskrishnaAccess to KnowledgeDigital NativesTelecomAccessibilityInternet GovernanceCISRAWOpenness2012-08-10T10:40:34ZPageAre India's Glory Days Over?
http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/blog/organizing-india-blogspot-shyam-ponappa-march-8-2013-are-indias-glory-days-over
<b>Unless major structural changes are effected, India will miss an economic take-off for many years, writes Shyam Ponappa.</b>
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<p style="text-align: justify; ">The blog post was published in <a class="external-link" href="http://organizing-india.blogspot.in/2013/03/are-indias-glory-days-over.html">Organizing India</a> on March 8, 2013. Originally published in the <a class="external-link" href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/are-india-s-glory-days-over-113030600625_1.html">Business Standard</a> on March 6, 2013.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; "><span>Underlying the varied narratives on the Budget is the persistence of structural inflation, especially in food items. India has sunk in an inflation quagmire, moving from a ranking of around 60th until 2008 to about 120th since then, with lower rankings indicating worse relative inflation. Most analysts opine that growth will be slow, and agree that the revenue deficit needs to be reduced much more than in the Budget. The planned reduction of expenditure or increase in revenues needs to be something like five times the budgeted half a per cent of GDP to reduce the risk of the external account imbalance.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Slow growth is inevitable</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><span>This year's Budget, according to one commentary from the Heritage Foundation, "leaves India on the same, failing course it's been on of undisciplined spending and unrealistic expectations". The report goes on to mention high expenditure, inadequate revenues and very high consumer inflation, with no reforms.<a href="#fn1" name="fr1">[1]</a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><span>Another </span><br /><span>analyst articulates a different view that in fact actually demands low growth. Focusing on the balance of payments risk because of a current account deficit, he argues that the Budget had to constrain growth, or risk triggering a crisis. This view suggests that we cannot export more until the world recovers and can buy more, and until it does, our unfavourable external balance puts us at risk.</span><a href="#fn2" name="fr2">[2]</a></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Or is it?</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><span>There's no denying the conclusion of the Heritage report, although there may be disagreement about some of the professed remedies, like opening up banking and insurance to foreign direct investment (FDI). However, the gap arising from the trade imbalance, while making India's economy more vulnerable, doesn't preclude interim strategies and limit our options to necessarily constraining growth. The current account deficit calls for convergent management of expectations that result in unrestricted foreign capital inflows, not the scattershot confusion of mixed signals. To what extent this should be at the cost of the growth that is so essential for the stability of our social fabric is debatable.<br /><br />For instance, is there the possibility, as in tourism-driven economies, that there could be a consistent inflow of capital to tide over the deficit until exports recover, ie, traditional export markets recover? Or that if we shifted to an unambiguous emphasis on FDI over time instead of encouraging short-term, anonymous, even incognito, inflows through Participatory Notes, that the gap could be bridged? Or that if our enterprises could start designing and manufacturing new products for sectors such as broadband and wireless communications, we might develop new markets in more growth-oriented areas in Asia, thereby improving our trade balance?</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Infrastructure : the enabler and multiplier</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><span>No matter what direction we take, unless our governments - the non-monolithic, disparate powers that operate in the states or at the Centre - start dealing with realities, our glory days are over for years together. For instance, unless radical action is taken to increase food production and distribution, the curse of inflation will stunt growth, and hamstring our ability to improve infrastructure. In all this, the centrality of infrastructure as enabler and multiplier cannot be overemphasised.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><span>Within infrastructure, there's little doubt about the crippling of telecommunications, now reduced to a shambling wreck by misconceived policies to capture revenues for the treasury, whether by governments' greed, or by the clamour of ill-informed and irrational public opinion, or courts misinformed by self-proclaimed guardians of the public interest whose ignorance overwhelms their good intentions by far.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Meanwhile, at the Mobile World Congress at Barcelona</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><span>Around the same time, half a world away in Barcelona, there was an annual convention on mobile communications. People from companies around the world congregate for the Mobile World Congress, which ran from February 25 to 28 this year (for the first day's highlights, see: <i><a href="http://www.mobileworldlive.com/mwc-2013-day-1-opening-highlights-feature">http://www.mobileworldlive.com/mwc-2013-day-1-opening-highlights-feature</a></i>). This convention drew over 70,000 people, where Samsung and Nokia made their announcements about new smartphones, as did LG, Huawei, Intel and a host of others. It is also where the producers of systems for the delivery of these services, such as Qualcomm, Ericsson, and Nokia Siemens Networks, showed what they were doing to prepare for the vast anticipated increase in mobile broadband.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><span>The Mobile World Congress has relevance to India because our Trai and the DoT representatives were there, studying developments in managing spectrum and communications. If they're allowed to formulate solutions to solve some of our problems, instead of being restricted by ignorant litigants through the courts to incur more self-inflicted harm, their actions could revolutionise India's approach. Of particular interest for India were Ericsson's "Supplemental Downlink", which uses access to a predefined spectrum band to augment existing licensed capacity, and Nokia Siemens Networks' "Authorised Shared Access", which enables access to spectrum assigned to a primary holder, government in this case, to be used commercially without compromising the existing incumbents.<a href="#fn3" name="fr3">[3]</a></span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Need for capacity and productivity hikes</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><span>Major structural changes are required to create conditions to move India out of its growth doldrums. Take the collapse in the telecommunications sector. The first step is to give network owners the benefit of infrastructure status to lower borrowing costs. Radical changes to spectrum and network management to maximise service delivery while reducing costs, including extending the principle of revenue sharing from licences to spectrum use, can further improve outcomes with the same input. Also, sustained efforts to support the design and manufacture of products - whether through FDI in joint ventures or licensed local manufacturing, or the creation of products from scratch - could reduce the trade burden of ICT imports, which otherwise threaten to exceed our oil imports over time.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><span>Our authorities must now develop ground rules that can lead to a potential revival, while corporations and the government work together to ensure success. Apart from this, sectors that can help with the balance of payments, like tourism, and domestic coal for power, must get focused solutions. Such developments are required in diverse sectors to break out of our tailspin.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">[<a href="#fr1" name="fn1">1</a>]. <span>"India Stays on Path to Economic Failure", Derek Scissors, The Heritage Foundation: <a href="http://blog.heritage.org/2013/02/28/india-stays-on-path-to-economic-failure/">http://blog.heritage.org/2013/02/28/india-stays-on-path-to-economic-failure/</a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">[<a href="#fr2" name="fn2">2</a>]. <span>"Budgeting in hard times", T C A Srinivasa-Raghavan,<br />The Hindu: <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/budgeting-in-hard-times/article4472061.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/budgeting-in-hard-times/article4472061.ece</a></span></p>
<p>[<a href="#fr3" name="fn3">3</a>]. <span>(a) Supplemental Downlink and (b) Authorised Shared Access:</span><span><br />a) </span><a href="http://www.qualcomm.com/media/documents/files/benefits-of-hspa-supplemental-downlink.pdf">http://www.qualcomm.com/media/documents/files/benefits-of-hspa-supplemental-downlink.pdf</a><span><br />b) <a href="http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/sites/default/files/document/authorised_shared_access_apr_2012_0.pdf">http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/sites/default/files/document/authorised_shared_access_apr_2012_0.pdf</a></span></p>
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For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/blog/organizing-india-blogspot-shyam-ponappa-march-8-2013-are-indias-glory-days-over'>http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/blog/organizing-india-blogspot-shyam-ponappa-march-8-2013-are-indias-glory-days-over</a>
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No publisherShyam PonappaTelecom2013-03-12T04:59:44ZBlog EntryApril 2019 Newsletter
http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2019-newsletter
<b>The Centre for Internet & Society (CIS) newsletter for April 2019.</b>
<h3><span>Highlights for March 2019</span></h3>
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<li style="text-align: justify; ">The unprecedented growth of the fintech space in India has concomitantly come with regulatory challenges around inter alia privacy and security concerns. Aayush Rathi and Shweta Mohandas <a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/aayush-rathi-and-shweta-mohandas-april-30-2019-fintech-in-india-a-study-of-privacy-and-security-commitments">have co-authored a report</a> which has analysed the privacy policies of 48 fintech companies operating in India to better understand some of these concerns.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">In today’s increasingly digitized world where an increasing volume of information is being stored in the digital format, access to data generated by digital technologies and on digital platforms is important in solving crimes online and offline. One such mechanism for international cooperation is the Convention on Cybercrime adopted in Budapest (“Budapest Convention”). Vipul Kharbanda <a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/vipul-kharbanda-april-29-2019-international-cooperation-in-cybercrime-the-budapest-convention">has provided a deeper analysis</a> on this in his research paper.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">CIS has responded to ICANN's proposed renewal of .org Registry. CIS has found severe issues with the proposed agreement. These centre around the removal of price caps and imposing obligations being currently deliberated in an ongoing Policy Development Process. Akriti Bopanna <a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/akriti-bopanna-april-28-2019-cis-response-to-icanns-proposed-renewal-of-org-registry">drafted the response</a>.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion released a draft e-commerce policy in February for which stakeholder comments were sought. CIS <a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/cis-response-to-call-for-stakeholder-comments-draft-e-commerce-policy">responded to the request for comments</a>.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">CIS Access to Knowledge team (CIS-A2K) <a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/ananth-subray-april-15-2019-cis-a2k-proposal-to-wikimedia-foundation-for-2019-2020">has submitted its proposal form for the year 2019 - 2020</a> to the Wikimedia Foundation. CIS thanks all community members who gave valuable suggestions and inputs for drafting this proposal.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: justify; ">In 2017–2018, the </span><a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation" style="text-align: justify; " title="Wikimedia Foundation">Wikimedia Foundation</a><span style="text-align: justify; "> (WMF) and Google collaborated to start a pilot project in India, working closely with the </span><a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/CIS-A2K" style="text-align: justify; " title="CIS-A2K">Centre for Internet and Society</a><span style="text-align: justify; "> (CIS) and the </span><a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_India" style="text-align: justify; " title="Wikimedia India">Wikimedia India</a><span style="text-align: justify; ">chapter (WMIN). <span style="text-align: justify; ">This project, titled Project Tiger was aimed at encouraging Wikipedia communities to create locally relevant and high-quality content in Indian languages. </span>CIS-A2K team submitted Project Tiger final report.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: justify; ">The <a href="https://medium.com/rawblog">r@w blog </a>features works by researchers and practitioners working in India and elsewhere at the intersections of internet, digital media and society, and highlights and materials from ongoing research and events at the researchers@work programme at CIS. On the r@w blog we featured an essay titled <a href="https://medium.com/rawblog/the-internet-in-the-indian-judicial-imagination-4b7434bd2353">'The Internet in the Indian Judicial Imagination'</a> by Divij Joshi, as part of a series on <a href="https://cis-india.org/raw/call-for-essays-studying-internet-in-india">Studying Internet in India (2015)</a>; and audio recording of a session titled <a href="https://medium.com/rawblog/objectsofdigitalgovernance-ec4194a24bb">#ObjectsofDigitalGovernance </a>by Khetrimayum Monish Singh, Rajiv K. Mishra, and Vidya Subramanian which was part of the <a href="https://cis-india.org/raw/irc17">Internet Researchers Conference, 2017.</a><br /></span></li>
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<ul>
</ul>
<h3>Jobs</h3>
<p>CIS is hiring:</p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/cis-a2k-finance-officer-call-for-application">CIS-A2K Finance Officer: Call for application</a> (Only women candidates).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/jobs/internship">Internship</a><span> - applications accepted throughout the year.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3></h3>
<h3><br />CIS and the News</h3>
<p>The following news pieces were authored by CIS and published on its website in January:</p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/telecom/blog/business-standard-april-3-2019-shyam-ponappa-delayed-cash-flows-and-npas">Delayed Cash Flows and NPAs</a> (Shyam Ponappa; Business Standard; April 3, 2019).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/hindustan-times-april-16-2019-gurshabad-grover-to-preserve-freedoms-online-amend-it-act">To preserve freedoms online, amend the IT Act</a> (Gurshabad Grover; April 16, 2019).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/raw/indian-express-april-21-2019-nishant-shah-getting-through-an-election-made-for-social-media-gaze">Digital Native: Getting through an election made for the social media gaze</a> (Nishant Shah; Indian Express; April 21, 2019).</li>
</ul>
<div></div>
<ul>
</ul>
<h3><br />CIS in the News</h3>
<p>CIS was quoted in these news articles published elsewhere:</p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/business-standard-sai-sachin-ravikumar-april-3-2019-reddit-telegram-among-websites-blocked-in-india">Reddit, Telegram among websites blocked in India, say internet groups</a> (Sai Sachin Ravikumar; Business Standard; April 3, 2019).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/quartz-india-aria-thaker-april-4-2019-data-leaks-and-cybersecurity-should-be-an-election-issue-in-india">Data leaks could wreak havoc in India, so why aren’t they an issue this election?</a> (Aria Thaker; Quartz India; April 4, 2019).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/the-hindu-sweta-akundi-april-8-2019-microchips-cookies-and-the-internet-privacy-authentication">Cookies, not the monster you may think</a> (Sweta Akundi; Hindu; April 8, 2019).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/india-today-april-17-2019-gulam-jeelani-tik-tok-craze-a-ticking-time-bomb-for-city">TikTok craze a ticking time bomb for city</a> (Gulam Jeelani with inputs from Priyanka Sharma and Ajay Kumar; India Today; April 17, 2019).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/ananya-bhattacharya-quartz-india-april-19-2019-india-bans-tiktok-over-porn-but-not-facebook-twitter-instagram">Almost every social network has a porn problem—so why is India banning only TikTok?</a> (Ananya Bhattacharya; Quartz India; April 19, 2019).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/leon-kaiser-netzpolitik-april-24-2019-jugendschutz-und-cyber-grooming-indisches-gericht-hebt-eigenen-tiktok-bann-wieder-auf">Child protection and cyber-grooming: Indian court rescinds its own Tiktok ban</a> (Leon Kaiser; Netzpolitik.org; April 24, 2019).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<div></div>
<ul>
</ul>
<div></div>
<h2><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/a2k">Access to Knowledge</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Our Access to Knowledge programme currently consists of two projects. The Pervasive Technologies project, conducted under a grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), aims to conduct research on the complex interplay between low-cost pervasive technologies and intellectual property, in order to encourage the proliferation and development of such technologies as a social good. The Wikipedia project, which is under a grant from the Wikimedia Foundation, is for the growth of Indic language communities and projects by designing community collaborations and partnerships that recruit and cultivate new editors and explore innovative approaches to building projects.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Wikipdedia</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">As part of the <a href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/access-to-knowledge-program-plan">project grant from the Wikimedia Foundation</a> we have reached out to more than 3500 people across India by organizing more than 100 outreach events and catalysed the release of encyclopaedic and other content under the Creative Commons (CC-BY-3.0) license in four Indian languages (21 books in Telugu, 13 in Odia, 4 volumes of encyclopaedia in Konkani and 6 volumes in Kannada, and 1 book on Odia language history in English).</p>
<p><strong>Project Proposal / Reports</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/supporting-indian-language-wikipedias-program-report">Supporting Indian Language Wikipedias Program/Report </a><span>(Gopala Krishna A; April 5, 2019).</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/ananth-subray-april-15-2019-cis-a2k-proposal-to-wikimedia-foundation-for-2019-2020">CIS-A2K proposal to Wikimedia Foundation for 2019-2020</a> (Ananth Subray; April 15, 2019).</li>
</ul>
<p><span><br /><strong>Blog Entries</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/subodh-kulkarni-april-9-2019-wikimedia-projects-session-at-tata-trust-vikas-anvesh-foundation">Wikimedia projects orientation session at Tata Trust's Vikas Anvesh Foundation</a> (Subodh Kulkarni; April 9, 2019).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/indic-wikisource-speak-sushant-savla">Indic Wikisource Speak: Sushant Savla</a> (Jayanta Nath; April 10, 2019).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/subodh-kulkarni-april-10-2019-svg-translation-workshop-at-kbc-north-maharashtra-university">SVG Translation Workshop at KBC North Maharashtra University </a>(Subodh Kulkarni; April 10, 2019).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/content-donation-sessions-with-authors">Content Donation Sessions with Authors</a> (Subodh Kulkarni; April 10, 2019).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/a2k/indic-wikisource-speak-ajit-kumar-tiwari">Indic Wikisource speak : Ajit Kumar Tiwari</a> (Jayanta Nath; April 11, 2019).</li>
</ul>
<h3><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance"><br />Internet Governance</a></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">As part of its research on privacy and free speech, CIS is engaged with two different projects. The first one (under a grant from Privacy International and IDRC) is on surveillance and freedom of expression (SAFEGUARDS). The second one (under a grant from MacArthur Foundation) is on restrictions that the Indian government has placed on freedom of expression online.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Cyber Security</h3>
<p><strong>Research Paper</strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/vipul-kharbanda-april-29-2019-international-cooperation-in-cybercrime-the-budapest-convention">International Cooperation in Cybercrime: The Budapest Convention</a> (Vipul Kharbanda; April 29, 2019).</li>
</ul>
<div>
<ul>
</ul>
<h3>Privacy</h3>
<p><strong>Research Paper</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/aayush-rathi-and-shweta-mohandas-april-30-2019-fintech-in-india-a-study-of-privacy-and-security-commitments">FinTech in India: A Study of Privacy and Security Commitments</a> (Aayush Rathi and Shweta Mohandas; April 30, 2019).</li>
</ul>
<div><strong>Submission</strong></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/cis-response-to-call-for-stakeholder-comments-draft-e-commerce-policy">CIS Response to Call for Stakeholder Comments: Draft E-Commerce Policy</a> (Arindrajit Basu, Vipul Kharbanda, Elonnai Hickok and Amber Sinha; April 10, 2019).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div></div>
<div><strong>Participation in Events</strong></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://http//cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/ietf-104-prague">IETF 104 Prague</a> (Organized by IETF; Prague; March 23 - 29, 2019). Karan Saini and Gurshabad Grover participated in the event.</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/the-phantom-public-the-role-of-social-media-in-democracy">The Phantom Public: The Role of Social Media in Democracy</a> (Organized by Ambedkar University; New Delhi; April 3, 2019).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/crea-reconference">(re) conference</a> (Organized by CREA; New Delhi; April 10 - 12, 2019).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/data-for-development-mapping-key-considerations-for-policy-and-practice-in-india">Data for Development: Mapping key considerations for policy and practice in India</a><span> (Organized by Azim Premchand University; April 24, 2019). Arindrajit Basu delivered a talk. </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Artificial Intelligence</h3>
<p>Participation in Event</p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/telecom/news/policy-lab-on-artificial-intelligence-democracy">Policy Lab on Artificial Intelligence & Democracy</a> (Organized by Tandem Research, in partnership with Microsoft Research and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung; Bangalore; April 2-3, 2019). Shweta Mohandas participated in the event. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Free Speech and Expression</h3>
<p><strong>Submission</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/akriti-bopanna-april-28-2019-cis-response-to-icanns-proposed-renewal-of-org-registry">CIS Response to ICANN's proposed renewal of .org Registry</a> (Akriti Bopanna; April 28, 2019).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Event Organized</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/internet-speech-perspectives-on-regulation-and-policy">Internet Speech: Perspectives on Regulation and Policy</a> ( Organized by CIS; India Habitat Centre, New Delhi; April 5, 2019).</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Blog Entry</strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/akriti-bopanna-april-4-2019-didp-33-on-icann-s-2012-gtld-round-auction-fund">DIDP #33 On ICANN's 2012 gTLD round auction fund</a> (Akriti Bopanna; April 4, 2019).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<div></div>
<h2><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/raw">Researchers at Work (RAW)</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Researchers at Work (RAW) programme is an interdisciplinary research initiative driven by an emerging need to understand the reconfigurations of social practices and structures through the Internet and digital media technologies, and vice versa. It aims to produce local and contextual accounts of interactions, negotiations, and resolutions between the Internet, and socio-material and geo-political processes:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><strong>Announcement</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/raw/call-for-essays-studying-internet-in-india">Call for Essays: Studying Internet in India</a> (Sumandro Chattapadhyay; April 6, 2019).</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><strong>Blog Entries</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://medium.com/rawblog/the-internet-in-the-indian-judicial-imagination-4b7434bd2353">The Internet in the Indian Judicial Imagination</a> (Divij Joshi; April 21, 2019).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://medium.com/rawblog/objectsofdigitalgovernance-ec4194a24bb">#ObjectsOfDigitalGovernance</a> (Khetrimayum Monish Singh, Rajiv K. Mishra, and Vidya Subramanian; April 21, 2019).</li>
</ul>
<p><span>Telecom</span></p>
<p><strong>Article</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/telecom/blog/business-standard-april-3-2019-shyam-ponappa-delayed-cash-flows-and-npas">Delayed Cash Flows and NPAs </a>(Shyam Ponappa; Business Standard; April 3, 2019 and Organizing India Blogspot; April 4, 2019).</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Participation in Event</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="https://cis-india.org/telecom/news/bif-conference-on-201csubstitutability-of-ott-services-with-telecom-services-regulation-of-ott-services">BIF conference on “Substitutability of OTT Services with Telecom Services & Regulation of OTT Services</a> (Organized by Broadband India Forum; Taj Mahal Hotel, Mansingh Road, New Delhi; April 5, 2019). Anubha Sinha was a panellist at a BIF conference on “Substitutability of OTT Services with Telecom Services & Regulation of OTT Services”.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/">About CIS</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) is a non-profit organisation that undertakes interdisciplinary research on internet and digital technologies from policy and academic perspectives. The areas of focus include digital accessibility for persons with disabilities, access to knowledge, intellectual property rights, openness (including open data, free and open source software, open standards, open access, open educational resources, and open video), internet governance, telecommunication reform, digital privacy, and cyber-security. The academic research at CIS seeks to understand the reconfigurations of social and cultural processes and structures as mediated through the internet and digital media technologies.</p>
<p>► Follow us elsewhere</p>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Twitter:<a href="http://twitter.com/cis_india"> http://twitter.com/cis_india</a></li>
<li>Twitter - Access to Knowledge: <a href="https://twitter.com/CISA2K">https://twitter.com/CISA2K</a></li>
<li>Twitter - Information Policy: <a href="https://twitter.com/CIS_InfoPolicy">https://twitter.com/CIS_InfoPolicy</a></li>
<li>Facebook - Access to Knowledge:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cisa2k"> https://www.facebook.com/cisa2k</a></li>
<li>E-Mail - Access to Knowledge: <a>a2k@cis-india.org</a></li>
<li>E-Mail - Researchers at Work: <a>raw@cis-india.org</a></li>
<li>List - Researchers at Work: <a href="https://lists.ghserv.net/mailman/listinfo/researchers">https://lists.ghserv.net/mailman/listinfo/researchers</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>► Support Us</p>
<div>Please help us defend consumer and citizen rights on the Internet! Write a cheque in favour of 'The Centre for Internet and Society' and mail it to us at No. 194, 2nd 'C' Cross, Domlur, 2nd Stage, Bengaluru - 5600 71.</div>
<p>► Request for Collaboration</p>
<div>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">We invite researchers, practitioners, artists, and theoreticians, both organisationally and as individuals, to engage with us on topics related internet and society, and improve our collective understanding of this field. To discuss such possibilities, please write to Sunil Abraham, Executive Director, at sunil@cis-india.org (for policy research), or Sumandro Chattapadhyay, Research Director, at sumandro@cis-india.org (for academic research), with an indication of the form and the content of the collaboration you might be interested in. To discuss collaborations on Indic language Wikipedia projects, write to Tanveer Hasan, Programme Officer, at <a>tanveer@cis-india.org</a>.</p>
<div style="text-align: justify; "><i>CIS is grateful to its primary donor the Kusuma Trust founded by Anurag Dikshit and Soma Pujari, philanthropists of Indian origin for its core funding and support for most of its projects. CIS is also grateful to its other donors, Wikimedia Foundation, Ford Foundation, Privacy International, UK, Hans Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and IDRC for funding its various projects</i>.</div>
</div>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2019-newsletter'>http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2019-newsletter</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaTelecomResearchers at WorkInternet GovernanceAccess to Knowledge2019-09-04T14:36:41ZPageApril 2017 Newsletter
http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2017-newsletter
<b>Welcome to the CIS newsletter for April 2017. </b>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Dear readers,</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Previous issues of the newsletters can be <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/about/newsletters">accessed here</a>.</p>
<hr style="text-align: justify; " />
<table class="grid listing" style="text-align: justify; ">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Highlights</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">In a <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/information-security-practices-of-aadhaar-or-lack-thereof-a-documentation-of-public-availability-of-aadhaar-numbers-with-sensitive-personal-financial-information-1">report on the information security practices of Aadhaar</a>, Amber Sinha and Srinivas Kodali documented numerous instances of publicly available Aadhaar numbers along with other personally identifiable information of individuals on government websites. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">CIS along with like minded organizations <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/mobile-accessibility-practices">made a submission to the Government of India</a> to frame a feasible accessibility guidelines for mobile apps since there is no single standard in existence at the moment.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">A <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/sambad-100-women-edit-a-thon">two-day 100 Women Edit-a-thon</a> was held in March 2017 by CIS-A2K team along with Odisha's biggest newspaper Sambad. The event was inspired by BBC’s 100 Women series and edit-a-thons with the same name in December 2016. More than 20 female journalists participated and registered as new Odia Wikipedians.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">On March 31, 2017, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training released a Circular framing rules under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (“RTI Rules”). The Ministry invited comments on on the RTI Rules. <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/openness/blog-old/comments-on-the-right-to-information-rules-2017">CIS submitted its comments</a>.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">In an article originally published in <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/the-hindu-businessline-march-31-2017-sunil-abraham-its-the-technology-stupid">Hindu Businessline</a> on March 31, Sunil Abraham lists out 11 reasons why Aadhaar is not just non-smart but also insecure.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Shuttleworth Foundation has announced <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/shuttleworth-foundation-april-19-2017-sunil-abraham-honorary-steward-september-2017">Sunil Abraham as Honorary Steward</a> for its September 2017 fellowship round. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">CIS worked on a three part case study. The first case study on digital protection of traditional knowledge was published by GIS Watch in December 2016. The other two case studies along with the synthesis overview <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/openness/apc-april-23-2017-sunil-abraham-and-vidushi-marda-economic-social-and-cultural-rights-in-india">has also been published</a>. </li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>CIS in the news:</b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/times-of-india-april-4-2017-ngos-individuals-urge-state-cms-to-curb-internet-shutdown">NGOs, individuals urge state CMs to curb Internet shutdown</a> (The Times of India; April 4, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/buzzfeednews-pranav-dixit-april-4-2017-indias-national-id-program-may-be-turning-the-country-into-a-surveillance-state">India’s National ID Program May Be Turning The Country Into A Surveillance State</a> (Pranav Dixit; BuzzFeed News; April 4, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/india-today-neha-vashishth-april-6-2017-privacy-what-bengaluru-police-leaks-phone-numbers-on-twitter">Privacy, what? Bengaluru police leaks 46,000 phone numbers on Twitter</a> (Neha Vashishth; India Today; April 6, 2017).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/the-times-of-india-april-6-2017-umesh-yadav-bengaluru-cops-twitter-handle-in-ethical-storm">Bengaluru cops' twitter handle in ethical storm</a> (Umesh Yadav; The Times of India; April 6, 2017).</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/livemint-april-12-2017-komal-gupta-opposition-questions-govt-move-to-make-aadhaar-must">Opposition questions govt move to make Aadhaar must</a> (Komal Gupta; Livemint; April 12, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/livemint-april-21-2017-komal-gupta-apurva-vishwanath-suranjana-roy-aadhaar-a-widening-net">Aadhaar: A widening net</a> (Komal Gupta, Apurva Vishwanath and Suranjana Roy; Livemint; April 21, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/openness/news/ians-april-24-2017-chemistry-research-in-india-still-not-in-big-league">Chemistry research in India 'still not in big league'</a> (IANS and India Online News Portal; April 24, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/business-world-regina-mihindukulasuriya-april-26-2017-stop-the-haphazard-internet-shutdown-says-mp-jay-panda">Stop the Haphazard Internet Shutdown Says MP Jay Panda</a> (Regina Mihindukulasuriya; Businessworld; April 26, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/national-herald-sebastian-pt-april-26-2017-now-aadhaar-details-displayed-in-mizoram-too">Now, Aadhaar details displayed in Mizoram too</a> (Sebastian P.T.; National Herald; April 26, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/news/the-news-minute-priyanka-thirumurthy-april-26-2017-after-spb-ilaiyaraaja-sony-music-and-sun-network-lock-horns-over-copyrights">After SPB-Ilaiyaraaja, Sony Music and Sun Network lock horns over copyrights</a> (Priyanka Thirumurthy; Newsminute; April 26, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/inforisk-today-april-26-2017-suparna-goswami-varun-haran-analysis-data-protection-in-india-getting-it-right">Analysis: Data Protection in India - Getting It Right</a> (Suparna Goswami and Varun Haran; Info Risk Today; April 26, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/the-telegraph-april-27-2017-india-bans-social-media-in-kashmir-for-one-month">India bans social media in Kashmir for one month</a> (Telegraph; April 27, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/indian-express-april-28-2017-shruti-dhapola-j-k-social-media-ban">J&K social media ban: Use of 132-year-old Act can’t stand judicial scrutiny, say experts</a> (Shruti Dhapola; Indian Express; April 28, 2017).</li>
</ul>
<p><b><br />CIS members wrote the following articles:</b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/hindu-op-ed-sunil-abraham-march-31-2017-how-aadhaar-compromises-privacy-and-how-to-fix-it">How Aadhaar compromises privacy? And how to fix it?</a> (Sunil Abraham; Hindu; April 1, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/raw/indian-express-nishant-shah-april-2-2017-digital-native-you-can-check-out-you-can-never-leave">Digital native: You can check out, you can never leave</a> (Nishant Shah; Indian Express; April 2, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/hindustan-times-pranesh-prakash-april-3-2017-aadhaar-marks-a-fundamental-shift-in-citizen-state-relations">Aadhaar marks a fundamental shift in citizen-state relations: From ‘We the People’ to ‘We the Government’</a> (Pranesh Prakash; Hindustan Times; April 3, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/the-hindu-businessline-march-31-2017-sunil-abraham-its-the-technology-stupid">It’s the technology, stupid</a> (Sunil Abraham; Hindu Businessline; April 7, 2017). </li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/asian-age-amber-sinha-april-10-2017-privacy-in-the-age-of-big-data">Privacy in the Age of Big Data</a> (Amber Sinha; Asian Age; April 10, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/raw/indian-express-nishant-shah-april-17-2017-digital-native-are-you-still-having-fun">Digital native: Are You Still Having Fun?</a> (Nishant Shah; Indian Express; April 17, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/raw/indian-express-nishant-shah-april-30-2017-digital-native-snap-out-of-outrage-mode">Digital native: Snap out of outrage mode</a> (Nishant Shah; Indian Express; April 30, 2017).</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">-------------------------------------<br /><a href="http://cis-india.org/accessibility">Accessibility & Inclusion</a> <br /> ------------------------------------- <br /> India has an estimated 70 million persons with disabilities who don't have access to read printed materials due to some form of physical, sensory, cognitive or other disability. As part of our endeavour to make available accessible content for persons with disabilities, we are developing a text-to-speech software in 15 languages with support from the Hans Foundation. The progress made so far in the project can be accessed <a href="http://cis-india.org/accessibility/resources/nvda-text-to-speech-synthesizer">here</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Submission</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/mobile-accessibility-practices">Mobile Accessibility Practices</a> (Nirmita Narasimhan; April 12, 2017).</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Event</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/accessibility/events/global-accessibility-awareness-day-2017">Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2017</a> (Organized by Prakat Solutions, Mithra Jyothi and CIS; Bengaluru; May 18, 2017).</li>
</ul>
<p><b>----------------------------------- </b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://cis-india.org/a2k">Access to Knowledge</a> <br /><b> ----------------------------------- </b><br />Our Access to Knowledge programme currently consists of two projects. The Pervasive Technologies project, conducted under a grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), aims to conduct research on the complex interplay between low-cost pervasive technologies and intellectual property, in order to encourage the proliferation and development of such technologies as a social good. The Wikipedia project, which is under a grant from the Wikimedia Foundation, is for the growth of Indic language communities and projects by designing community collaborations and partnerships that recruit and cultivate new editors and explore innovative approaches to building projects.</p>
<p>►Wikipedia</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">As part of the <a href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/access-to-knowledge-program-plan">project grant from the Wikimedia Foundation</a> we have reached out to more than 3500 people across India by organizing more than 100 outreach events and catalysed the release of encyclopaedic and other content under the Creative Commons (CC-BY-3.0) license in four Indian languages (21 books in Telugu, 13 in Odia, 4 volumes of encyclopaedia in Konkani and 6 volumes in Kannada, and 1 book on Odia language history in English).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entries</b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Note: All the following events were held earlier but the reports were published in the month of April:</p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/womens-day-edit-a-thon-in-pune">Women's Day Edit-a-thon at Jeewan Jyoti Women's Empowerment Centre, Pune</a> (Subodh Kulkarni; April 10, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/marathi-wikipedia-edit-a-thon-at-savitribai-phule-mahila-ekatma-samaj-mandal-aurangabad">Marathi Wikipedia Edit-a-thon at Savitribai Phule Mahila Ekatma Samaj Mandal, Aurangabad</a> (Subodh Kulkarni; April 13, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/google-translated-telugu-articles-prioritisation-exercise-january-iteration">Google-translated Telugu articles prioritisation exercise: January iteration</a> (Pavan Santhosh; April 15, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/telugu-wikipedia-stall-at-vijayawada-book-festival">Telugu Wikipedia stall at Vijayawada Book Festival</a> (Pavan Santhosh; April 15, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/womens-day-edit-a-thon-at-jnana-prabodhini">Women's Day Edit-a-thon at Jnana Prabodhini</a> (Subodh Kulkarni; April 15, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/bargarh-manuscript-digitisation-project">Bargarh Manuscript Digitisation Project</a> (Sailesh Patnaik; April 16, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/imperial-college-orientation-program-bargarh">Imperial College Orientation Program, Bargarh</a> (Sailesh Patnaik; April 16, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/orientation-training-session-for-environmental-activists-in-satara-on-13th-february-2017">Orientation & Training session for Environmental Activists in Satara</a> (Subodh Kulkarni; April 16, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/marathi-wikipedia-edit-a-thon-at-rajarshi-chhatrapati-shahu-college-kolhapur">Marathi Wikipedia Edit-a-thon at Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu College, Kolhapur</a> (Subodh Kulkarni; April 16, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/marathi-wikipedia-edit-a-thon-at-shivaji-university-kolhapur">Marathi Wikipedia Edit-a-thon at Shivaji University, Kolhapur</a> (Subodh Kulkarni; April 16, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/marathi-wikipedia-edit-a-thon-at-sangli-maharashtra">Marathi Wikipedia Edit-a-thon at Sangli, Maharashtra</a> (Subodh Kulkarni; April 16, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/orientation-training-session-of-jalbiradari-activists">Orientation & Training session of Jalbiradari Activists</a> (Subodh Kulkarni; April 16, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/free-license-wings-to-your-books-in-guntur">"Free-license Wings To Your Books" in Guntur</a> (Pavan Santhosh; April 16, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/free-license-wings-to-your-books-in-vijayawada">"Free-license Wings To Your Books" in Vijayawada</a> (Pavan Santhosh; April 16, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/adikavi-nannaya-university-telugu-wikipedia-workshop-1">Adikavi Nannaya University Telugu Wikipedia Workshop</a> (Pavan Santhosh; April 16, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/odia-wikipedia-workshop-in-iimc-dhenkanal">Odia Wikipedia Workshop in IIMC, Dhenkanal</a> (Sailesh Patnaik; April 17, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/sambad-100-women-edit-a-thon">Sambad 100 Women Edit-a-thon</a> (Ting Yi Chang and Sailesh Patnaik; April 18, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/google-translated-telugu-articles-prioritisation-exercise-february-iteration">Google-translated Telugu articles prioritisation exercise: February iteration</a> (Pavan Santhosh; April 18, 2017).</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">►Copyright and Patent</p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/news/national-conference-on-intellectual-property-rights-and-public-interest">National Conference on Intellectual Property Rights and Public Interest</a> (Organized by Indian Law Institute; New Delhi; April 7 - 8, 2017). Maggie Huang took part in the event.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><br />►Openness</p>
<div style="text-align: justify; ">Our work in the Openness programme focuses on open data, especially open government data, open access, open education resources, open knowledge in Indic languages, open media, and open technologies and standards - hardware and software. We approach openness as a cross-cutting principle for knowledge production and distribution, and not as a thing-in-itself.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify; "></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; "><b>Publication<br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; ">
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/openness/apc-april-23-2017-sunil-abraham-and-vidushi-marda-economic-social-and-cultural-rights-in-india">Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in India: Opportunities for Advocacy in Intellectual Property</a> (Sunil Abraham and Vidushi Marda; GIS Watch and Association for Progressive Communications; April 23, 2017). Total 4 reports: <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/openness/files/economic-social-and-cultural-rights-in-india">Synthesis Overview</a>, <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/openness/files/economic-social-and-cultural-rights-in-india-opportunities-for-advocacy-in-intellectual-property-rights-access-to-mobile-technology">Access to Mobile Technology</a>, <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/openness/files/economic-social-and-cultural-rights-in-india-opportunities-for-advocacy-in-intellectual-property-rights-the-traditional-knowledge-digital-library">Traditional Knowledge Digital Library</a>, and <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/openness/files/economic-social-and-cultural-rights-in-india-foss/">FOSS and Open Standards</a>. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<p><b>Submission</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/openness/blog-old/comments-on-the-right-to-information-rules-2017">Comments on the Right to Information Rules, 2017</a> (Amber Sinha; April 27, 2017).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify; "><b>Event Organized <br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; ">
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/openness/events/nasa-space-apps-challenge-2017">NASA Space Apps Challenge 2017</a> (CIS, Bengaluru, April 22, 2017).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify; "><b>----------------------------------- </b>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance">Internet Governance</a> <br /><b> -----------------------------------</b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">As part of its research on privacy and free speech, CIS is engaged with two different projects. The first one (under a grant from Privacy International and IDRC) is on surveillance and freedom of expression (SAFEGUARDS). The second one (under a grant from MacArthur Foundation) is on restrictions that the Indian government has placed on freedom of expression online.</p>
<p>►Privacy</p>
<div style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entries</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; "><b><br /></b></div>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/analysis-of-key-provisions-of-aadhaar-act-regulations">Analysis of Key Provisions of the Aadhaar Act Regulations</a> (Amber Sinha; April 3, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/right-to-be-forgotten-a-tale-of-two-judgments">Right to be Forgotten: A Tale of Two Judgements</a> (Amber Sinha; April 7, 2017).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
►Free Speech and Expression</div>
<div style="text-align: justify; ">
<p><b>Blog Entries</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/yameen-rasheed-human-rights-maldives">Killing of Yameen Rasheed Reveals Worsening Human Rights Situation in the Maldives</a> (Pranesh Prakash; April 25, 2017).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/internet-shutdowns-in-2016">Internet Shutdowns in 2016</a> (Japreet Grewal; April 27, 2016).<br /><br /></li>
</ul>
<p>►Miscellaneous</p>
<p><b>Blog Entry</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/regulating-bitcoin-in-india">Regulating Bitcoin in India</a> (Vipul Kharbanda; April 20, 2017).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<p><b>Event</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/firstfridayatcis-amutha-arunachalam-stand-shielded-of-digital-rights-may-05">Amutha Arunachalam - Stand Shielded of Digital Rights</a> (CIS; New Delhi; May 5, 2017).</li>
</ul>
<p><br />Participation in Event</p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/iso-iec-jtc1-sc-27-meetings">ISO/IEC JTC1/SC 27 Meetings</a> (Organized by Bureau of Indian Standards; University of Waikato and Novotel; New Zealand; April 18 - 25, 2017). Udbhav Tiwari attended the meetings.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<br />
<p>►Cyber Security</p>
<p><b>Event Organized</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/firstfridayatcisindia-dr-madan-oberoi-digital-forensics-april-07">Dr. Madan M. Oberoi - Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigations</a> (CIS; New Delhi; April 7, 2017).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<p><b>Participation in Event</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/brainstorming-session-on-the-global-conference-on-cyberspace-gccs-2017">Brainstorming Session on the Global Conference on Cyberspace</a> (GCCS 2017) (Organized by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology; New Delhi; April 12, 2017). Japreet Grewal attended the session.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<b>----------------------------------- </b>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://cis-india.org/">About CIS</a> <br /><b> ----------------------------------- </b><br /> The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) is a non-profit organisation that undertakes interdisciplinary research on internet and digital technologies from policy and academic perspectives. The areas of focus include digital accessibility for persons with disabilities, access to knowledge, intellectual property rights, openness (including open data, free and open source software, open standards, open access, open educational resources, and open video), internet governance, telecommunication reform, digital privacy, and cyber-security. The academic research at CIS seeks to understand the reconfigurations of social and cultural processes and structures as mediated through the internet and digital media technologies.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">► Follow us elsewhere</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify; ">► Support Us</p>
<div style="text-align: justify; ">
<div style="text-align: justify; ">Please help us defend consumer and citizen rights on the Internet! Write a cheque in favour of 'The Centre for Internet and Society' and mail it to us at No. 194, 2nd 'C' Cross, Domlur, 2nd Stage, Bengaluru - 5600 71.</div>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">► Request for Collaboration</p>
<div style="text-align: justify; ">
<p style="text-align: justify; ">We invite researchers, practitioners, artists, and theoreticians, both organisationally and as individuals, to engage with us on topics related internet and society, and improve our collective understanding of this field. To discuss such possibilities, please write to Sunil Abraham, Executive Director, at sunil@cis-india.org (for policy research), or Sumandro Chattapadhyay, Research Director, at sumandro@cis-india.org (for academic research), with an indication of the form and the content of the collaboration you might be interested in. To discuss collaborations on Indic language Wikipedia projects, write to Tanveer Hasan, Programme Officer, at <a>tanveer@cis-india.org</a>.</p>
<div style="text-align: justify; "><i>CIS is grateful to its primary donor the Kusuma Trust founded by Anurag Dikshit and Soma Pujari, philanthropists of Indian origin for its core funding and support for most of its projects. CIS is also grateful to its other donors, Wikimedia Foundation, Ford Foundation, Privacy International, UK, Hans Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and IDRC for funding its various projects</i>.</div>
</div>
</div>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
</ul>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2017-newsletter'>http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2017-newsletter</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaAccess to KnowledgeTelecomAccessibilityInternet GovernanceResearchers at Work2017-05-20T12:59:17ZPageApril 2016 Newsletter
http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2016-newsletter
<b>Welcome to the CIS newsletter for April 2016. The key issues we worked on this month included the Aadhaar Act 2016, Standard Essential Patents, cyber security of smart grids, and involvement of international agencies in the smart cities project in India.</b>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Early last year, thanks to the fund raising efforts of a friend of CIS - Suhail Kazi, we received Rs. 1.9 lakhs as donations from 19 individuals. In January this year, we set up an online giving feature on our website which would ease the donation process, but we haven’t got a single donation so far! This could be because many of you may be under a false impression that CIS is very wealthy and does not need more support. Unfortunately, this is no longer true. Today, we are unable to find a single donor who is interested in our Accessibility, Telecom, or RAW programmes. In other words, we need your support. Would you to consider making a small donation to CIS? <strong>Click <a href="http://imojo.in/CISDonations">here</a> to donate.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Previous issues of the newsletters can be accessed here: <a href="http://cis-india.org/about/newsletters">http://cis-india.org/about/newsletters</a>.</p>
<hr style="text-align: justify;" />
<table style="text-align: justify;" class="grid listing">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Highlights</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">CIS prepared an <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/aadhaar-project-and-bill-faq">FAQ on the Aadhaar / UIDAI project</a> and the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016. Further, two infographics were produced to highlight on the questions of "<a href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/can-the-aadhaar-act-2016-be-classified-as-a-money-bill">Can the Aadhaar Act 2016 be Classified as a Money Bill?</a>" and "<a href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/can-matters-dealt-with-in-aadhaar-act-be-objects-of-money-bill">Can the Matters Dealt with in the Aadhaar Act be the Objects of a Money Bill?</a>".</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">NVDA team <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/april-2016-report/view">prepared a report</a> on the progress of the project for the month of April 2016.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">CIS submitted its <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/comments-on-department-of-industrial-policy-and-promotion-discussion-paper-on-standard-essential-patents-and-their-availability-on-frand-terms">comments to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion's Discussion Paper</a> on Standard Essential Patents and their Availability on FRAND Terms. CIS has offered its assistance on other matters aimed at developing a suitable policy framework for SEPs and FRAND in India, and, working towards the sustained innovation, manufacture and availability of mobile technologies in India. A summary of the comments can be <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/summary-of-cis-comments-to-dipp2019s-discussion-paper-on-seps-and-their-availability-on-frand-terms">accessed here</a>. Responses to the Discussion Paper is <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/responses-to-the-dipps-discussion-paper-on-seps-and-their-availability-on-frand-terms">available here</a>.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Rohini Lakshané's paper titled <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/patents-and-mobile-devices-in-india-an-empirical-survey">Patents and Mobile Devices in India: An Empirical Survey</a> has been accepted for publication by the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Kiran A.B. in a <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/openness/monitoring-sustainable-development-goals-in-india-availability-and-openness-02">blog post has documented the availability and openness of data sets in India</a> that are relevant for monitoring the targets under the SDGs.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Low-cost Aakash tablet and its previous iterations in India have gone through several phases of technological changes and ideological experiments wrote Sumandro Chattapadhyay and Jahnavi Phalkey <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/raw/buying-into-the-aakash-dream">in an article published in the Economic and Political Weekly</a>.</li></ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>----------------------------------- </strong><br /><a href="http://cis-india.org/news">CIS in the News</a><br /><strong>-----------------------------------</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">CIS gave inputs to the following media coverage:</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/daily-mail-april-4-2016-afp-india-biometric-database-crosses-billion-member-mark">India's biometric database crosses billion-member mark</a> (AFP and Daily Mail, UK; April 4, 2016).</li><li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/big-news-network-april-6-2016-claire-lauterbach-panama-papers-and-question-of-privacy">The Panama Papers and the question of privacy</a> (Big News Network; April 6, 2016). This was originally published by Privacyinternational.org.</li><li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/economic-times-april-8-2016-neha-alawadhi-daunting-task-ahead-for-investigative-agencies-with-whatsapp-end-to-end-encryption">Daunting task ahead for investigative agencies with WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption</a> (Neha Alawadhi; Economic Times; April 8, 2016).</li><li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/the-hindu-april-10-2016-somesh-jha-pmo-no-to-smart-cards-insists-aadhaar">PMO’s no to smart cards, insists on Aadhaar</a> (Somesh Jha; Hindu; April 10, 2016).</li><li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/the-telegraph-april-10-2016-2014-showed-the-power-of-twitter">2014 showed the power of Twitter, now every Indian politician wants a handle</a> (T.V. Jayan, Smitha Verma,Sonia Sarkar and V. Kumara Swamy; Telegraph; April 10, 2016).</li><li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/business-standard-alnoor-peermohamed-april-13-2016-why-is-uidai-cracking-down-on-individuals-that-hoard-aadhaar-data">Why is the UIDAI cracking down on individuals that hoard Aadhaar data?</a> (Alnoor Peermohamed; Business Standard; April 13, 2016).</li><li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/governance-now-april-19-2016-you-will-need-a-license-to-create-whatsapp-group-in-kashmir">You will need a license to create a WhatsApp group in Kashmir</a> (Governance Now; April 19, 2016).</li><li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/governance-now-april-23-2016-taru-bhatia-will-facebook-twitter-relocate-servers-to-india">Will Facebook, Twitter relocate servers to India?</a> (Taru Bhatia; Governance Now; April 23, 2016).</li><li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/dna-amrita-madhukalya-april-23-2016-government-keeps-experts-out-of-cyber-security-discussions">Government keeps experts out of cyber security discussions</a> (Amrita Madhukalya; DNA; April 23, 2016).</li><li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/the-times-of-india-raj-shekhar-arun-dev-v-narayan-a-selvaraj-cctv-plays-sherlock">CCTV plays Sherlock</a> (Raj Shekhar, Arun Dev, V Narayan & A Selvaraj with inputs from Sindhu Kannan and Somreet Bhattacharya; The Times of India; April 24, 2016).</li></ul>
<div> </div>
<p>CIS members wrote the following pieces:</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify;"><li style="text-align: justify;">Sunil Abraham wrote an <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/frontline-april-15-2016-sunil-abraham-surveillance-project">article in the July 15 edition of Frontline</a> arguing that the Aadhaar project’s technological design and architecture is an unmitigated disaster and no amount of legal fixes in the Act will make it any better. </li><li style="text-align: justify;">Amber Sinha wrote an article in The Wire arguing that <a href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/the-aadhaar-act-is-not-a-money-bill">the Aaddhaar Act is not a money bill</a>, and the Supreme Court may very well question the decision by the Lok Sabha speaker to classify it as such. </li><li style="text-align: justify;">Sumandro Chattapadhyay also wrote on The Wire arguing that "<a href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/the-last-chance-for-a-welfare-state-doesnt-rest-in-the-aadhaar-system">the last chance for a welfare state doesn’t rest in the Aadhaar system</a>."</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Subhashish Panigrahi's article on the <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/global-voices-april-27-2016-subhashish-panigrahi-eight-challenges-indian-language-wikipedias-need-to-overcome">8 challenges that Indian language Wikipedias have to overcome was published by Global Voices</a>. The article had earlier been published in the Wire.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Elonnai Hickok and Vanya Rakesh co-authored an article on <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/dataquest-april-25-2016-vanya-rakesh-and-elonnai-hickok-cyber-security-of-smart-grids-in-india">Cyber Security of Smart Grids in India</a> that was published by Dataquest.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Shyam Ponappa <a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/telecom/blog/business-standard-april-6-2016-shyam-ponappa-breakthroughs-needed-for-digital-india">in his monthly column</a> published in the Business Standard tell us that it's time the government accepts that current policies are not enough to bring about Digital India.</li></ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;">-------------------------------------<br /><a href="http://cis-india.org/accessibility">Accessibility & Inclusion</a> <br /> ------------------------------------- <br /> India has an estimated 70 million persons with disabilities who don't have access to read printed materials due to some form of physical, sensory, cognitive or other disability. As part of our endeavour to make available accessible content for persons with disabilities, we are developing a text-to-speech software in 15 languages with support from the Hans Foundation. The progress made so far in the project can be accessed <a href="http://cis-india.org/accessibility/resources/nvda-text-to-speech-synthesizer">here</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">►NVDA and eSpeak</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/march-2016-report.pdf/view">March 2016 Report</a></li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/april-2016-report" class="internal-link">April 2016 Report</a></li></ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>----------------------------------- </strong><br /><a href="http://cis-india.org/a2k">Access to Knowledge</a> <br /><strong> ----------------------------------- </strong><br />Our Access to Knowledge programme currently consists of two projects. The Pervasive Technologies project, conducted under a grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), aims to conduct research on the complex interplay between low-cost pervasive technologies and intellectual property, in order to encourage the proliferation and development of such technologies as a social good. The Wikipedia project, which is under a grant from the Wikimedia Foundation, is for the growth of Indic language communities and projects by designing community collaborations and partnerships that recruit and cultivate new editors and explore innovative approaches to building projects.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">►Pervasive Technologies</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Comments</strong></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/comments-on-department-of-industrial-policy-and-promotion-discussion-paper-on-standard-essential-patents-and-their-availability-on-frand-terms">Comments on Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Discussion Paper on Standard Essential Patents and their Availability on Frand Terms</a> (Anubha Sinha, Nehaa Chaudhari and Rohini Lakshané; April 23, 2016).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/responses-to-the-dipps-discussion-paper-on-seps-and-their-availability-on-frand-terms">Responses to the DIPP's Discussion Paper on SEPs and their Availability on FRAND Terms</a> (Anubha Sinha, Nehaa Chaudhari and Rohini Lakshané; April 23, 2016).</li>
<li>
<div id="_mcePaste"><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/summary-of-cis-comments-to-dipp2019s-discussion-paper-on-seps-and-their-availability-on-frand-terms">Summary of CIS Comments to DIPP’s Discussion Paper on SEPs and their availability on FRAND terms</a> (Anubha Sinha; April 26, 2016).</div>
</li></ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Blog Entries</strong></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/global-congress-2015">Global Congress 2015 - A Collection of Resources</a> (Pervasive Technologies Team; April 1, 2016).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/compilation-of-mobile-phone-patent-litigation-cases-in-india">Compilation of Mobile Phone Patent Litigation Cases in India</a> (Rohini Lakshané; updated on April 15, 2016). </li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/joining-the-dots-in-indias-big-ticket-mobile-phone-patent-litigation">Joining the Dots in India's Big-Ticket Mobile Phone Patent Litigation</a> (Rohini Lakshané; updated on April 29, 2016).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/mhrd-ipr-chair-series-information-received-from-tezpur-university">MHRD IPR Chair Series: Information Received from Tezpur University</a> (Karan Tripathi; April 26, 2016).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/sectoral-innovation-councils-on-intellectual-property-rights-2013-rti-requests-dipp-responses">National IPR Policy Series : Sectoral Innovation Councils on Intellectual Property Rights – RTI Requests + DIPP Responses</a> (Nehaa Chaudhari and Saahil Dama; April 30, 2016). Nisha S. Kumar assisted in compilation of the document.</li></ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Participation in Events</strong></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/news/fifth-annual-ip-teaching-workshop">Fifth Annual IP Teaching Workshop</a> (Organised by the Centre for Innovation, Intellectual Property and Competition at National Law University Delhi in association with National Academy of Law Teaching, NLU-D; Delhi; March 31 and April 1, 2016). Nehaa Chaudhari was a speaker.</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/news/first-round-table-on-innovation-ip-and-competition">First Round-table on Innovation, IP and Competition</a> (Organized by the Centre for Innovation, Intellectual Property & Competition (CIIPC) at the National Law University, Delhi; India Habitat Centre; New Delhi; April 1-2, 2016). Nehaa Chaudhari and Anubha Sinha attended the round-table.</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/news/brainstorming-workshop-on-pg-programme-on-media-studies-for-ugc-e-pathshala-programme">Brainstorming Workshop on PG Programme on Media Studies for UGC E-Pathshala Programme</a> (Organized by Jamia Milla Islamia; New Delhi; April 5, 2016).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/news/sensitization-seminar-on-ipr-for-electronics-ict-sectors">Sensitization Seminar on IPR for Electronics & ICT Sectors</a> (Organized by Andhra Pradesh Technology Development & Promotion Centre (APTDC) of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in association with Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY); Vishakhapatnam; April 21, 2016).</li></ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;">►Wikipedia</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">As part of the <a href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/access-to-knowledge-program-plan">project grant from the Wikimedia Foundation</a> we have reached out to more than 3500 people across India by organizing more than 100 outreach events and catalysed the release of encyclopaedic and other content under the Creative Commons (CC-BY-3.0) license in four Indian languages (21 books in Telugu, 13 in Odia, 4 volumes of encyclopaedia in Konkani and 6 volumes in Kannada, and 1 book on Odia language history in English).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Work Plan</strong></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><a href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/cis-a2k-work-plan-july-2016-june-2017">CIS - A2K Work Plan: July 2016 - June 2017</a> (CIS-A2K Team; April 2, 2016): We have revised the work plan template taking into account the changed proposal plan sent out by WMF and in light of the feedback that we have received from FDC assessment during last proposal application. The FDC feedback is taken into account at the level of design, RoI and ensuring quality for all our activities.</li></ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Article</strong></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><a href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/blogs/global-voices-april-27-2016-subhashish-panigrahi-eight-challenges-indian-language-wikipedias-need-to-overcome">Eight Challenges Indian-Language Wikipedias Need to Overcome</a> (Subhashish Panigrahi; Global Voices; April 21, 2016). <strong> </strong><strong><a href="http://thewire.in/2016/03/17/eight-challenges-that-indian-language-wikipedias-need-to-overcome-25062/" target="_blank"><strong>A version of this post</strong></a></strong><strong> was previously published on </strong><strong><a href="http://thewire.in/" target="_blank"><strong>The Wire</strong></a></strong><strong>.</strong></li></ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Media Coverage</strong></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><a href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/news/the-telegraph-april-7-2016-anwesha-ambaly-odia-gets-more-space-in-e-world">Odia gets more space in e-world</a> (Anwesha Ambaly; The Telegraph; April 7, 2016).</li>
<li><a href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/news/exercise-to-correct-articles-in-tulu-wikipedia-begins">Exercise to Correct articles in Tulu Wikipedia begins</a> (Raviprasad Kamila; The Hindu; April 28, 2016).</li></ul>
<p><strong>Event Organized</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/a2k/events/tulu-wikipedia-editathon-to-improve-quality-of-articles-in-tulu-wikipedia">Tulu Wikipedia Editathon to Improve Quality of Articles in Tulu Wikipedia</a> (Shri Ramakrishna PU College; Mangaluru; April 26 - 30, 2016).</li></ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><strong>-----------------------------------</strong><br /></span><a style="text-align: justify;" href="http://cis-india.org/openness">Openness<br /></a><span style="text-align: justify;"><strong>-----------------------------------</strong></span></p>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Our work in the Openness programme focuses on open data, especially open government data, open access, open education resources, open knowledge in Indic languages, open media, and open technologies and standards - hardware and software. We approach openness as a cross-cutting principle for knowledge production and distribution, and not as a thing-in-itself.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/openness/monitoring-sustainable-development-goals-in-india-availability-and-openness-02">Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals in India: Availability and Openness of Data</a> (Part II) (Kiran A.B.; April 12, 2016).</li></ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>----------------------------------- </strong><br /> <a href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance">Internet Governance</a> <br /><strong> -----------------------------------</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">As part of its research on privacy and free speech, CIS is engaged with two different projects. The first one (under a grant from Privacy International and IDRC) is on surveillance and freedom of expression (SAFEGUARDS). The second one (under a grant from MacArthur Foundation) is on restrictions that the Indian government has placed on freedom of expression online.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">►Cyber Security</p>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/dataquest-april-25-2016-vanya-rakesh-and-elonnai-hickok-cyber-security-of-smart-grids-in-india">Cyber Security of Smart Grids in India</a> (Elonnai Hickok and Vanya Rakesh; April 25, 2016).</li></ul>
</div>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">►Big Data</p>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">Blog Entry</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/rti-on-smart-cities-mission-in-india">RTI regarding Smart Cities Mission in India</a> (Paul Thottan; April 21, 2016).</li></ul>
<br /></div>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">►Privacy</p>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div><strong>Blog Entries</strong></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/aadhaar-project-and-bill-faq">FAQ on the Aadhaar Project and the Bill</a> (Elonnai Hickok, Vanya Rakesh, and Vipul Kharbanda; April 13, 2016).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/aadhaar-act-and-its-non-compliance-with-data-protection-law-in-india">Aadhaar Act and its Non-compliance with Data Protection Law in India</a> (Vanya Rakesh; April 14, 2016).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/can-matters-dealt-with-in-aadhaar-act-be-objects-of-money-bill">Can the Matters Dealt with in the Aadhaar Act be the Objects of a Money Bill?</a> (Pooja Saxena; April 24, 2016).</li></ul>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Articles</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/the-quint-march-31-2016-nehaa-chaudhari-will-aadhaar-act-address-indias-dire-need-for-a-privacy-law">Will Aadhaar Act Address India’s Dire Need For a Privacy Law?</a> (Nehaa Chaudhari; Quint; March 31, 2016).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/the-last-chance-for-a-welfare-state-doesnt-rest-in-the-aadhaar-system">The Last Chance for a Welfare State Doesn’t Rest in the Aadhaar System</a> (Sumandro Chattapadhyay; April 19, 2016).</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/the-aadhaar-act-is-not-a-money-bill">The Aadhaar Act is Not a Money Bill</a> (Amber Sinha; April 25, 2016).</li></ul>
</div>
<p><strong>Participation in Events</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/rightscon-silicon-valley-2016">RightsCon Silicon Valley 2016</a> (Organized by RightsCon; March 31 and April 1, 2016). Elonnai Hickok attended the event.</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/panel-discussion-on-uid-aadhar-act-2016-and-its-impact-on-social-security">Panel Discussion on UID/ Aadhar act 2016 and its impact on Social, Security</a> (Organized by Students Christian Movement of India at SCM House; Bangalore; April 25, 2016). Sunil Abraham was a panelist.</li>
<li>The Centre for the Study of Law and Governance (CSLG), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), organised a <a href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/will-the-magic-number-deliver-aadhaar-cslg-26042016">roundtable discussion on Tuesday, April 26</a>, to discuss the Aadhaar project and Act. Along with Prasanna S, Apar Gupta, and Dr. Chirashree Dasgupta, Sumandro Chattapadhyay was one of the discussants.</li>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/internet-governance/news/aadhaar-by-numbers">Aadhaar by Numbers</a> (Organized by National Institute of Public Finance and Policy; New Delhi; April 29, 2016). Sunil Abraham was a speaker.</li></ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>----------------------------------- <br /></strong><a href="http://cis-india.org/telecom">Telecom</a> <br /><strong> ----------------------------------- </strong><br /> CIS is involved in promoting access and accessibility to telecommunications services and resources, and has provided inputs to ongoing policy discussions and consultation papers published by TRAI. It has prepared reports on unlicensed spectrum and accessibility of mobile phones for persons with disabilities and also works with the USOF to include funding projects for persons with disabilities in its mandate:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Article</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/telecom/blog/business-standard-april-6-2016-shyam-ponappa-breakthroughs-needed-for-digital-india">Breakthroughs Needed For Digital India</a> (Shyam Ponappa; Business Standard; April 6, 2016 and Organizing India BlogSpot; April 7, 2016).</li></ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>----------------------------------- <br /></strong><a href="http://cis-india.org/raw">Researchers at Work</a> <br /><strong> ----------------------------------- </strong><br /> The Researchers at Work (RAW) programme is an interdisciplinary research initiative driven by an emerging need to understand the reconfigurations of social practices and structures through the Internet and digital media technologies, and vice versa. It aims to produce local and contextual accounts of interactions, negotiations, and resolutions between the Internet, and socio-material and geo-political processes:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Article</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/raw/buying-into-the-aakash-dream">Buying into the Aakash Dream - A Tablet’s Tale of Mass Education</a> (Sumandro Chattapadhyay and Jahnavi Phalkey; Economic & Political Weekly; April 23, 2016). </li></ul>
</div>
<p>Announcement</p>
<ul>
<li><a class="external-link" href="http://cis-india.org/jobs/call-for-proposal-big-data-for-development-field-studies">Call for Proposal: Big Data for Development – Initial Field Studies</a> (Sumandro Chattapadhyay; April 29, 2016).</li></ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul></ul>
</div>
<p><strong>----------------------------------- </strong><br /><a href="http://cis-india.org/">About CIS</a> <br /><strong> ----------------------------------- </strong><br /> The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) is a non-profit organisation that undertakes interdisciplinary research on internet and digital technologies from policy and academic perspectives. The areas of focus include digital accessibility for persons with diverse abilities, access to knowledge, intellectual property rights, openness (including open data, free and open source software, open standards, open access, open educational resources, and open video), internet governance, telecommunication reform, digital privacy, and cyber-security. The academic research at CIS seeks to understand the reconfigurations of social and cultural processes and structures as mediated through the internet and digital media technologies.</p>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">► Follow us elsewhere</p>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li> Twitter:<a href="http://twitter.com/cis_india"> http://twitter.com/cis_india</a> </li>
<li> Twitter - Access to Knowledge: <a href="https://twitter.com/CISA2K">https://twitter.com/CISA2K</a> </li>
<li> Twitter - Information Policy: <a href="https://twitter.com/CIS_InfoPolicy">https://twitter.com/CIS_InfoPolicy</a></li>
<li> Facebook - Access to Knowledge:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cisa2k"> https://www.facebook.com/cisa2k</a> </li>
<li> E-Mail - Access to Knowledge: <a>a2k@cis-india.org</a> </li>
<li> E-Mail - Researchers at Work: <a>raw@cis-india.org</a> </li>
<li> List - Researchers at Work: <a href="https://lists.ghserv.net/mailman/listinfo/researchers">https://lists.ghserv.net/mailman/listinfo/researchers</a></li></ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">► Support Us</p>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Please help us defend consumer and citizen rights on the Internet! Write a cheque in favour of 'The Centre for Internet and Society' and mail it to us at No. 194, 2nd 'C' Cross, Domlur, 2nd Stage, Bengaluru - 5600 71.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">► Request for Collaboration</p>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">We invite researchers, practitioners, artists, and theoreticians, both organisationally and as individuals, to engage with us on topics related internet and society, and improve our collective understanding of this field. To discuss such possibilities, please write to Sunil Abraham, Executive Director, at sunil@cis-india.org (for policy research), or Sumandro Chattapadhyay, Research Director, at sumandro@cis-india.org (for academic research), with an indication of the form and the content of the collaboration you might be interested in. To discuss collaborations on Indic language Wikipedia projects, write to Tanveer Hasan, Programme Officer, at <a>tanveer@cis-india.org</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><em>CIS is grateful to its primary donor the Kusuma Trust founded by Anurag Dikshit and Soma Pujari, philanthropists of Indian origin for its core funding and support for most of its projects. CIS is also grateful to its other donors, Wikimedia Foundation, Ford Foundation, Privacy International, UK, Hans Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and IDRC for funding its various projects</em>.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2016-newsletter'>http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2016-newsletter</a>
</p>
No publishersunilAccess to KnowledgeTelecomAccessibilityInternet GovernanceResearchers at Work2016-05-10T06:26:09ZPageApril 2014 Bulletin
http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2014-bulletin
<b>The newsletter for the month of April can be accessed below:</b>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">We at the Centre for Internet & Society (CIS) welcome you to the fourth issue of the newsletter (April) for the year 2014. Archives of our newsletters can be accessed at: <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/">http://cis-india.org/about/newsletters</a></p>
<h2 style="text-align: justify; ">Highlights</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">We have published a compilation of the various central government schemes in a blog post as part of our National Resource Kit project.</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>The 27<sup>th</sup> session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (WIPO-SCCR) was held in Geneva from April 28 to May 2, 2014. Nehaa Chaudhari participated in the event. CIS made its statements on Technological Measures of Protection on Limitations and Exceptions for Libraries and Archives, Orphan Works, Retracted and Withdrawn Works, and Works out of Commerce on Limitations and Exceptions for Libraries and Archives, and on the WIPO Proposed Treaty for the Protection of Broadcasting Organizations. </li>
<li>CIS signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mysore University for converting to Unicode and re-releasing their encyclopaedia under Creative Commons License. Dr. U.B. Pavanaja on behalf of the CIS-A2K team signed the MoU.</li>
<li>A two-day global stakeholder meeting on future of internet governance (NETmundial) was organized by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee in partnership with /1Net at Sao Paulo in Brazil on April 23 and 24, 2014. Achal Prabhala participated in the event. As part of its research to enable productive discussions of the critical internet governance issues at the meeting and elsewhere CIS published a total of 16 blog entries. </li>
<li>We conducted an empirical study of five separate and diverse banks (State Bank of India, Central Bank of India, ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank) to gain a practical perspective on the existing banking practices and policies in India, and published a Banking Policy Guide. </li>
<li>As part of the Making Change project Denisse Albornoz interviewed Tuhin Paul, an artist and storyteller behind Menstrupedia, an India-based social venture creating comics to shatter the myths and misunderstandings surrounding menstruation around the world. Denisse provides an analysis of ‘menstrual activism’ — a movement that despite its trajectory in feminism remains unnoticed in most accounts of traditional and digital activism.</li>
<li>Six research studies were commissioned by HEIRA-CSCS (over November 2013-March 2014) as part of the collaborative exercise with CIS to map the Digital Humanities within a broad rubric of exploring changes at the intersection of youth, technology and higher education in India. P.P.Sneha in her blog post presents a broad overview of some of the key learnings from these projects.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><br /><b><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/jobs">Jobs<br /></a></b>CIS is seeking applications for the post of <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/jobs/programme-officer-access-to-knowledge-and-openness">Programme Officer</a> (Access to Knowledge). There are two vacancies for this post one in Delhi and one in Bangalore. To apply, please send your resume to Sunil Abraham (<a href="mailto:sunil@cis-india.org">sunil@cis-india.org</a>), Nirmita Narasimhan (<a href="mailto:nirmita@cis-india.org">nirmita@cis-india.org</a>) and Pranesh Prakash (<a href="mailto:pranesh@cis-india.org">pranesh@cis-india.org</a>) with three writing samples of which at least one demonstrates your analytic skills, and one that shows your ability to simplify complex policy issues.</p>
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility">Accessibility and Inclusion</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Under a grant from the Hans Foundation we are doing two projects. The first project is on creating a national resource kit of state-wise laws, policies and programmes on issues relating to persons with disabilities in India. We compiled the first draft of the kit (29 states and 6 union territories). The chapters along with the quarterly reports can be accessed on the <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/resources/national-resource-kit-project">project page</a>. The second project is on developing text-to-speech software for 15 Indian languages. The progress made so far in the project can be accessed <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/resources/nvda-text-to-speech-synthesizer">here</a>.</p>
<h3>NVDA</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Monthly Update</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/resources/nvda-text-to-speech-synthesizer">NVDA e-Speak Text-to-Speech Project Update</a> (by Suman Dogra, April 28, 2014). </li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">National Resource Kit</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entry</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/central-government-schemes">Central Government Schemes</a> (by Anandhi Viswanathan and CLPR, April 27, 2014). </li>
</ul>
<h3>Other</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entry</b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/polling-pains">Polling Pains</a> (by Amba Salelkar, April 30, 2014). </li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Media Coverage</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/new-indian-express-april-8-2014-papiya-bhattacharya-are-elections-fair-to-people-with-special-needs">Are Elections Fair to People With Special Needs?</a> (by Papiya Bhattacharya, New Indian Express, April 8, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/vijay-karnataka-april-9-2014-enabling-elections">Enabling Elections</a> (Vijay Karnataka, April 9, 2014). This was published in Kannada. </li>
</ul>
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k">Access to Knowledge</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">As part of the Access to Knowledge programme we are doing two projects. The first one (Pervasive Technologies) under a grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is for research on the complex interplay between pervasive technologies and intellectual property to support intellectual property norms that encourage the proliferation and development of such technologies as a social good. The second one (Wikipedia) under a grant from the Wikimedia Foundation is for the growth of Indic language communities and projects by designing community collaborations and partnerships that recruit and cultivate new editors and explore innovative approaches to building projects.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">WIPO SCCR</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Participation in Events</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li>Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights: Twenty-Seventh Session (organized by WIPO, Geneva, April 28 – May 2, 2014). Nehaa Chaudhari participated in the event. France, Greece, India and the European Union <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/france-greece-india-eu-sign-marrakesh-treaty">signed the Marrakesh Treaty</a>. CIS delivered statements on <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/cis-statement-on-technological-measures-of-protection-27-sccr-on-limitations-exceptions-for-libraries-and-archives">Technological Measures of Protection on Limitations and Exceptions for Libraries and Archives</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/cis-statement-orphan-works-retracted-withdrawn-works-and-works-out-of-commerce-at-27-sccr-on-limitations-and-exceptions-for-libraries-and-archives">Orphan Works, Retracted and Withdrawn Works, and Works out of Commerce on Limitations and Exceptions for Libraries and Archives</a>, and on the <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/cis-statement-27-sccr-on-wipo-proposed-treaty-for-protection-of-broadcasting-organizations">WIPO Proposed Treaty for the Protection of Broadcasting Organizations</a>. Transcripts of the discussions can be <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/wipo-sccr-27-discussions-transcripts">accessed here</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entries</b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/report-on-cpdip-2">Report on CDIP-12</a> (by Puneeth Nagraj, April 22, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/signing-and-ratification-of-marrakesh-treaty-to-facilitate-access-to-published-works-for-persons-blind-visually-impaired-print-disabled">Signing and Ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled</a> (by Nehaa Chaudhari, April 25, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/report-on-wipo-director-general-meeting-with-ngos">Report on the WIPO Director General’s Meeting with NGO’s</a> (by Puneeth Nagraj, April 30, 2014). </li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Media Coverage</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/knowledge-ecology-international-manon-ress-april-29-2014-is-wipo-treaty-for-broadcasters-moving-forward-at-sccr-27">Is the WIPO Treaty for Broadcasters Moving Forward at SCCR 27?</a> (by Manon Ress, Knowledge Ecology International, April 29, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/ip-watch-catherine-saez-may-1-2014-wipo-authors-civil-society-watchful-of-rights-for-broadcasters">At WIPO, Authors, Civil Society Watchful of Rights for Broadcasters</a> (by Catherine Saez, IP Watch, May 1, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Other</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Event Organized</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/events/nasa-international-space-apps-challenge-2014">NASA International Space Apps Challenge 2014</a> (CIS, Bangalore, April 12 – 13, 2014). </li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entries</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/online-survey-for-indian-mobile-app-developer-enterprise">Online Survey for Indian Mobile App Developer Startups & Enterprises</a> (by Samantha Cassar, April 9, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/app-developers-series-services-products-dichotomy-ip-2013-part-i">App Developers Series: Services, Products, Dichotomy & IP – Part I</a> (by Samantha Cassar, April 10, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/report-on-cpdip-2">Report on CDIP-12</a> (by Puneeth Nagraj, April 22, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/report-on-31-session-of-standing-committee-on-trademarks">Report on the 31st Session of the Standing Committee on Trademarks</a> (by Puneeth Nagraj, April 29, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Wikipedia</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The following has been done under <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/access-to-knowledge-program-plan">grant from the Wikimedia Foundation</a>:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Announcement</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/cis-signs-mou-with-mysore-university">CIS Signs MoU with Mysore University</a> (by Dr. U.B.Pavanaja, April 16, 2014): for converting to Unicode and re-releasing their encyclopaedia under Creative Commons License. Dr. U.B. Pavanaja on behalf of the CIS-A2K team signed the MoU. The signing event took place earlier on February 22, 2014. </li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Articles</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/openaccessweek-april-3-2014-subhashish-panigrahi-vachana-sanchaya">Vachana Sanchaya: Bringing Access to 11th century Kannada Literature</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, April 3, 2014)</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/subhashish-panigrahi-article-in-amalekha">୭୯ ବର୍ଷରେ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ଓଡ଼ିଶା: ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରୀୟ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଓ କମ୍ପ୍ୟୁଟରରେ ଏହାର ବ୍ୟବହାର</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, Amalekha, April 4, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/kadambini-april-8-2014-subhashish-panigrahi-odia-language-and-development-in-digital-era">ଓଡ଼ିଅା ଭାଷାର ବିକାଶ ଓ କମ୍ପ୍ୟୁଟର</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, The Kadambini, April 8, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/creative-commons-subhashish-panigrahi-april-18-2014-report-from-india-relicensing-books-under-creative-commons">Report from India: Relicensing books under CC</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, Creative Commons Blog, April 19, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/dna-rohini-lakshane-april-26-2014-14-books-re-released-under-creative-commons-license">14 Odia books re-released under Creative Commons license</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, DNA, April 26, 2014). The article was edited by Rohini Lakshane.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Events Organized</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/events/tulu-wikipedia-workshop">Tulu Wikipedia Workshop</a> (organized by CIS-A2K, Balmatta Computer Centre, Mangalore, April 5, 2014). Dr. U.B.Pavanaja conducted the workshop. </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/daijiworld-april-6-2014-mangalore-wikipedia-workshop-held-for-konkani-writers">Konkani Wikipedia Workshop</a> (co-organized by All India Konkani Writers Organization and CIS-A2K, Kalaangann Shaktinagar, April 6, 2014). Dr. U.B.Pavanaja conducted the workshop.</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/events/tulu-wikipedia-editathon">Tulu Wikipedia Editathon</a> (co-organized by Karnataka Theological College and CIS-A2K, Mangalore, April 19, 2014). Dr. U.B.Pavanaja conducted the workshop.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Participation in Events</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/wiki-session-for-prajavani-journalists">Wikipedia Session for Trainee Journos</a> (organized by Prajavani, Bangalore, April 28, 2014). Dr. U.B.Pavanaja took a session for the trainee journalists of Prajavani Kannada daily on Wikipedia. </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/world-book-day">World Book Day</a> (organized by Karnataka Publishers’ Association, Indian Institute of World Culture, Basavanagudi, Bangalore, April 23, 2014). Dr. U.B.Pavanaja was a speaker.</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/relevance-of-bhagabat-tungi-in-evolution-of-odia-language?searchterm=Relevance+of+Bhagabat+Tungi+in+the+evolution+of+Odia+language+from+Buddha+era+to+digital+age">Relevance of Bhagabat Tungi in the evolution of Odia language from Buddha era to digital age</a> (organized by The Intellects, Shree Jagannath Mandir and Odisha Art and Cultural Center, New Delhi, April 24, 2014). Subhashish Panigrahi participated in the event.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Media Coverage<br /></b>CIS gave its inputs to the following media coverage:</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/daijiworld-april-6-2014-mangalore-wikipedia-workshop-held-for-konkani-writers">M'lore: Wikipedia Workshop held for Konkani writers</a> (Daijiworld, April 6, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://rising.globalvoicesonline.org/blog/2014/04/10/odia-loves-wikipedia/">Odia Loves Wikipedia</a> (Rising Voices, April 10, 2014). This was also published in <a href="http://es.globalvoicesonline.org/2014/04/12/el-idioma-oriya-ama-a-wikipedia/">Spanish</a> and in <a href="http://ru.globalvoicesonline.org/2014/04/13/28775/">Russian</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/international-book-day/article5932673.ece">International Book Day</a> (The Hindu, April 21, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/deccan-herald-april-23-2014-books-are-a-bridge-between-generations">Books are a bridge between generations</a> (The Deccan Herald, April 23, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/vijayavani-april-23-2014-world-book-day">World Book Day Report</a> (Vijaywani, April 23, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/eodishasamacharseminar-on-odia-language-in-new-delhi-by-the-intellects">Seminar on Odia Language in New Delhi by the Intellects</a> (Odisha Samachar, April 24, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/delhi-meet-focuses-on-bhagabat-tungi-revival.html">Delhi meet focuses on Bhagabat Tungi revival</a> (The Pioneer, April 26, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance">Internet Governance</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">As part of its research on privacy and free speech, CIS is engaged with two different projects. The first one (under a grant from Privacy International and International Development Research Centre (IDRC)) is on surveillance and freedom of expression (SAFEGUARDS). The second one (under a grant from MacArthur Foundation) is on studying the restrictions placed on freedom of expression online by the Indian government.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">NETmundial</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">As part of its participation in the NETmundial event organized in Brazil by Brazilian Internet Steering Committee in partnership with /1Net at Sao Paulo on April 23 and 24, 2014 CIS produced a total of 16 outputs:</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>Sumandro Chattapadhyay produced these visual representations: <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-comparing-appearance-of-fifty-most-frequent-words">Comparing Appearance of Fifty Most Frequent Words</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-contributions-by-countries-of-origin">Contributions by Countries of Origin</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-contributions-by-types-of-organisation">Contributions by Types of Organisation</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-which-countries-have-not-contributed-to-net-mundial">Which Countries Have Not Submitted Contributions to NETmundial?</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-which-governments-have-not-contributed-to-net-mundial">Which Governments Have Not Submitted Contributions to NETmundial?</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-word-clouds-of-contributions-by-types-of-organisation">Word Clouds of Contributions by Types of Organisation</a> and <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-tracking-multi-stakeholder-across-contributions">Tracking *Multistakeholder* across Contributions</a>. Achal Prabhala participated in the event and wrote these: <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-day-0">Day 0</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-day-1">Day 1</a>, and <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-day-2">Day 2</a>. <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/netmundial-transcript-archive">Transcript of the NETmundial</a> for archival purposes was made available by Pranesh Prakash. Smarika Kumar produced two research outputs: <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-and-suggestions-for-iana-administration">NETmundial and Suggestions for IANA Administration</a> and <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/accountability-of-icann">Accountability of ICANN</a>. Geetha Hariharan wrote two blog posts: <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/marco-civil-da-internet">Marco Civil da Internet: Brazil’s ‘Internet Constitution’</a> and <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/brazil-passes-marco-civil-us-fcc-alters-stance-on-net-neutrality">Brazil passes Marco Civil; the US-FCC Alters its Stance on Net Neutrality</a>. Jyoti Panday wrote one blog post: <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/net-mundial-roadmap-defining-roles-of-stakeholders-in-multistakeholderism">NETmundial Roadmap: Defining the Roles of Stakeholders in Multistakeholderism</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Privacy</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Analyses</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/report-of-group-of-experts-on-privacy-vs-leaked-2014-privacy-bill">Report of the Group of Experts on Privacy vs. The Leaked 2014 Privacy Bill</a> (by Elonnai Hickok, April 14, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/banking-policy-guide">Banking Policy Guide</a> (by Elonnai Hickok, April 22, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/the-embodiment-of-right-to-privacy-within-domestic-legislation">The Embodiment of the Right to Privacy within Domestic Legislation</a> (by Tanvi Mani, April 29, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Articles</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/yojana-april-2014-sunil-abraham-who-governs-the-internet-implications-for-freedom-and-national-security">Who Governs the Internet? Implications for Freedom and National Security</a> (by Sunil Abraham, Yojana, April 4, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/the-hoot-bhairav-acharya-april-15-2014-privacy-law-in-india-a-muddled-field-1">Privacy Law in India: A Muddled Field – I</a> (by Bhairav Acharya, The Hoot, April 15, 2014). </li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/council-for-responsible-genetics-april-2014-sunil-abraham-very-big-brother">Very Big Brother</a> (by Sunil Abraham, GeneWatch, January – April 2014 Issue).</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entry</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/south-african-protection-personal-information-act-2013">South African Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013</a> (by Divij Joshi, April 16, 2014). </li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Participation in Events</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://cgcs.asc.upenn.edu/fileLibrary/PDFs/MW_Updated_Agenda_for_Website.pdf">Milton Wolf Seminar on Media and Diplomacy: The Third Man Theme Revisited: Foreign Policies of the Internet in a Time Of Surveillance and Disclosure</a> (jointly organized by the Center for Global Communication Studies (CGCS) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication, the American Austrian Foundation (AAF), and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (DA), Vienna, March 30 – April 1, 2014). Nishant Shah participated in the event as a panelist.</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/gsma-partners-meeting">GSMA Partners Meeting</a> (organized by Privacy International, London, April 9, 2014). Elonnai Hickok participated in this meeting.</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/critical-life-of-information">The Critical Life of Information</a> (organized by Yale University, 100 Wall Street, April 11, 2014). Nishant Shah spoke in the panel on Big Data and Governance. Malavika Jayaram spoke in the panel on Big Data and the Arts.</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/round-table-on-user-safety-on-internet">Round-table on User Safety on the Internet</a> (organized by Consumer Voice and Google, Infantry Road, Bangalore, April 24, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/ssn-2014-sixth-biannual-surveillance-and-society-conference">6th Biannual Surveillance and Society Conference</a> (organized by Eticas Research and Consulting, University of Barcelona and CCCB, April 26 – 24, 2014). Malavika Jayaram gave a talk on “Biometrics in beta: experimenting on a nation (while normalising surveillance for 1.2 billion people)”.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: justify; ">Other</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Articles</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/cgcs-nishant-shah-april-1-2014-between-the-local-and-the-global">Between the Local and the Global: Notes Towards Thinking the Nature of Internet Policy</a> (by Nishant Shah, cgcsblog, April 1, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/dml-central-april-17-2014-nishant-shah-networks-what-you-dont-see-is-what-you-for-get">Networks: What You Don’t See is What You (for)Get</a> (by Nishant Shah, April 17, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news">News & Media Coverage</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS gave its inputs to the following media coverage:</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/outlook-april-1-2014-two-indians-in-global-commission-on-web-governance">Two Indians in Global Commission on Web Governance</a> (April 1, 2014): Sunil Abraham was named as one of the experts. This was published in <a href="http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=835007">Outlook</a>, <a href="http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-04-01/news/48767578_1_internet-governance-two-indians-general-dynamics">Economic Times</a>, and in <a href="http://mattersindia.com/two-indians-among-25-selected-for-internet-governance-network/">Matters India</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/newslaundry-april-1-2014-somi-das-the-take-down-of-free-speech-online">The Take Down of Free Speech Online</a> (Newslaundry, April 1, 2014): CIS research on Intermediary Liabilities is quoted.</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/livemint-april-1-2014-shweta-taneja-the-politics-of-facebook">The politics of Facebook</a> (by Shweta Tiwari, April 1, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/business-standard-april-3-2014-surabhi-agarwal-new-privacy-bill-more-refined-has-wider-ambit-say-experts">New privacy Bill more refined & has wider ambit, say experts</a> (by Surabhi Agarwal, Business Standard, April 2, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/economic-times-april-3-2014-m-rajshekhar-should-nandan-nilekani-aadhar-project-for-identity-proof-and-welfare-delivery-exist">Should Nandan Nilekani's Aadhaar project, for identity proof and welfare delivery, exist at all?</a> (by M. Rajshekhar, April 3, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/economic-times-april-10-2014-varuni-khosla-lok-sabha-polls">Lok sabha polls: Social media companies launch special pages for polls</a> (by Varuni Khosla, Economic Times, April 10, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/governance-now-april-12-2014-pratap-vikram-singh-parties-give-short-shrift-to-privacy">Parties give short shrift to privacy</a> (by Pratap Vikram Singh, GovernanceNow.com, April 12, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/governance-now-april-13-2014-pratap-vikram-singh-no-party-has-got-clear-stand-aadhaar-fate-hangs-in-balance">No party's got a clear stand, Aadhaar's fate hangs in balance</a> (by Pratap Vikram Singh, GovernanceNow.com, April 13, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/the-times-of-india-april-24-2014-india-wants-core-internet-infrastructure">'India wants core internet infrastructure'</a> (by Indrani Bagchi, April 24, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/the-times-of-india-april-25-indrani-bagchi-india-for-inclusive-internet-governance">India for inclusive internet governance</a> (by Indrani Bagchi, April 25, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/dna-amrita-madhukalya-april-26-2014-facebook-launches-fb-newswire-for-journalists-loses-part-of-its-immunity-under-it-act-2000">Facebook launches FB Newswire for journalists; loses part of its immunity under IT Act 2000</a> (by Amrita Madhukalya, DNA, April 26, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities">Digital Humanities</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS is building research clusters in the field of Digital Humanities. The Digital will be used as a way of unpacking the debates in humanities and social sciences and look at the new frameworks, concepts and ideas that emerge in our engagement with the digital. The clusters aim to produce and document new conversations and debates that shape the contours of Digital Humanities in Asia:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entries</b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/confession-in-digital-age">Confession in the Digital Age</a> (by Rimi Nandy, April 14, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/animating-the-archive">Animating the Archive – A Survey of Printed Digitized Materials in Bengali and their Use in Higher Education</a> (by Saidul Haque, April 14, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/doing-digital-humanities">‘Doing’ Digital Humanities: Reflections on a project on Online Feminism in India</a> (by Sujatha Subramanian, April 14, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/the-machinistic-paradigm-collapse">The Machinistic Paradigm Collapse</a> (by Anirudh Sridhar, April 14, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/exploring-the-digital-landscape">Exploring the Digital Landscape: An Overview</a> (by P.P.Sneha, April 14, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/raw/digital-humanities/digital-humanities-problem-of-definition">Digital Humanities and the Problem of Definition</a> (by P.P.Sneha, April 25, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/digital-natives">Digital Natives</a></h2>
<p>CIS is doing a research project titled “Making Change”. The project will explore new ways of defining, locating, and understanding change in network societies. Having the thought piece 'Whose Change is it Anyway' as an entry point for discussion and reflection, the project will feature profiles, interviews and responses of change-makers to questions around current mechanisms and practices of change in South Asia and South East Asia:</p>
<h3>Making Change Project<b> </b></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Blog Entry</b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/digital-natives/making-change/multimedia-storytellers">Multimedia Storytellers: Panel Discussion</a> (by Denisse Albornoz, April 16, 2014).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/digital-natives/making-change/menstrupedia-taboo-beautiful">From Taboo to Beautiful – Menstrupedia</a> (by Denisse Albornoz, April 30, 2014).</li>
</ul>
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom">Telecom</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS is involved in promoting access and accessibility to telecommunications services and resources and has provided inputs to ongoing policy discussions and consultation papers published by TRAI. It has prepared reports on unlicensed spectrum and accessibility of mobile phones for persons with disabilities and also works with the USOF to include funding projects for persons with disabilities in its mandate:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Event Organized</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/events/tech-talk-landscape-of-wireless-communications-and-electromagnetic-spectrum">Tech Talk: Landscape of Wireless Communications & Electromagnetic Spectrum</a> (CIS, Bangalore, April 28, 2014). A. Radha Krishna gave a talk on wireless communication technologies.</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/">About CIS</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Centre for Internet and Society is a non-profit research organization that works on policy issues relating to freedom of expression, privacy, accessibility for persons with disabilities, access to knowledge and IPR reform, and openness (including open government, FOSS, open standards, etc.), and engages in academic research on digital natives and digital humanities.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">► Follow us elsewhere</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify; ">
<li>Twitter:<a href="https://twitter.com/CISA2K"> </a><a href="https://twitter.com/CISA2K">https://twitter.com/CISA2K</a></li>
<li>Facebook group: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cisa2k">https://www.facebook.com/cisa2k</a></li>
<li>Visit us at:<a href="https://cis-india.org/"> </a><a href="https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/India_Access_To_Knowledge">https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/India_Access_To_Knowledge</a></li>
<li>E-mail: <a href="mailto:a2k@cis-india.org">a2k@cis-india.org</a></li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">► Support Us</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Please help us defend consumer / citizen rights on the Internet! Write a cheque in favour of ‘The Centre for Internet and Society’ and mail it to us at No. 194, 2nd ‘C’ Cross, Domlur, 2nd Stage, Bengaluru – 5600 71.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">► Request for Collaboration:<br />We invite researchers, practitioners, and theoreticians, both organisationally and as individuals, to collaboratively engage with Internet and society and improve our understanding of this new field. To discuss the research collaborations, write to Sunil Abraham, Executive Director, at <a href="mailto:sunil@cis-india.org">sunil@cis-india.org</a> or Nishant Shah, Director – Research, at <a href="mailto:nishant@cis-india.org">nishant@cis-india.org</a>. To discuss collaborations on Indic language Wikipedia, write to T. Vishnu Vardhan, Programme Director, A2K, at <a href="mailto:vishnu@cis-india.org">vishnu@cis-india.org</a>.</p>
<hr style="text-align: justify; " />
<p style="text-align: justify; "><i>CIS is grateful to its primary donor the Kusuma Trust founded by Anurag Dikshit and Soma Pujari, philanthropists of Indian origin for its core funding and support for most of its projects. CIS is also grateful to its other donors, Wikimedia Foundation, Ford Foundation, Privacy International, UK, Hans Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and IDRC for funding its various projects.</i></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><i> </i></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2014-bulletin'>http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2014-bulletin</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaAccess to KnowledgeDigital NativesTelecomAccessibilityInternet GovernanceOpennessResearchers at Work2014-07-04T03:38:00ZPageApril 2013 Bulletin
http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2013-bulletin
<b>The Centre for Internet & Society (CIS) welcomes you to the fourth issue of its newsletter for the year 2013. In this issue we bring you an overview of our research programs, updates of events organised by us, events we participated in, news and media coverage, and videos of some of our recent events.</b>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/celebrating-5-years-of-cis"><b>Celebrating 5 Years of CIS</b></a><br />We at the Centre for Internet and Society celebrate 5 years of existence with an exhibition showcasing our work and accomplishments over this time. The exhibition will be held concurrently at both our Bangalore and Delhi offices from May 20 to 24, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.</p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/google-policy-fellowship-call-for-applications-2013">Google Policy Fellowship</a></b><br />CIS is inviting applications for the Google Policy Fellowship programme. Google is providing a USD 7,500 stipend to the India fellow who will be selected by July 1, 2013. Fellowship focus areas include Access to Knowledge, Openness in India, Freedom of Expression, Privacy, and Telecom Send in your applications for the position by June 15, 2013.</p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>Jobs</b><br /> CIS invites applications for the posts of <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/jobs/vacancy-for-developer">Developer</a> (NVDA Screen Reader Project), and <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/jobs/programme-officer-internet-governance">Programme Officer</a> (Internet Governance). To apply send your resume to <a href="mailto:sunil@cis-india.org">sunil@cis-india.org</a> and <a href="mailto:pranesh@cis-india.org">pranesh@cis-india.org</a>. CIS also invites applications for the post of <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/jobs/programme-officer-pilot-projects-access-to-knowledge">Programme Officer</a> (Access to Knowledge, Pilot Projects). To apply for this position send your resume to <a href="mailto:vishnu@cis-india.org">vishnu@cis-india.org</a>.</p>
<hr />
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility">Accessibility</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS is doing two projects in partnership with the <b>Hans Foundation</b>. One is to create a national resource kit of state-wise laws, policies and programmes on issues relating to persons with disabilities in India and another is for developing a screen reader and text-to- speech synthesizer for Indian languages. CIS is also working with the World Blind Union and many other organisations to develop a Treaty for the Visually Impaired helped by the WIPO:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>National Resource Kit for Persons with Disabilities</b><br />Anandhi Viswanathan from CIS and Manojna Yeluri from the Centre for Law and Policy Research are working in this project. Draft chapters have been published. Feedback and comments are invited from readers for the chapters on Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-himachal-pradesh-call-for-comments">The Himachal Pradesh Chapter</a> (by Anandhi Viswanathan, April 30, 2013).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-goa-call-for-comments">Goa Chapter</a> (by Anandhi Viswanathan, April 30, 2013).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-jammu-kashmir-call-for-comments">The Jammu & Kashmir Chapter</a> (by Anandhi Viswanathan, April 30, 2013).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-rajasthan-call-for-comments">The Rajasthan Chapter</a> (by Manojna Yeluri, April 30, 2013).</li>
</ul>
<p>Note: <i>All of these are early drafts and will be reviewed and updated</i>.</p>
<p><b>Events Organised</b></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/girls-in-ict-day-mithra-jyothi">Girls in ICT Day</a> (April 25, 2013, Mitra Jyothi Auditorium, HSR Layout, Bangalore). Dr. U.B. Pavanaja gave a talk on Social Media and Kannada Language for Women with Disabilities. Sara Morais wrote an event report.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/events/global-accessibility-awareness-day-2013">Global Accessibility Awareness Day</a> (May 9, 2013, TERI, Southern Regional Centre, Domlur, Bangalore).</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Announcement</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/cis-itu-d-sector-membership">CIS Gets ITU-D Sector Membership</a>: CIS has become a sector member of ITU-D.</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/about/a2k">Access to Knowledge</a> and <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness">Openness</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Wikimedia Foundation <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/access-to-knowledge-program-plan">awarded</a> CIS a two year grant of INR 26,000,000 to support and develop the growth of Indic language communities and projects by community collaborations and partnerships. This is being carried out by the Access to Knowledge team based in Delhi. CIS is also doing a project (Pervasive Technologies) on examining the relationship between production of pervasive technologies and intellectual property. CIS also promotes openness including open government data, open standards, open access, and free/libre/open source software through its Openness programme.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/access-to-knowledge-program-plan"><b>Wikipedia</b></a><br />Beginning from September 1, 2012, Wikimedia Foundation <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/access-to-knowledge-program-plan">awarded</a> CIS a two-year grant of INR 26,000,000 to support and develop free knowledge in India. The <a href="http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Access_To_Knowledge/Team" title="Access To Knowledge/Team">A2K team</a> consists of four members based in Delhi: <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/about/people/our-team">T. Vishnu Vardhan</a>, <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/people/our-team">Nitika Tandon</a> and <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/people/our-team">Subhashish Panigrahi</a>, and one team member <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/about/people/our-team">Dr. U.B. Pavanaja</a> who is working from Bangalore office. <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/people/our-team">Noopur Raval</a>, Programme Officer has left the organisation. April 24, 2013 was her last working day.</p>
<p><b>Indic Wikipedia Visualisation Project</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/indic-wikipedia-visualisation-project-visualising-page-views-and-project-pages">Indic Wikipedia Visualisation Project #2: Visualising Page Views and Project Pages</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Blog Entries</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/indian-wiki-women-history-month">Indian WikiWomen celebrate Women’s History Month</a> (by Netha Hussain, April 29, 2013).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/konkani-wikipedia-analysis">Analysis of Konkani Wikipedia: Facts & Challenges</a> (by Nitika Tandon, April 30, 2013).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/odia-wikipedia-needs-assessment">Odia Wikipedia: Needs Assessment</a> (by Subhashish Panigrahi, April 30, 2013).</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Event Organised</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul>
<b> </b>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/events/kannada-wikipedia-workshop-udupi-april-29-2013">Kannada Wikipedia Workshop</a> (April 29, 2013, Govinda Pai Research Centre, MGM College Udupi). Dr. U.B. Pavanaja led the workshop and gave a talk on Kannada Wikipedia.</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Events Co-organised</b><br />The following events were organised in the month of March but reports were written during the month of April. Vishnu Vardhan and Subhashish Panigrahi held meetings with wikipedians:</p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/wiki-meet-up-kolkata">Kolkata Wiki Community Meetup</a> (organised by CIS and Kolkata Wiki Community, March 14, 2013). </li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/odia-wikipedia-cuttack-community-meetup-march-16-2013">Odia Wikipedia - Cuttack Community Meetup</a> (organised by CIS and Odia Wiki Community, Cuttack, March 16, 2013).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/blog/odia-wikipedia-meet-up-bhubaneswar-march-17-2013">Odia Wikipedia – Bhubaneswar Community Meetup</a> (organised by CIS and Odia Wiki Community, Bhubaneswar, March 17, 2013). </li>
</ul>
<p>The following event was organised in the month of April. We will be publishing the report soon:</p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/events/telegu-wiki-mahotsavam-2013">Telugu Wiki Mahotsavam 2013</a> (organised by Telugu Wikipedia Community and CIS, Hyderabad, April 9 – 11, 2013). Vishnu Vardhan was one of the trainers at the Wikipedia Academy at Centre for Good Governance on April 9, 2013. Vishnu Vardhan spoke about the Access to Knowledge work in one of the sessions of Wikimedia Meeting with Media Heads on April 10, 2013. Vishnu Vardhan gave a talk on A2K’s plans for the growth of Telegu Wikipedia in 2013-14 at the Telegu Wikipedia general meeting on April 11, 2013. Vishnu Vardhan also gave a talk about Access to Knowledge in the digital era at the Wiki Chaitanya Vedika on April 11, 2013.</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Other </b><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k"><b>Access to Knowledge</b></a><b> Updates</b></p>
<p><b>WIPO</b></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/blog/cis-intervention-eu-blocking-wipo-treaty-for-blind">CIS Intervention on the Treaty for the Visually Impaired at SCCR/SS/GE/2/13</a> (Geneva, April 18 – 20, 2013). Pranesh Prakash participated in the session and spoke about the rights of the visually impaired.</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/about/internet-governance">Internet Governance</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Internet Governance programme conducts research around the various social, technical, and political underpinnings of global and national Internet governance, and includes online privacy, freedom of speech, and Internet governance mechanisms and processes. Currently, CIS is doing a project with <b>Privacy International</b>, London to facilitate research and events around surveillance, and freedom of speech and expression.</p>
<p><b>Information Technology</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul>
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/it-amendment-act-69-a-rules-draft-and-final-version-comparison">IT (Amendment) Act, 2008, 69A Rules: Draft and Final Version Comparison</a> (by Jadine Lannon, April 27, 2013).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/indian-telegraph-act-419-a-rules-and-it-amendment-act-69-rules">Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, 419A Rules and IT (Amendment) Act, 2008, 69 Rules</a> (by Jadine Lannon, April 28, 2013).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/it-amendment-act-69-rules-draft-and-final-version-comparison">IT (Amendment) Act, 2008, 69 Rules: Draft and Final Version Comparison</a> (by Jadine Lannon, April 30, 2013).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/it-amendment-act-69-b-draft-and-final-version-comparison">IT (Amendment) Act, 2008, 69B Rules: Draft and Final Version Comparison</a> (by Jadine Lannon, April 30, 2013).</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Resources</b><br />The below rules were published recently:</p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/resources/it-procedure-and-safeguards-for-interception-monitoring-and-decryption-of-information-rules-2009">Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring and Decryption of Information) Rules, 2009</a></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/resources/it-procedure-and-safeguard-for-monitoring-and-collecting-traffic-data-or-information-rules-2009">Information Technology (Procedure and safeguard for Monitoring and Collecting Traffic Data or Information) Rules, 2009</a></li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/resources/indian-telegraph-act-section-419-a-rules">Rules Under Section 419A of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885</a></li>
</ul>
<p><b>Newspaper Column</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/indian-express-april-6-2013-nishant-shah-off-the-record">Off the Record</a> (by Nishant Shah, Indian Express, April 6, 2013).</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Privacy</b></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/indias-big-brother-the-central-monitoring-system">India´s ´Big Brother´: The Central Monitoring System</a> (CMS) (by Maria Xynou, April 8, 2013).</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Events Organised</b><br />Maria Xynou gives an overview of the discussions and recommendations from the privacy round tables held in Delhi and Bangalore:</p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/report-on-the-first-privacy-round-table-meeting">A Privacy Round Table in Delhi</a> (organized by CIS and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, FICCI Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi, April 3, 2013).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/report-on-the-2nd-privacy-round-table">A Privacy Round Table in Bangalore</a> (organized by CIS and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Jayamahal Palace, Jayamahal Road, Bangalore, April 20, 2013).</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Announcements</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul>
<b> </b>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">2nd Expert Committee meeting on draft 'Human DNA Profiling Bill 2012': The Department of Biotechnology has constituted an Expert Committee to discuss various issues of this Bill in detail. Sunil Abraham has been nominated as one of the members of this Committee. A meeting of this Expert Committee has been scheduled for May 13, 2013 under the Chairmanship of Dr. T. S. Rao, Adviser, DBT.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Chinmayi Arun is one of the international experts supporting the Internet & Jurisdiction project, a global multi-stakeholder dialogue process.</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Upcoming Events</b></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/privacy-round-table-chennai">A Privacy Round Table in Chennai</a> (co-organised with Data Security Council of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Residency Towers, Sir Thyagaraja Road, T Nagar, Chennai, May 18, 10.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/consilience-2013-law-technology-committee-nls-bangalore">Consilience – 2013</a> (National Law School of India University, Bangalore, May 26 – 27, 2013).</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Other Event Hosted</b></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/events/a-talk-by-marialaura-ghidni">Or-bits.com — A Talk by Marialaura Ghidini</a> (CIS, Bangalore, April 19, 2013). Marialaura Ghidini gave a talk abou the creation and activities of or-bits.com, a web-based curatorial platform that she founded in 2009.</li>
</ul>
<h3>News and Media</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/the-hindu-april-1-2013-prashant-jha-clarify-and-define-terms-in-it-rules-panel-tells-govt">Clarify and define terms in IT rules, panel tells govt</a>. (by Prashant Jha, Hindu, April 1, 2013).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/privacy-surgeon-simon-davies-april-9-2013-india-takes-its-first-serious-step-toward-privacy-regulation">India takes its first serious step toward privacy regulation – but it may be misguided</a> (Privacy Surgeon, April 9, 2013).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/ndtv-video-april-11-2013-the-social-network-regulating-social-media-unrealistic-impossible-necessary">Regulating Social Media: Unrealistic, Impossible, Necessary?</a> (NDTV, April 11, 2013). Pranesh Prakash participated in a discussion on social media aired on NDTV.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/hindustan-times-zia-haq-april-12-2013-social-media-may-influence-160-lok-sabha-seats-in-2014">Social media may influence 160 LS seats in 2014</a> (by Zia Haq, Hindustan Times, April 12, 2013).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/wall-street-journal-april-15-2013-r-jai-krishna-vote-will-social-media-impact-the-election">Vote: Will Social Media Impact the Election?</a> (by R. Jai Krishna, Wall Street Journal, April 15, 2013).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/d-w-april-15-2013-untangling-the-web-of-indias-ungovernable-net">Untangling the web of India's 'ungovernable' Net</a> (Deutsche Welle, April 15, 2013).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/gni-annual-report-mentions-cis">CIS in GNI Annual Report</a> (April 25, 2013). CIS gets mentioned in GNI Annual Report. Sunil Abraham is quoted in it. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/india-together-april-27-2013-satarupa-sen-bhattacharya-is-free-speech-an-indian-value">Is free speech an Indian value?</a> (by Satarupa Sen Bhattacharya, India Together, April 27, 2013).</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h3><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/knowledge-repository-on-internet-access">Knowledge Repository on Internet Access</a></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS in partnership with the Ford Foundation is executing a project on Internet Access. It covers the history of the internet, technologies involved, principle and values of internet access, broadband market and universal access and will touch upon various polices and regulations which has an impact on internet access and bodies and mechanism which are responsible for formulation policies related to internet access. The blog posts and modules will be published in a new website: <a href="http://www.internet-institute.in">www.internet-institute.in</a>.</p>
<p><b>Upcoming Event</b><br />We are hosting an “Institute on Internet and Society” with the support of Ford Foundation India, which is to be held from June 8, 2013 to June 14, 2013. Call for registration and relevant details have been <a href="http://www.internet-institute.in/">announced</a>.</p>
<p>The following units have been published:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/knowledge-repository-on-internet-access/internet-infrastructure">Internet Infrastructure</a> (by Srividya Vaidyanathan, April 30, 2013).</li>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/knowledge-repository-on-internet-access/isp-introduction">Internet Service Provider – Introduction</a> (by Srividya Vaidyanathan, April 30, 2013).</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h3><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/about/telecom">Telecom</a></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS is involved in promoting access and accessibility of telecommunications services and resources and has provided inputs to ongoing policy discussions and consultation papers published by TRAI. It has prepared reports on unlicensed spectrum and accessibility of mobile phones for persons with disabilities and also works with the USOF to include funding projects for persons with disabilities in its mandate:</p>
<p><b>Newspaper Column</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul>
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/blog/organizing-india-blogspot-shyam-ponappa-april-4-2013-prioritizing-communications-energy">Prioritizing Communications & Energy</a> (by Shyam Ponappa, Business Standard and Organizing India Blogspot, April 4, 2013).</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Blog Entry</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<ul>
<b> </b>
<li><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/open-citizen-radio-networks-to-race-for-.radio-gtld">From Open Citizen Radio Networks to the Race for .RADIO gTLD</a> (by Sharath Chandra Ram, April 30, 2013).</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Event Participated</b></p>
<ul>
<li>Broadband Policy Course (organised by Lirne Asia, Bangalore, April 5 – 6, 2013). Nirmita Narasimhan and Snehashish Ghosh attended the course.</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2 style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://cis-india.org/about/newsletters/">About CIS</a></h2>
<p>The Centre for Internet and Society is a non-profit research organization that works on policy issues relating to freedom of expression, privacy, accessibility for persons with disabilities, access to knowledge and IPR reform, and openness (including open government, FOSS, open standards, etc.), and engages in academic research on digital natives and digital humanities.<br /> <b>Follow us elsewhere</b></p>
<ul>
<li>Get short, timely messages from us on <a href="https://twitter.com/cis_india">Twitter</a></li>
<li>Join the CIS group on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/28535315687/">Facebook</a></li>
<li>Visit us at <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/">http://cis-india.org</a></li>
</ul>
<p><b>Support Us</b><br />Please help us defend consumer / citizen rights on the Internet! Write a cheque in favour of ‘The Centre for Internet and Society’ and mail it to us at No. 194, 2nd ‘C’ Cross, Domlur, 2nd Stage, Bengaluru – 5600 71.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><b>Request for Collaboration</b><br />We invite researchers, practitioners, and theoreticians, both organisationally and as individuals, to collaboratively engage with Internet and society and improve our understanding of this new field. To discuss the research collaborations, write to Sunil Abraham, Executive Director, at <a href="mailto:sunil@cis-india.org">sunil@cis-india.org</a> or Nishant Shah, Director – Research, at <a href="mailto:nishant@cis-india.org">nishant@cis-india.org</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><i>CIS is grateful to its donors, Wikimedia Foundation, Ford Foundation, Privacy International, UK, Hans Foundation and the Kusuma Trust which was founded by Anurag Dikshit and Soma Pujari, philanthropists of Indian origin, for its core funding and support for most of its projects.</i></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2013-bulletin'>http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2013-bulletin</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaAccess to KnowledgeDigital NativesTelecomAccessibilityInternet GovernanceDigital HumanitiesCISRAWOpenness2013-05-31T08:07:38ZPageApril 2012 Bulletin
http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2012-bulletin
<b>In this issue of our newsletter, we bring you updates of our latest research, event reports, videos, news and media coverage during the month of April 2012:</b>
<h2>Internet Governance</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Internet Governance programme conducts research around the various social, technical, and political underpinnings of global and national Internet governance, and includes online privacy, freedom of speech, and Internet governance mechanisms and processes:</p>
<h3>Google Policy Fellowship</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/chilling-effects-on-free-expression-on-internet">Intermediary Liability in India: Chilling Effects on Free Expression on the Internet</a><br />Rishabh Dara, Google Policy Fellow<br />CIS in partnership with Google India conducted the Google Policy Fellowship 2011. This was offered for the first time in Asia Pacific as well as in India. Rishabh Dara was selected as a fellow. He researched upon issues relating to freedom of expression. The results of the paper demonstrate that the ‘Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules 2011’ notified by the Government of India on April 11, 2011 have a chilling effect on free expression.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Announcement</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/cis-joins-gni">The Centre for Internet & Society Joins the Global Network Initiative</a><br />CIS officially joined the Global Network Initiative. CIS would bring to GNI in-depth expertise on global internet governance as well as online freedom of expression and privacy in India. GNI Executive Director Susan Morgan said “<i>We are delighted to add our first member based in India and welcome CIS’s engagement in support of transparency and accountability in technology</i>.”</li>
</ul>
<h3>Op-ed in the Hindu</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/chilling-effects-frozen-words">Chilling Effects and Frozen Words</a> (Lawrence Liang, Hindu, April 30, 2012): “What if the real danger is not that we lose our freedom of speech and expression but our sense of humour as a nation?...One hopes that our lawmakers, even if they are averse to reading the Indian Constitution, will be slightly more open to the poetic licence granted by Kautilya.” </li>
</ul>
<h3>Columns in the Indian Express</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/idea-of-the-book">The Idea of the Book</a> (Nishant Shah, Indian Express, April 8, 2012): “Its future lies in a trans-media format that is ever evolving... The form of the book is going to change as it has over the last 500 years. However, the idea of the book — a receptacle that contains and records collective wisdom, information, ideas, knowledge, experiences and imagination of humankind – is here to stay.”</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/blog/india-broken-internet-law-multistakeholderism">India's Broken Internet Laws Need a Shot of Multi-stakeholderism</a> by Pranesh Prakash. (An edited version of this article was published in the Indian Express as <a href="http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/941491/">"Practise what you preach"</a> on Thursday, April 26, 2012.)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Event Reports</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/all-india-privacy-delhi-report">The All India Privacy Symposium</a> (India International Centre, New Delhi, February 4, 2012): The symposium was organised around five thematic panel discussions: privacy and transparency, privacy and e-governance initiatives, privacy and national security, privacy and banking and health privacy. Privacy India in partnership with CIS, International Development Research Centre, Privacy International, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and Society in Action Group organised this event.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/high-level-privacy-report">The High Level Privacy Conclave</a> (Paharpur Business Centre, Nehru Place Greens, New Delhi, February 3, 2012): The conclave was organised around two panels: national Security and privacy and internet and privacy. Malavika Jayaram moderated the first panel discussion on national Security and privacy. Sunil Abraham moderated the second panel discussion on internet and privacy. Privacy India in partnership with CIS, International Development Research Centre, Privacy International, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and Society in Action Group organised this event.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Events Organised</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/resisting-internet-censorship">Resisting Internet Censorship: Strategies for Furthering Freedom of Expression in India</a> (Bangalore International Centre, TERI Complex, Domlur, April 21, 2012): CIS co-organised this event with the Foundation for Media Professionals. Members of Parliament, P. Rajeeve and Rajeev Chandrashekar and Member of Legislative Council, Karnataka, V.R. Sudarshan participated in the event.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/talk-by-vasant-gangavane">Konkan Corridor Project — A Lecture by Vasant Gangavane</a> (Ashoka Innovators for the Public, Bangalore, April 16, 2012): Well known social worker Vasant Gangavane gave a lecture.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/internet-governance/cybernetic-vehicles">Braitenberg Cybernetic Vehicles: Workshop, Film Screening & Discussion</a> (Metaculture Media Lab, CIS, Bangalore, April 14, 2012): There was a short presentation about Braitenberg vehicles.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Events Participated</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/giga-conference">GIGA International Conference Series - 1</a> (NALSAR University of Law, Justice City Campus, Shameerpet, Hyderabad, April 5 and 6, 2012): The Institute of Global Internet Governance and Advocacy and Department of Electronics and Information Technology organised the conference. Sunil Abraham gave a lecture on <i>Digital Natives vs. Digital Naivety</i> in the session on Internet Governance & Society.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; ">Expert-Group on Privacy Issues (New Delhi, April 13 and 14, 2012): The Planning Commission constituted this expert group under the chairmanship of Justice AP Shah. Sunil Abraham participated in the first meeting of the sub-group on privacy issues.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Video</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/privacy-internationals-trip-to-asia">Privacy International's Trip to Asia</a> (by Emma Draper in Privacy International blog): In February 2012, the Privacy International team travelled to India, Bangladesh and Hong Kong to meet with local partners in the region and speak at four conferences they had organized. The team got a chance to interview its partners in India and Bangladesh on the privacy issues facing them at the moment. This is captured in a video about contemporary privacy issues in India and Bangladesh. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Media Coverage</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/mainstream-vs-social">It’s mainstream vs social</a> (Guest column by Mahima Kaul, Sunday Guardian, April 30, 2012): “<i>If the video is judged to be 'obscene', then under s.67 of the Information Technology Act, 'causing [obscenity] to be transmitted', is also a crime</i>,”...Sunil Abraham quoted in the Sunday Guardian.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/from-cyber-india-to-censor-india">From Cyber India to Censor India: Groups challenge didactic govt</a> (by Satarupa Paul, Sunday Guardian, April 29, 2012): “<i>Instead of a court deciding what makes content illegal, private intermediaries get to decide. And there is no penalty for anyone abusing the take-down notice system,</i>”...Sunil Abraham quoted in the Sunday Guardian.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/social-media-indian-govt">Social Media 1, Indian Government 0</a> (by Heather Timmons, New York Times, April 26, 2012): “<i>Because India does not have a bilateral cyber-crime agreement with the United States (as the European Union does), getting American companies like Facebook and Google to take down or investigate the source of content that offends Indian government officials can be a slow and cumbersome process</i>,”...Sunil Abraham quoted in the New York Times. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/private-sector-censors">Private sector censors</a> (by Salil Tripathi, LiveMint, April 25, 2012): “<i>Companies which have no interest in free speech are now taking these decisions. They have the power to do so and they are using it without any sense of responsibility</i>,”...Sunil Abraham quoted in LiveMint. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/left-may-for-once-be-right">Views | Why the Left may for once be right</a> (by Pramit Bhattacharya, LiveMint, April 23, 2012): “<i>It has become much easier in India to ban an e-book than a book</i>,”...Pranesh Prakash quoted in LiveMint. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/campaign-against-curbs-on-websites">Campaign against curbs on websites gathers steam</a> (by Arpan Daniel Varghese, IBN Live, April 23, 2012): “<i>If a company wants to target your organization’s social media network, they can keep sending fraudulent emails to you and you will have to keep deleting it unless you are ready to face litigation or government action.</i>..Sunil Abraham quoted in IBN Live.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/anti-net-censorship-echo-in-house">Expect anti-net censorship echo in house</a> (by Arpan Daniel Varghese, IBN Live, April 25, 2012): “<i>why should freedom of speech and expression be any different on the Internet?</i>”...Sunil Abraham quoted in IBN Live.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/mobilising-support-for-freedom-on-web">Mobilising support for freedom on the Web</a> (by Deepa Kurup Hindu, April 22, 2012): Rishabh Dara’s research published as part of the Google Policy Fellowship is quoted. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/draconian-it-rules">MPs to be taught ‘draconian’ IT Act Rules as India.net support galvanises for annul motion</a> (by Prachi Shrivastava, Legally India, April 23, 2012): Prachi has blogged about the Resisting Internet Censorship co-organised by CIS and the Foundation for Media Professionals in Bangalore.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/india-arrests-professor-over-cartoon">India arrests professor over political cartoon</a> (by Rama Lakshmi, Washington Post, April 13, 2012): “<i>The state’s new-found aversion to non-believers has gone a bit too far</i>,”...Pranesh Prakash quoted in Washington Post.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/beauty-blog-creates-furore">A beauty’s blog creates furore</a> (by Lakshmi Krupa, Deccan Chronicle, April 10, 2012).</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2>Digital Natives</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Digital Natives with a Cause? is a research inquiry that looks at the changing landscape of social change and political participation and the role that young people play through digital and Internet technologies, in emerging information societies. Consolidating knowledge from Asia, Africa and Latin America, it builds a global network of knowledge partners who critically engage with discourse on youth, technology and social change, and look at alternative practices and ideas in the Global South:</p>
<h3>Public Lecture</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/ignite-talks">5 Challenges for the Future of Learning: Digital Natives and How We Shall Teach Them</a> (Wyndham Parc 55 Hotel, San Francisco, California, March 1, 2012): Nishant Shah gave a ignite talk. The video is now online.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Book Review...a few excerpts</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/digital-natives/media-coverage/immigrants-not-natives">Immigrants not Natives</a>: “<i>‘To Be’, ‘To Think’, ‘To Act’ and ‘To Connect’ provides many fascinating and thought-provoking insights into the possibilities for reflection, action and interaction</i>,”... Sally Wyatt, eHumanities Group, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts & Sciences/Maastricht University.</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2>Accessibility</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">India has an estimated 70 million disabled persons who are unable to read printed materials due to some form of physical, sensory, cognitive or other disability. The disabled need accessible content, devices and interfaces facilitated via copyright law and electronic accessibility policies:</p>
<h3>Event Report</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/itu-tutorial-event-report">ITU Tutorial on Audiovisual Media Accessibility</a> (India International Centre, New Delhi, March 14 – 15, 2012): CIS in cooperation with the ITU-APT Foundation of India organised a two-day tutorial on Audio-Visual Media Accessibility. Sunil Abraham was the Master of Ceremony on Day 1. Ravi Shanker, Administrator, Universal Service Obligation Fund, Dr. Govind, CEO, National Internet Exchange of India, Swaran Lata, Director and Head of Department, TDIL Programme, DIT, R.N. Jha, Deputy Director General (International Relations), Department of Telecommunications and Archana Gulati, Financial Advisor, National Disaster Management Authority participated in this event.</li>
</ul>
<h3>New Fellow at CIS</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/about/people/people/fellow">Rahul Cherian joins CIS</a>: Disability policy activist, lawyer and co-founder of Inclusive Planet, Rahul Cherian has joined CIS as a Fellow. Rahul will be working on disability policy reform and advocacy. </li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2>Access to Knowledge</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The Access to Knowledge programme addresses the harms caused to consumers, developing countries, human rights, and creativity/innovation from excessive regimes of copyright, patents, and other such monopolistic rights over knowledge:</p>
<h3>New Event</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/global-congress-on-ip">2012 Global Congress on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest</a> (FGV Law School, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, December 15 – 17, 2012): We are pleased to announce the Second Global Congress on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest. The theme for this year’s Congress will be “Setting the positive agenda in motion,” and will have a special focus on developments and opportunities in the so-called “BRICS” group of emerging economies. <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/a2k/global-congress-on-ip-call-for-participation">CIS is one of the six members of the Global Congress Planning Committee</a>..</li>
</ul>
<h3>News & Media Coverage</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/hacking-modding-making">Hacking, Modding & Making</a> (by Brendan Shanahan): “<i>If something has been made technologically possible, we cannot make it illegal and hope that everyone will now pretend that this is no longer technologically possible...We can't have the government checking everyone's iPod and laptop. The better move is to change the model</i>,”...Sunil Abraham quoted in GQ.</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2>Openness</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The 'Openness' programme critically examines alternatives to existing regimes of intellectual property rights, and transparency and accountability. Under this programme, we study Open Government Data, Open Access to Scholarly Literature, Open Access to Law, Open Content, Open Standards, and Free/Libre/Open Source Software:</p>
<h3>Event Reports and Video</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/arduino-workshop-report">Arduino Workshop at CIS</a> (CIS, Bangalore, March 3, 2012). Video is now online.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/hejje-2014-together-with-kannada-technology-2">Hejje — Together with Kannada & Technology</a> (Bangalore, January 22, 2012): The event marked the first step to bring everyone working in Kannada in the IT field to brainstorm the ideas for future steps, and create a space for technological collaboration in Kannada. CIS co-organised the event with Sanchaya.net, Vishwakannada.com and Chanda Pustaka. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Events Organised</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/open-government-partnership-brasilia-bangalore-meetup">Bangalore Meet-up for the Open Government Partnership Brasilia</a> (CIS, Bangalore, April 17, 2012): Ananya Panda and Pranesh Prakash participated in the first annual meeting of Open Government Partnership remotely.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/design-public-delhi">Design!PubliC – Event in Delhi</a> (New Delhi, April 19 and 20, 2012): The event was co-organised by Centre for Knowledge Societies in partnership with IBM, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Google, HeadStart, India@75, LiveMint and CIS.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/openness/international-space-apps-challenge">International Space Apps Challenge</a> (CIS, Bangalore, April 21 and 22, 2012): An international codeathon-style event took place in seven continents, CIS organised the event in Bangalore.</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2>Telecom</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">While the potential for growth and returns exist for telecommunications in India, a range of issues need to be addressed. One aspect is more extensive rural coverage and the other is a countrywide access to broadband which is low. Both require effective and efficient use of networks and resources, including spectrum:</p>
<h3>Column in Business Standard</h3>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/build-comprehensive-ecosystems">China 3: Build Comprehensive Ecosystems</a> (Shyam Ponappa, Business Standard, April 5, 2012): “Failures in electricity, transport and broadband have common strands. China's approach offers a possible alternative.”</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2>About CIS</h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS was registered as a society in Bangalore in 2008. As an independent, non-profit research organisation, it runs different policy research programmes such as Accessibility, Access to Knowledge, Openness, Internet Governance, and Telecom. Over the last four years our policy research programmes have resulted in outputs such as the e-Accessibility Policy Handbook for Persons with Disabilities with International Telecommunications Union, and <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=1644&qid=165304" target="_blank">Digital Alternatives with a Cause?</a>, <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=1645&qid=165304" target="_blank">Thinkathon Position Papers</a> and the <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=1646&qid=165304" target="_blank">Digital Natives with a Cause? Report</a> with Hivos. With foreign governments we worked on National Enterprise Architecture and Government Interoperability Framework for Govt. of Iraq; Open Standards Policy for Govt. of Moldova; Free and Open Software Centre of Excellence project plan for Saudi Arabia; eGovernance Strategy Document for Govt. of Tajikistan. With the Government of India we have done policy research for Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, etc., on <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=1647&qid=165304" target="_blank">WIPO Treaties</a>, <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=1648&qid=165304" target="_blank">Copyright Bill</a>, <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=1649&qid=165304" target="_blank">Interoperability Framework in eGovernance</a>, <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=1650&qid=165304" target="_blank">Privacy Bill</a>, <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=1651&qid=165304" target="_blank">NIA Bill</a>, <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=1652&qid=165304" target="_blank">National Policy on Electronics</a> and <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=1653&qid=165304" target="_blank">IT Act</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS is an accredited NGO at WIPO and has given <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=1654&qid=165304" target="_blank">policy briefs</a> to delegations from various countries, our Programme Manager, Nirmita Narasimhan won the <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=1655&qid=165304" target="_blank">National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities</a> from the Government of India and also received the <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=1656&qid=165304" target="_blank">NIVH Excellence Award</a>.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Follow us elsewhere</h3>
<ul>
<li>Get short, timely messages from us on Twitter</li>
<li>Join the CIS group on <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=1657&qid=165304" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li>
<li>Visit us at www.cis-india.org</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; "><i>CIS is grateful to Kusuma Trust which was founded by Anurag Dikshit and Soma Pujari, philanthropists of Indian origin, for its core funding and support for most of its projects.</i></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2012-bulletin'>http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2012-bulletin</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaAccess to KnowledgeDigital NativesTelecomAccessibilityInternet GovernanceResearchOpenness2012-07-07T06:26:40ZPageApril 2011 Bulletin
http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2011-bulletin
<b>Greetings from the Centre for Internet and Society! In this issue we are pleased to present you the latest updates about our research, upcoming events, and news and media coverage:</b>
<h2><b>Researchers@Work</b></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">RAW is a multidisciplinary research initiative. CIS believes that in order to understand the contemporary concerns in the field of Internet and society, it is necessary to produce local and contextual accounts of the interaction between the Internet and socio-cultural and geo-political structures. To build original research knowledge base, the RAW programme has been collaborating with different organisations and individuals to focus on its three year thematic of Histories of the Internets in India.</p>
<h3>Workshops organised in Bangalore</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=334&qid=39041" target="_blank">Shadow Search Project (SSP)</a> [CIS, April 18, 2011]</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=335&qid=39041" target="_blank">Facebook Resistance</a></span> [CIS, April 2, 2011]</li>
</ul>
<h2><b>Digital Natives with a Cause?</b></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Digital Natives with a Cause? is a knowledge programme initiated by CIS and Hivos, Netherlands. It is a research inquiry that seeks to look at the changing landscape of social change and political participation and the role that young people play through digital and Internet technologies, in emerging information societies. Consolidating knowledge from Asia, Africa and Latin America, it builds a global network of knowledge partners who want to critically engage with the dominant discourse on youth, technology and social change, in order to look at the alternative practices and ideas in the Global South. It also aims at building new ecologies that amplify and augment the interventions and actions of the digitally young as they shape our futures.</p>
<h3>Columns on Digital Natives</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">A fortnightly column on ‘Digital Natives’ authored by Nishant Shah is featured in the Sunday Eye, the national edition of Indian Express, Delhi, from 19 September 2010 onwards. The following were published in the month of April:</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=336&qid=39041" target="_blank">Who the Hack?</a></span> [Indian Express, April 24, 2011]</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=337&qid=39041" target="_blank">One for the avatar</a></span> [Indian Express, April 3, 2011]</li>
</ul>
<h3>Digital Natives Newsletter</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Links in the Chain is a bi-monthly publication which highlights the projects, ideas and news of the Digital Natives with a Cause? The first issue of volume IV is here:</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=338&qid=39041" target="_blank">links in the chain volume 4 Best Practices</a></span></li>
</ul>
<h3>New Blog Entry by Samuel Tettner</h3>
<p>Samuel Tettner is a Digital Natives Coordinator in CIS. He has written the following blog entry:</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=339&qid=39041" target="_blank">Cyber Fears: What scares Digital Natives and those around them</a></span></li>
</ul>
<h2><b>Accessibility</b></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Estimates of the percentage of the world's population that is disabled vary considerably. But what is certain is that if we count functional disability, then a large proportion of the world's population is disabled in one way or another. At CIS we work to ensure that the digital technologies, which empower disabled people and provide them with independence, are allowed to do so in practice and by the law. To this end, we support web accessibility guidelines, and change in copyright laws that currently disempower the persons with disabilities.</p>
<h3>Workshop organised in Hyderabad</h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=340&qid=39041" target="_blank">Web Sites Accessibility Evaluation Methodologies: Conference Report</a></span></li>
</ul>
<h2><b>Openness</b></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS believes that innovation and creativity should be fostered through openness and collaboration and is committed towards promotion of open standards, open access, and free/libre/open source software. Its latest endeavour has resulted into these:</p>
<h3>Submission</h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=341&qid=39041" target="_blank">Comments on Draft National Policy on ICT in School Education</a></span></li>
</ul>
<h3>New Blog Entry</h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=342&qid=39041" target="_blank">Towards Open and Equitable Access to Research and Knowledge for Development</a></span> [PLoS, March 29, 2011]</li>
</ul>
<h2><b>Internet Governance</b></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Although there may not be one centralized authority that rules the Internet, the Internet does not just run by its own volition: for it to operate in a stable and reliable manner, there needs to be in place infrastructure, a functional domain name system, ways to curtail cyber crime across borders, etc. The Tunis Agenda of the second World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), paragraph 34 defined Internet governance as “the development and application by governments, the private sector and civil society, in their respective roles, of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet.” Its latest endeavour has resulted into these:</p>
<h3>Featured</h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=343&qid=39041" target="_blank">DIT's Response to RTI on Website Blocking</a></span></li>
</ul>
<h3>New Blog Entries</h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=344&qid=39041" target="_blank">What are the legal provisions for blocking websites in India?</a></span></li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=345&qid=39041" target="_blank">We are anonymous, we are legion</a></span> [published in the Hindu, April 18, 2011]</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=346&qid=39041" target="_blank">You Have the Right to Remain Silent</a></span> [published in the Sunday Guardian, April 17, 2011]</li>
</ul>
<h3>Study Tour</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=347&qid=39041" target="_blank">Iraq Delegation to Visit India for Study of E-Governance in Indian Cities ― Meetings in Bangalore and Delhi</a></li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">CIS is doing a project, ‘Privacy in Asia’. <i>It is funded by Privacy International (PI), UK and the International Development Research Centre, Canada and is being administered in collaboration with the Society and Action Group, Gurgaon</i>. The two-year project commenced on 24 March 2010 and will be completed as agreed to by the stakeholders. It was set up with the objective of raising awareness, sparking civil action and promoting democratic dialogue around challenges and violations of privacy in India. In furtherance of these goals it aims to draft and promote over-arching privacy legislation in India by drawing upon legal and academic resources and consultations with the public.</p>
<h3>Featured Research</h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=348&qid=39041" target="_blank">The DNA Profiling Bill 2007 and Privacy</a></span></li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=349&qid=39041" target="_blank">Privacy and the Information Technology Act — Do we have the Safeguards for Electronic Privacy?</a></span></li>
</ul>
<h3>Interview</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=350&qid=39041" target="_blank">An Interview with Activist Shubha Chacko: Privacy and Sex workers</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Workshops organized in Ahmedabad and Bangalore</h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=351&qid=39041" target="_blank">'Privacy Matters', Ahmedabad: Conference Report</a></span> [Ahmedabad Management Association, Ahmedabad, March 26, 2011]</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=352&qid=39041" target="_blank">Privacy, By Design</a></span> [CIS, April 16, 2011]</li>
</ul>
<h3>New Blog Entries</h3>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=353&qid=39041" target="_blank">Is Data Protection Enough?</a></span></li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=354&qid=39041" target="_blank">Surveillance Technologies</a></span></li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=355&qid=39041" target="_blank">Encryption Standards and Practices</a></span></li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=356&qid=39041" target="_blank">News Broadcasting Standards Authority censures TV9 over privacy violations!</a></span></li>
</ul>
<h2><b>Telecom</b></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The growth in telecommunications in India has been impressive. While the potential for growth and returns exist, a range of issues need to be addressed for this potential to be realized. One aspect is more extensive rural coverage and the second aspect is a countrywide access to broadband which is low at about eight million subscriptions. Both require effective and efficient use of networks and resources, including spectrum. It is imperative to resolve these issues in the common interest of users and service providers. CIS campaigns to facilitate this:</p>
<h3>Column</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">Shyam Ponappa is a Distinguished Fellow at CIS. He writes regularly on Telecom issues in the Business Standard and these articles are mirrored on the CIS website as well.</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=357&qid=39041" target="_blank">Learning from Fukushima</a></span> [published in the Business Standard on April 7, 2011]</li>
</ul>
<h2><b>News & Media Coverage</b></h2>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=358&qid=39041" target="_blank">The Gary Chapman International School on Digital Transformation</a></span>[International School on Digital Transformation, July 17-22, 2011]</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=359&qid=39041" target="_blank">Iraqi delegation in Bangalore to study e-governance projects</a></span> [Economic Times, April 20, 2011]</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=360&qid=39041" target="_blank">Dark waders</a></span> [Time Out Bengaluru, Vol. 3, Issue 20, April 15 - 28, 2011]</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=361&qid=39041" target="_blank">Beyond Clicktivism</a></span> [Outlook, April 18, 2011]</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=362&qid=39041" target="_blank">Gone in a flash</a></span> [Times of India, April 16, 2011]</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=363&qid=39041" target="_blank">How Web 2.0 responded to Hazare</a></span> [Hindu, April 11, 2011]</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=364&qid=39041" target="_blank">EU Commissioner Hedegaard to deliver keynote address at consumer world congress</a></span></li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=365&qid=39041" target="_blank">Net cracker</a></span> [Time Out Bengaluru Vol. 3 Issue 19, April 1 - 14, 2011]</li>
<li><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=366&qid=39041" target="_blank">On the Path to Global Open Access: A Few More Miles to Go</a></span> [PLoS, March 2011, Volume 8, Issue 3]</li>
</ul>
<h2>Follow us elsewhere</h2>
<ul>
<li>Get short, timely messages from us on <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=367&qid=39041" target="_blank">Twitter</a></li>
<li>Follow CIS on <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=368&qid=39041" target="_blank">identi.ca</a></li>
<li>Join the CIS group on <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=369&qid=39041" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li>
<li>Visit us at <a href="http://crm.cis-india.org/administrator/components/com_civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=370&qid=39041" target="_blank">www.cis-india.org</a></li>
</ul>
<p><i>CIS is grateful to Kusuma Trust which was founded by Anurag Dikshit and Soma Pujari, philanthropists of Indian origin, for its core funding and support for most of its projects.</i></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2011-bulletin'>http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2011-bulletin</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaAccess to KnowledgeTelecomAccessibilityInternet GovernanceResearchOpenness2012-07-30T10:45:01ZPageApril 2010 Bulletin
http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2010-bulletin
<b>Greetings from the Centre for Internet and Society! We bring you updates of our research, events and news for the month of April 2010.</b>
<h2><b>News Updates </b></h2>
<p class="ecxdocumentdescription"><b>Worries voiced over ID Project</b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>The Government of India's Unique Identification (UID) Project came under flak at a workshop organised jointly by the Citizen Action Forum (CAF), the People's Union of Civil Liberties - Karnataka, the Alternative Law Forum and the Centre for Internet and Society - An article in The Hindu - 17th April.<br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/worries-voiced-over-id-project" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/news/worries-voiced-over-id-project</a></p>
<p class="ecxdocumentdescription"><b>UID: A debate on the Fundamental Rights</b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>UID: A debate on the Fundamental Rights - was jointly organized by the Citizen Action Forum, People's Union for Civil Liberties - Karnataka, Alternative Law Forum and the Centre for Internet and Society on April 16th at IAT, Queens Road, Bangalore - An article in the Prajavani news paper - April 17th. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/uid-a-debate-on-fundamental-rights" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/news/uid-a-debate-on-fundamental-rights</a></p>
<p class="ecxdocumentdescription"><b>UID is an invasion of Privacy: Experts</b><br /> The Nandan Nilekani headed Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) came in for much criricism at the first of a series of debates on the issue organised in the city on Friday - Deccan Chronicle, April 17th.<br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/uid-is-an-invasion-of-privacy-experts" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/news/uid-is-an-invasion-of-privacy-experts</a></p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal"><b>Experts debate on UID and rights </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>Bangalore, Apr 16, DHNS: A debate on ‘UID and Fundamental Rights’ organised by several city-based organisations, discussed the social, ethical issues, economic and legal issues that accompanies the UID. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/experts-debate-on-uid-and-rights" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/news/experts-debate-on-uid-and-rights</a></p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal"><b>Amendment to Copyright Act opposed </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>A report on the press conference held on 15th April, at the Press Club, Bangalore: The Hindu <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/amendment-to-copyright-act-opposed" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/news/amendment-to-copyright-act-opposed</a></p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal"><b>They fight for the visually challenged </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>Times News Network - A report on the press conference held at the Press Club, Bangalore on 15th April, 2010. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/they-fight-for-the-visually-challenged" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/news/they-fight-for-the-visually-challenged</a></p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal"><b>Digital Natives Research Project Coordinator </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>The Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore, in collaboration with Hivos Netherlands, is looking for a Research Project Coordinator to help develop a knowledge network and coordinate international workshops for the project "Digital Natives with a Cause?" <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/research-coordinator" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/news/research-coordinator</a></p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal"><b>Expel or not? That is the question </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>The decision of an international school to expel 14 students for their alleged ‘promiscuous’ behaviour has led to much debate and discussion. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/expel-or-not" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/news/expel-or-not</a></p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal"><b>Nokia eyes GeNext to tap mobile email mkt </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>Finnish handset giant banks on youth to be in the technology race <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/news/nokia-eyes-genNext" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/news/nokia-eyes-genNext</a></p>
<h3><b>Research</b></h3>
<p class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b>Critical Point of View: Videos </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>The Second event for the Critical Point of View reader on Wikipedia was held in Amsterdam, by the Institute of Network Cultures and the Centre for Internet and Society. A wide range of scholars, academics, researchers, practitioners, artists and users came together to discuss questions on design, analytics, access, education, theory, art, history and processes of knowledge production. The videos for the full event are now available for free viewing and dissemination.</p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b>Colour Me Political </b><br /> What are the tools that Digital Natives use to mobilise groups towards a particular cause? How do they engage with crises in their immediate environments? Are they using their popular social networking sites and web 2.0 applications for merely entertainment? Or are these tools actually helping them to re-articulate the realm of the political? Nishant Shah looks at the recent Facebook Colour Meme to see how new forms of political participation and engagement are being initiated by young people across the world.<br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/research/dn/dn2" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/research/dn/dn2</a></p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b>Meet the Web 2.0 Suicide Machine</b><br />Digital Natives live their lives differently. But sometimes, they also die their lives differently! What happens when we die online? Can the digital avatar die? What is digital life? The Web 2.0 Suicide machine that has now popularly been called the 'anti-social-networking' application brings some of these questions to the fore. As a part of the Hivos-CIS "Digital Natives with a Cause?" research programme, Nishant Shah writes about how Life on the Screen is much more than just a series of games. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/research/dn/dn1" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/research/dn/dn1</a></p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b>Digital Natives with a Cause? </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>Digital Natives With A Cause? - a product of the Hivos-CIS collaboration charts the scholarship and practice of youth and technology with a specific attention for developing countries to create a framework that consolidates existing paradigms and informs further research and intervention within diverse contexts and cultures. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/research/dn/dnrep" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/research/dn/dnrep</a></p>
<h2><b>Advocacy</b></h2>
<h3><b>Accessibility</b></h3>
<p class="ecxmsonormal"><b>e-Accessibility: A Wiki Project </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>Envisaged and funded by the National Internet Exchange of India, and executed by the Centre for Internet and Society, a Wiki site pertaining to issues of disability and e-accessibility has recently been launched. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/advocacy/accessibility/blog/e-accessibility-a-wiki-project" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/advocacy/accessibility/blog/e-accessibility-a-wiki-project</a></p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal"><b>Copyright Law as a tool for Inclusion </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>Can Copyright Law be used as a tool for Inclusion? Rahul Cherian examines this in his blog on copyright. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/advocacy/accessibility/blog/copyright-law-as-tool-for-inclusion" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/advocacy/accessibility/blog/copyright-law-as-tool-for-inclusion</a></p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal"><b>Web Accessibility as a Government Mandate?</b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b> </b><br /> </span>Is Web accessibility just a Government Mandate? Should private sites be ignored? Wesolowski examines this in light of the steps taken by ictQATAR to make its website accessible to W3C standards, and hopes that Qatar and eventually all other Arab nations will follow suit and make Web accessibility much more of a mandate. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/advocacy/accessibility/blog/web-accessibility-government-mandate" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/advocacy/accessibility/blog/web-accessibility-government-mandate</a></p>
<h3><b>Intellectual Property</b></h3>
<p class="ecxdocumentdescription"><b>When Copyright Goes Bad </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>A part of the Access to Knowledge Project, this short film by Consumers International is available on DVD and online at A2Knetwork.org/film. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/advocacy/ipr/blog/when-copyright-goes-bad" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/advocacy/ipr/blog/when-copyright-goes-bad</a></p>
<h3><b>Openness</b></h3>
<p class="ecxdocumentdescription" style="text-align: justify; "><b>Research Project on Open Video in India </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>Open Video Alliance and the Centre for Internet and Society are calling for researchers for a project on open video in India, its potentials, limitations, and recommendations on policy interventions. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/advocacy/openness/blog/open-video-research" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/advocacy/openness/blog/open-video-research</a></p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b>Does the Social Web need a Googopoly?</b><br />While the utility of the new social tool Buzz is still under question, the bold move into social space taken last week by the Google Buzz team has Gmail users questioning privacy implications of the new feature. In this post, I posit that Buzz highlights two privacy challenges of the social web. First, the application has sidestepped the consensual and contextual qualities desirable of social spaces. Secondly, Google’s move highlights the increasingly competitive and convergent nature of the social media landscape. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/advocacy/openness/blog/does-the-social-web-need-a-googopoly" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/advocacy/openness/blog/does-the-social-web-need-a-googopoly</a></p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b>The (in)Visible Subject: Power, Privacy and Social Networking </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>In this entry, I will argue that the interplay between privacy and power on social network sites works ultimately to subject individuals to the gaze of others, or to alternatively render them invisible. Individual choices concerning privacy preferences must, therefore, be informed by the intrinsic relationship which exists between publicness/privateness and subjectivity/obscurity. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/advocacy/openness/blog/the-in-visible-subject-power-privacy-and-social-networking" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/advocacy/openness/blog/the-in-visible-subject-power-privacy-and-social-networking</a></p>
<h3><b>Internet Governance</b></h3>
<p class="ecxdocumentdescription" style="text-align: justify; "><b>Does the Safe-Harbor Program Adequately Address Third Parties Online? </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>While many citizens outside of the US and EU benefit from the data privacy provisions the Safe Harbor Program, it remains unclear how successfully the program can govern privacy practices when third-parties continue to gain more rights over personal data. Using Facebook as a site of analysis, I will attempt to shed light on the deficiencies of the framework for addressing the complexity of data flows in the online ecosystem. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/advocacy/igov/blog/does-the-safe-harbor-program-adequately-address-third-parties-online" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/advocacy/igov/blog/does-the-safe-harbor-program-adequately-address-third-parties-online</a></p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b>Sense and censorship </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>Sunil Abraham examines Google's crusade against censorship in China in wake of the attacks on its servers in this article published in the Indian Express. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/advocacy/igov/blog/sense-and-censorship" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/advocacy/igov/blog/sense-and-censorship</a></p>
<p class="ecxmsonormal" style="text-align: justify; "><b>Report on the Fourth Internet Governance Forum for Commonwealth IGF </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>This report by Pranesh Prakash reflects on the question of how useful is the IGF in the light of meetings on the themes of intellectual property, freedom of speech and privacy. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/advocacy/igov/blog/report-on-fourth-IGF" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/advocacy/igov/blog/report-on-fourth-IGF</a></p>
<h3><b>Telecom</b></h3>
<p class="ecxdocumentdescription" style="text-align: justify; "><b>The Right Ring Tone </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span>Focus on improving service quality with a strong partner, and not on one-shot stake sales, says Shyam Ponappa in his article published in the Business Standard on April 1, 2010. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span><a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/advocacy/telecom/blog/ring-tone" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/advocacy/telecom/blog/ring-tone</a></p>
<h2><b>Other Advocacy</b></h2>
<p class="ecxdocumentdescription" style="text-align: justify; "><b>Maps for Making Change Wiki Now Open to the Public </b><br /> Since December 2009, CIS has been coordinating and nurturing the Maps for Making Change project, organised in collaboration with Tactical Tech. During the past four months, participants have been on a challenging yet fertile and inspiring journey that is now slowly coming to an end. Would you like to know more about what has happened in the time that has passed? The Maps for Making Change wiki is a good place to start. <br /> <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/advocacy/others/maps-for-making-change-wiki-now-open-to-the-public" target="_blank">http://cis-india.org/advocacy/others/maps-for-making-change-wiki-now-open-to-the-public</a></p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2010-bulletin'>http://editors.cis-india.org/about/newsletters/april-2010-bulletin</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaAccess to KnowledgeDigital NativesTelecomIntellectual Property RightsAccessibilityInternet GovernanceCISRAW2012-08-13T04:51:19ZPageAPC starts research into spectrum regulation in Brazil, India, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa
http://editors.cis-india.org/news/research-into-spectrum-regulation
<b>Communication infrastructure is the foundation of the knowledge-based economy and while there has been a boom in the construction of undersea cables bringing potentially terabits of capacity to the African continent, the ability to deliver broadband to consumers is hampered by inefficient telecommunications markets and policies. Wireless connectivity offers tremendous potential to deliver affordable broadband to developing countries but inefficient spectrum policy and regulation means the opportunity to seize the advantages brought about by improvements in wireless broadband technologies are extremely limited. </b>
<h3>Spectrum policy in a nutshell</h3>
<p>Television, mobile phones, wireless networking and amateur radio all transmit their data using radio waves. Different parts of the radio spectrum are used for different radio transmission technologies and applications and ranges of allocated frequencies are often referred to by their provisioned use (for example, wireless spectrum or television spectrum). Spectrum policy around the world focuses on three factors – allocation, assignment and enforcement. </p>
<ul><li>Allocation sets aside spectrum for specific uses such as cell phones at 1.9 GHz, and broadcast TV at 500 Mhz.</li><li>Assignment is most widely carried out through spectrum auctions. In a spectrum auction, those who make the highest bid secure use of the spectrum. </li><li>Enforcement (within nations) is usually split between two institutions – a governmental/ministerial one that overseas spectrum relating to and reserved for national security and a regulatory one for the enforcement of spectrum that fulfils commercial and/or socio-economic objectives.</li></ul>
<p>We are seeing accelerated change in the capacity of wireless technologies to deliver affordable access. According to wireless pioneer Martin Cooper, “every 30 months the amount of information that can be transmitted over a given amount of radio spectrum doubles”. However, without forward-looking policy and regulation that can embrace the rapid change in wireless technologies, African, Asian and Latin American countries will miss the opportunity to allow affordable, pervasive wireless broadband infrastructure to develop in their countries.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, one of the biggest barriers to utilising this opportunity is simply a lack of awareness of global trends and of what policy and regulatory processes exist to manage spectrum.</p>
<p>APC’s new research: Understanding spectrum regulation<br />The overall goal of APC’s new research project is to provide an understanding of spectrum regulation in several countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, not just in terms of making information available, or how spectrum is assigned, but who deals with spectrum and what policy or regulatory framework is currently in use.</p>
<p>The procedures governing spectrum allocation and assignment are often opaque, highly technical and governed by an inner circle of technical experts in the regulators, operators and equipment suppliers in each country. An important dimension of the research will lie in decoding some of this complexity and making the information as transparent and accessible as possible. The research will also seek to examine arguments that proclaim the scarcity of spectrum1.</p>
<p>The research is timely as the rapid growth of wireless and mobile in Asia, Africa and Latin America is raising fresh questions about the use of spectrum and the policies that govern it. Civil society-based alliances such as the Open Spectrum Alliance in South Africa2 and the national broadband campaigns in South Africa3, Ghana and Nigeria are raising spectrum issues. Digital migration and the opportunity it creates to make use of white spaces in frequencies currently allocated for broadcasting for broadband wireless networks has renewed interest by governments in auctioning off blocks of spectrum as a revenue-generating mechanism. The research will feed into this dynamic context of debate and dialogue on spectrum regulation and wireless broadband.</p>
<h3>Indians look beyond the present</h3>
<p>In India the research will go beyond the current status of spectrum regulation and and also will look at the current and potential use of pooled spectrum and infrastructure sharing by mobile operators. Pooled spectrum is an alternative to the open spectrum approach with licensed network/facilities providers and regulated rates/tariffs (because of the rationale of network economies). The Indian study will also explore two additional areas which could also be of value in other parts of the world:</p>
<ul><li>Whether spectrum rights can remain publicly owned/operated by the government, while usage rights are made available for a fee; and, the costs and benefits of larger bands of open spectrum versus the experience-curve benefits of legacy systems, with indicative time frames. <br /></li></ul>
<ul><li>The APC open spectrum for development initiative will be implemented in partnership with the Open Society Institute (OSI), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Shuttleworth Foundation in South Africa and the Centre for Internet and Society in India. OSI is supporting the research in Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria and IDRC the research in Brazil and India. <br /></li></ul>
<p> Read more about the APC’s <a class="external-link" href="http://www.apc.org/en/projects/open-spectrum-development">Open spectrum project</a></p>
<a class="external-link" href="http://www.apc.org/en/news/apc-starts-research-spectrum-regulation-brazil-ind">Click here</a> for the original article in APC
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/news/research-into-spectrum-regulation'>http://editors.cis-india.org/news/research-into-spectrum-regulation</a>
</p>
No publisherpraskrishnaTelecom2011-04-02T11:56:04ZNews ItemAn Overview of Telecommunications Policy and Regulation Framework in India
http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/blog/an-overview-telecommunications-policy-and-regulation-framework-in-india
<b>Abhishek Raj, a researcher at the Centre for Internet Society (CIS), has authored a document that provides an overview of the policy and regulatory environment surrounding telecommunications in India.</b>
<p>It summarises the legal and policy instruments that regulate telecom and internet service providers in the country. It covers following areas:</p>
<ul>
<li>General overview of acts and associated policiesO</li>
<li>Operator licensing</li>
<li>Spectrum and associated fees</li>
<li>Backbone and backhaul infrastructure</li>
<li>Universal service/financial support</li>
<li>Gender and telecom</li>
</ul>
<p>Read the <a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/overview-telecommunications-policy-regulation-framework-india" class="internal-link">full document here</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The information from this document has also been added to the India’s country profile on the <a href="https://policy.communitynetworks.group/country-profiles/india">LocNet Wiki</a>, which is regularly updated to keep abreast with developments in telecom policy.</p>
<hr />
<p style="text-align: justify; ">The author is thankful to Divyansha Sehgal, Gurshabad Grover and Isha Suri for their review and suggestions.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/blog/an-overview-telecommunications-policy-and-regulation-framework-in-india'>http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/blog/an-overview-telecommunications-policy-and-regulation-framework-in-india</a>
</p>
No publisherabhishekTelecom2022-03-25T02:06:28ZBlog EntryAn Introduction to Spectrum Sharing
http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/blog/an-introduction-to-spectrum-sharing
<b>We will look at how current technology – mainly GSM, but also CDMA and touching upon LTE - shares spectrum, how they might share spectrum, the trade-off between spectral (in this case, 'trunking') and 'economic' efficiency in the traditional, purely intra-operator shared scenario, and how it might be overcome by inter-operator sharing.</b>
<h3>The Current Scenario – Wi-Fi, GSM and CDMA: A Primer from the Perspective of Spectrum Coordination</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Sharing spectrum is not a radically new idea: it's probably being shared in many places in your living room. Your family's phones could be communicating with your laptops using Bluetooth; your Wi-Fi router is sharing Wi-Fi spectrum with your next door neighbor's. There is no central brain that tells each device how to share spectrum, but each device pair (phone+laptop, for example) has some unique identifier (a code) that enables them to hear each other over the “noise” created by the other devices, as though they were speaking different languages. Each device can access the same frequencies at the same time and place, but does not know in advance which other devices are going to use them, and as long as there aren't too many such devices close to each other, the scheme works well.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">From a technological standpoint, this is one of two kinds of spectrum coordination that's currently in wide use: the second is where each device is given a narrow sliver of frequency to itself for a specified period of time.<a name="fr1" href="#fn1">[1]</a> This is what happens with GSM cellphone technology: the service provider's tower allocates frequency — from the pool of frequencies available — to users on a per-call basis: this is called Frequency Division Multiple Access, or FDMA. GSM further divides access between different users in the same frequency channel in the time domain with bursts of data of the order of milliseconds, something called Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA; you'd be sharing your frequency channel with up to seven other people<a name="fr2" href="#fn2">[2] </a>and your content would be sent in sub-millisecond bursts approximately every five milliseconds.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Code Division Multiplexing, or CDMA, Is concept that assigns a user a 'code' for the duration of her call that effectively makes interference from other users, with other codes, appear as noise. The following picture illustrates FDMA, TDMA and CDMA:<a name="fr3" href="#fn3">[3] </a></p>
<table class="listing">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th><img src="http://editors.cis-india.org/home-images/Frequency.png" alt="null" class="image-inline" title="Frequency" /></th>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The preceding discussion would suffice for a single cell tower, alone in a desert. In the real world, there's more than one tower, so we'll have to create a system so that no two adjacent towers end up allocating the same frequency at the same time. The simplest way to do that, and the only one currently used, is splitting the available spectrum such that the range of frequencies available to a tower does not intersect with that available to any of its neighbors, ever – that way, a tower can only allocate from its own set of frequencies, but it need not concern itself with what its neighbors are doing. If adjacent towers were to share spectrum, then the preceding condition only needs to apply at that exact moment in time – at that precise instant a tower should be aware of the frequencies being used by all towers that are close enough to interfere with it, and pick a frequency outside that set, which it can use for the duration of a call.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Frequency Reuse</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">When there weren't so many cellphones crowding up the spectrum, it did not make economic sense to invest in the extra infrastructure required to make neighboring towers 'talk' to each other with low latency, so the solution we have now, even within the towers of a single service provider, is that any tower's neighbors do not intrude upon the spectrum assigned to that particular tower — what a neighbour is in this statement is qualified below. To start with, let's look at how towers could ideally be placed. We want to place towers on the ground in some regular pattern that makes them end up equidistant from each other: there are as many ways of doing that as there are of tiling a plane, which you can think of as tiling a bathroom with regular shapes (called 'regular polygons' by the pedantic).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Starting from the simplest, we can do it with tiles shaped like triangles, squares or hexagons, and a little thought will convince you that these are the only choices. Since a tower's signal would be 'strong enough' only up to some maximum radius, we'd ideally like to tile our plane with circles, but if we settle for the next best thing, the closest shape to a circle with which to tile the plane is a hexagon, in a honeycomb pattern; if you're looking at it from above, the towers would be placed as in the diagram below.<a name="fr4" href="#fn4">[4] </a></p>
<table class="listing">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th><img src="http://editors.cis-india.org/home-images/Figure.png" alt="null" class="image-inline" title="Figure" /></th>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This is just a part of a much larger honeycomb on the ground; the towers go in the center of the hexagons, where the numbers are; why the numbers are as they are will become clear in a couple of lines. Let's focus at tower 1 in the center of the diagram for our example. If the signals decay slow enough — so that the signals radiated from the nearest neighbors (towers surrounding 1, i.e. 2 through 7) and the next-nearest neighbors (towers two steps away from 1, with numbers from 2 through 7), interfere significantly with tower 1 in the center, but the next-to-next-nearest neighbors (three steps away from 1) do not, then the frequency reuse pattern can be like what we see in the diagram above, with towers denoted by the same number (and only the same number) using same exclusive set of frequencies. In this example, the closest towers with the same frequency as the central tower are the 1's in the hexagons at the edge – the frequency reuse factor is 3 (see footnote). In this diagram, the ordering of the numbers makes no difference – the situation would be the same if we exchanged the position of every, say, 1 and 3.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In reality the grid of towers of a particular operator covering a city is rarely hexagonal, due to local constraints, so what needs to be taken care of is not to use the frequencies that the nearest neighbors, next-nearest neighbors and so on are using depending upon the frequency reuse factor.<a name="fr5" href="#fn5">[5] </a>It's clear that without the towers being able to communicate in near-real time, with and FDMA/TDMA system like GSM, this is the optimal — and, in fact, the only — way to go.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Neighbouring towers sharing spectrum</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;" class="western">Everything changes, though, if the towers can communicate and coordinate fast enough — in theory, at least, all the service provider's towers could pick spectrum from a common pool.<a name="fr6" href="#fn6">[6]</a> In fact, every service providers could put their spectrum into a common pool from which frequencies can be allocated to users as before. This would increase <em>trunking efficiency</em> and thereby the maximum number of users per tower dictated by <em>quality of service</em> limits <em> </em>(both terms are defined in the next section), making more efficient use of the spectrum.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;" class="western">The Current Trade-off between Trunking and 'Economic' Efficiency: The Principal Argument for (Inter-operator) Shared Spectrum</h3>
<p>Imagine the following scenario:</p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">We have 5 MHz of spectrum split it into five channels of one MHz each;</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Five thousand people own cell phones and each is assigned a channel so that there are a thousand cellphone users per channel;</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">People call infrequently: calls are randomly distributed but on average, in each channel, five people attempt to make a call every minute and each call is ten seconds long.</li></ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;" class="western">In this way, a lot of people can use a few channels with a reasonable hope that their calls will be connected, a phenomenon called 'trunking'. Chances are high, however, that at least one person's going to make a call before the previous caller on her channel is done, and end up being blocked. The probability that a call will go through is factored into the <a class="western" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_QoS">Quality of Service</a> (QoS) through the <a class="western" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blocking_probability#Erlang_B_formula">Erlang B Formula</a>; roughly speaking, the less chance there is of a caller being blocked, the higher your QoS. It's essentially a question of queuing: the same logic can be applied to beds at a hospital. The number of hospital beds in a town would be much fewer than the number of people, but it works because everyone's not sick all the time; if people are sick more often, or for longer durations, the chances that someone won't get a bed would be higher:<a name="fr7" href="#fn7">[7]</a></p>
<table class="listing">
<tbody>
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<th><img src="http://editors.cis-india.org/home-images/Numberofbeds.png" alt="null" class="image-inline" title="Number of beds" /></th>
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<p style="text-align: justify;" class="western">Suppose someone own an Airtel phone and Airtel's channels are all in use, but Vodaphone has a channel free at the time. Let's look at two alternatives:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" class="western">a) she's not allowed to switch, and cannot make her call;<br />b) she's allowed to switch to the empty channel, and her call goes through.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" class="western">Clearly, the second choice is better <strong>— </strong>and it has greater trunking efficiency.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" class="western">In the current scenario, service providers get exclusive rights to chunks of spectrum. Naively, the more competitors (in this case, service providers like Airtel and Vodaphone) you have in a market, the better the competition. This, unfortunately, leads to a decrease in trunking efficiency <strong>— </strong>it's inversely proportional to the number of players in the market because every chunk of frequencies split between two service providers (every successive split) increases the chances for an event such as the one described above happening. The question that logically follows is: what is the optimal number of service providers for the Indian market? This is hard to find, and differs depending on who you ask <strong>— </strong>incumbents, for instance, may quote a smaller number, whereas prospective new entrants may quote a larger one. The number is controversial within policy-making circles as well, and is being debated as this article is being written. We note in passing that the number of competitors <strong>— </strong>and thus fragmentation of spectrum <strong>— </strong>is higher in the Indian market than most others.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" class="western">If spectrum were shared, however, all this would be moot. This, therefore, is the primary argument towards spectrum sharing: better trunking efficiency as well as more competition <strong>— </strong>you can , in this instance, have it both ways.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;" class="western">CDMA and Spectrum Sharing</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">GSM is a simple example, where both the difficulty and the benefits of intra-operator spectrum sharing are readily apparent. Things get more difficult conceptually if we talk about newer technologies, so we'll have to get a little deeper into the technicalities. Code Division Multiple Access, or CDMA, allows phones to communicate using the same frequencies at the same time and place, but differentiated by codes <strong>—</strong> similar to WiFi but using different encoding schemes and technology. CDMA might look (from the analogy with Wifi) to require no central planning, but quality of service guarantees require that various phones in a 'cell' coordinate, and the coordinating agent happens to be that cell's tower. Two things need to happen: one, the code allocated to each phone needs to be sufficiently different,<a name="fr8" href="#fn8">[8]</a> at least with respect to other nearby phones, which means the tower has to allocate codes. Additionally, the distance involved between cellphone and tower (as against laptop and router) causes the <a class="external-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-far_problem">near-far problem</a>.<a name="fr9" href="#fn9">[9]</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For synchronous CDMA, the concept analogous to frequency reuse is code reuse <strong>—</strong> a tower needs to take into account the codes being used by its nearest neighbors, next-nearest neighbors and so on, which might be easier than coordinating timing in a TDMA system. For asynchronous CDMA (the most commonly used variant), even that is not required <strong>—</strong> the <a class="external-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_(CDMA)">low cross-correlation pseudorandom codes</a> that are used have so many possibilities that the likelihood of a collision would be small, though other users would appear as <a class="external-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_division_multiple_access#Asynchronous_CDMA">gaussian noise</a>, so just like GSM, the number of users is limited by QoS limits. This makes intro-operator sharing of spectrum between adjacent towers easier and asynchronous CDMA ends up with a frequency reuse factor of 1, meaning that a tower can access the same set of frequencies as its (intra-operator) neighbor, hypothetically making it easier to use in a shared-spectrum system.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">LTE</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">LTE uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, or OFDM, which can be – very roughly <strong>—</strong> thought of as combining ideas used in FDMA as well as CDMA, in that information is redundantly split between several frequencies ('subcarriers' in the literature) and each frequency can have more than one channel, using an orthogonal coding schemes like (synchronous) CDMA, where, as mentioned earlier, a mobile phone can distinguish its channel by its code. As it's an FDMA system, the benefits of frequency sharing for LTE can be inferred as above for GSM.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">The Regulatory Perspective</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The European Commission has this to say about shared spectrum:<a name="fr10" href="#fn10">[10] </a>“From a regulatory point of view, band sharing can be achieved in two ways: either by the Collective Use of Spectrum (CUS), allowing spectrum to be used by more than one user simultaneously without a license; or using Licensed Shared Access (LSA), under which users have individual rights to access a shared spectrum band”.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">CUS is how unlicensed spectrum like Wi-Fi is currently used, which does not require a central 'brain' allocating spectrum to users. It requires no setup or organization before or during use. LSA is what shared spectrum would have to be like when used by service providers: it requires setup and organization but could offer better efficiency and quality of service because the central 'brain' <strong>—</strong> in this case the CPU at the cellphone tower <strong>—</strong> can figure out the most efficient way to allocate spectrum to users, just like a city's traffic lights coordinate the flow of traffic to prevent jams, and for that multiple towers <strong>—</strong> or multiple transmitters on a single tower <strong>—</strong> would have to coordinate somehow. In other words, you don't require approval before setting up your Wi-Fi router in your living room, but (depending upon the router, how many neighbors have routers, how close they are, and how far you are from your router) your connection might get dropped; this kind of thing is okay because there usually aren't that many people with routers living that close to each other, though that's fast changing. The 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band is further crowded in by other microwave radio technologies, like Bluetooth and microwave ovens. Cellphones are a different thing altogether, because you wouldn't want your cellphone to stop working in the middle of a crowded bus if you're late en route to meeting someone at a coffee shop, or if you're being mugged and need to call the police. Therefore it is the service providers' and regulatory agencies' responsibility to provide a high (minimum) quality of service. This classification is symbolized by the following diagram:<a name="fr11" href="#fn11">[11]</a></p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;" class="western">CUS falls on the left, being contention-based – that is, different user devices (eg, laptops) could contend with each other for the attention of the base station (eg, Wi-Fi router <strong>—</strong> random access, CSMA), whereas LSA is conflict-free (which would be the case if the router decides, period). The potential for conflict exists in CUS, there being multiple devices asking for spectrum, whereas for LSA, a central authority decides which device to allocate spectrum to at any particular point in space and time. CUS isn't total chaos, however: it would now be appropriate <strong>—</strong> taking a leaf from ex-FCC chief technology officer Jon M. Peha – to introduce the concepts of <em>coexistence</em> and <em>etiquette</em>.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" class="western">In our Wi-Fi example, the Wi-Fi routers merely coexist, and the technological standard allows them to try and use the codes/spectral bands that are in their best interests, to best communicate with their client devices (though actual Wi-Fi routers also follow some sort of etiquette with other routers). One could additionally introduce some sort of etiquette into the equation by requiring that one router should, for example, “wait in the cue” for another <strong>—</strong> and vice versa <strong>—</strong> as and when required, as well as other requirements for cooperation depending upon the technology used. This minimal cooperation would be enough for them to, in Mr Peha's <a class="western" href="http://morse.colorado.edu/~timxb/5520/ho/PehaSpectrum.pdf">words</a>, “greatly improve efficiency <em>if and only if</em> designed appropriately for the applications in the band” - depending upon the technology used, being too 'polite' could cause longer wait times that decrease efficiency. The situation is complicated by the existence of multiple technologies at the same spot – for example, your Bluetooth receiver, two-way radio and Wifi router working in the same room. If there is potential for interference, common communication protocols could be implemented to enable all those devices to 'talk' to each other and effectively follow some form of wireless etiquette so that they can cooperate and not get in each others way. This is all the more important as Wi-Fi will become an essential part of the cellphone communication network for 4G.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" class="western">To conclude, there are many ways shared spectrum technology could hypothetically work, and in practice the core technologies that are used would dictate the details of the spectrum sharing solution. Spectrum sharing would reduce the regulatory conundrum that is spectrum allocation, and make more efficient use of spectrum <strong>—</strong> most obviously through trunking efficiency, though there may be other technological benefits depending upon the core technology used. For maximum efficiency and robustness, there would have to be some kind of rules followed, so that devices apply for spectrum like people in a cafeteria queue as opposed to the scrum you might find trying to get into an Indian bus; the etiquette we were talking about earlier should be baked into the design of the communication infrastructure. Some services (like voice calling) by their nature, need a guaranteed high QoS <strong>—</strong> need to be conflict-free <strong>—</strong> and therefore need Licensed Shared Access. Others need a minimum of regulation <strong>—</strong> but with the movement of what used to be CUS-appropriate devices (In many plans for 4G LTE-Advanced, specifically Wi-Fi) towards LSA-appropriate applications, a careful optimization needs to be done in deciding where to draw the line.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;" class="western">The Big Question: Infrastructure Sharing</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We've gone through a thought experiment on intra- and inter-operator sharing of spectrum for the particular case of mobile towers in adjacent cells, and come to the general conclusion that the solution is in principle a question of fast and efficient coordination between the geographically separated towers, toward which there are two driving forces at present: the demand for more efficient use of spectrum by a growing body of users with growing data needs, and the supply of low latency, cheaper and higher bandwidth communication options using fiber-optic cables.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There are essentially two parts to the big question we're going to ask: one, what happens when there are multiple operators serving the same geographical area, and two, is it necessary to have multiple towers standing right next to each other for multiple operators?</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">To answer the first question, one could have a 'roaming' agreement between multiple operators at the same spot: if all the channels of one operator are busy, the user just has to switch to a channel of an operator which isn't.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For the second, a single tower (the physical tower structure as well as the transmitting equipment on it) could serve any operator, who could rent it's usage on a per-call basis. That, in fact, already seems to be the case: Airtel and Vodaphone, for instance, each own a 42% share in India's largest tower corporation Indus Towers, the remaining 16% belonging to Idea Cellular.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Infrastructure sharing will be explored further in a forthcoming post.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Coarse-grained Spectrum Sharing</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For completeness, we should point out that there are more course-grained (simpler but less efficient) means of sharing in time as well as geography: the appropriate thought experiment is to imagine a radio station at the base of a hill that only has two shows, one for breakfast and one for dinner. Using its radio spectrum on the other side of that hill, or beyond the area it serves, would be fine at anytime; using it's spectrum in between the morning and evening shows would be fine anywhere.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Caveats</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It must be emphasized at this point that the above is a purely hypothetical scenario, and not a prescription. Getting this to work would involve technical hurdles that a brief overview such as the one above could not bring up, that could only be discovered in the process of bringing the technology to market. Each technological solution – GSM, CDMA and LTE – would present its own difficulties, which may become apparent only when the product is shipped, so to speak. Fine technical judgments would need to be made: an example of the difficulty involved could be gauged from the early debates comparing the first CDMA standard (IS-95) with GSM at the time.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The economic model to use for shared spectrum and shared infrastructure is also something under intense discussion right now, and a number of scholarly papers have already been written up.</p>
<hr />
<p>[<a name="fn1" href="#fr1">1</a>]. This is what you'd get in your first few Google search results when you look for “shared spectrum”, because the former has become so widely accepted that it's now part of the linguistic background.</p>
<p>[<a name="fn2" href="#fr2">2</a>]. Explained on http://www.radioraiders.com/gsm-frequency.html, referring to 3GPP spec <a class="external-link" href="http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/latest/Rel-7/45_series/45005-7d0.zip">http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/latest/Rel-7/45_series/45005-7d0.zip</a></p>
<p>[<a name="fn3" href="#fr3">3</a>]. From <a class="external-link" href="http://www.umtsworld.com/technology/cdmabasics.htm">http://www.umtsworld.com/technology/cdmabasics.htm</a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">[<a name="fn4" href="#fr4">4</a>]. From Mike Buehrer, William Tranter-Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)-Morgan & Claypool Publishers (2006).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">[<a name="fn5" href="#fr5">5</a>]. There are multiple definitions; the simplest one is “how many steps (in cells) that you have to walk from the tower before you can reuse the frequency”, which will suffice for us.</p>
<p>[<a name="fn6" href="#fr6">6</a>]. Of course, it's going to be messier in practices.</p>
<p>[<a name="fn7" href="#fr7">7</a>]. From <a class="external-link" href="http://www.vumc.com/branch/PICA/Software/">http://www.vumc.com/branch/PICA/Software/</a></p>
<p class="sdfootnote-western">[<a name="fn8" href="#fr8">8</a>]. Orthogonal for synchronous CDMA, or 'sufficiently' orthogonal for asynchronous CDMA</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;" class="sdfootnote-western">[<a name="fn9" href="#fr9">9</a>]. Remember that the receiver on the tower has to demux (split) the signals received from many cellphones, and while a Wifi router would perhaps service multiple laptops in the same building, a CDMA tower has to work for a couple of hundred phones at varying distances – some a building-length away and some, many kilometers away. Every receiver has its own maximum signal to noise ratio, where the strength of the signal received has to be more that a certain fraction (which can be quite small, for a good receiver) of the strength of the electromagnetic (radio) noise it receives from other sources; cellphone towers have to deal with much larger signal to noise ratios than Wifi routers. For an FDMA or TDMA system, different users' data arrives at different frequency or time-slots, so as long as those slots are properly differentiated, one user's signal won't be another user's noise. For the commonly used asynchronous CDMA system, however, this is not the case, so at a receiver on a tower, the signal transmitted by a distant cellphone could be swamped by that from a much closer phone. The way this is dealt with is to have phones closer to the tower decrease their transmission power. So even in CDMA, the tower is still telling the phone what to change, only in this case it's the transmission power as opposed to the exact frequency and time.</p>
<p>[<a name="fn10" href="#fr10">10</a>]. http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/promoting-shared-use-europes-radio-spectrum</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">[<a name="fn11" href="#fr11">11</a>]. From Mike Buehrer, William Tranter-Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)-Morgan & Claypool Publishers (2006)</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/blog/an-introduction-to-spectrum-sharing'>http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/blog/an-introduction-to-spectrum-sharing</a>
</p>
No publisherbeliTelecomFeaturedShared Spectrum2014-03-20T09:34:06ZBlog EntryAn Interview with Stephen Song
http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/interview-with-stephen-song
<b>Stephen Song, the founder of Village Telco, an initiative to bring practical and inexpensive communication network infrastructure to rural and remote areas, speaks about factors that catalyzed the initiative, the benefits of the network, some challenges, and the Mesh Potato.</b>
<p><strong>Yelena Gyulkhandanyan</strong>: When and how did the Mesh Potato come about?</p>
<p><strong>Stephen Song</strong>: It came about after I joined the Shuttleworth foundation in 2008. I was aware of the potential of low cost wireless mesh technologies to create affordable infrastructure, but there seemed to be a challenge in getting these technologies to scale, and we had done some interesting pilot work, but nothing had really taken off. And so I convened a workshop in the middle of 2008 with some of the smartest wireless networking people I knew and so began to explore what were the key barriers. </p>
<p>There seemed to be at least a couple of key barriers – one was that setting up a wireless mesh network was a complex procedure that required expertise. And second was that in many areas where we were interested in providing services, people were as interested in voice services as they were in data. Simply delivering data to a particular community, at least to rural communities anyway, seemed to be only solving half of the problem. So the result of that workshop was that we came to the realization, the conclusion, that what we needed was a hybrid of technologies, something that didn’t exist yet, which was a combination of voice and data technologies together.</p>
<p>We were lucky enough to have a brilliant open hardware designer from Australia attending the workshop almost by coincidence, and he said, “Well, why don’t we build our own?” Up until that point I think our dominant way of looking at the world was by asking what sort of North American or European technologies could we take and repurpose in Sub-Saharan Africa to address this issue of access in a more affordable way. The notion of actually manufacturing our own technology wasn’t on the chart at all and it took a little while for the idea to sink in, because it just seemed infeasible at the time. But sink in it did, which led through my fellowship at the Shuttleworth foundation to the funding of a pilot project to see whether it was feasible to complete at least a prototype design. The created prototype design led to a partnership with the manufacturer in Shenzhen, China, and to a short run of production which led to a bigger run of production. And so one thing led to another and now we have our own device that we manufacture.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena Gyulkhandanyan</strong>: And how would you describe this device to a regular consumer?</p>
<p><strong>Stephen Song</strong>: Well, it is a wireless networking device that works with similar units of its kind to form an autonomous wireless network that delivers voice and data services. So you can open a box of Mesh Potatoes, plug them all in, and instantly have a voice and data network. It is a network for which you don’t require a special voice technology. All you need to do to be able to start making calls is to plug in an ordinary phone into the Mesh Potato. So it doesn’t require any sort of additional smart VOIP hand set technology or anything like that. We deliberately chose to do that because analog handsets are very cheap and lots of people have them already or they cost less than $10 to buy. So it seemed like a very affordable way of creating a voice network.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena Gyulkhandanyan</strong>: And how much does a Mesh Potato cost?</p>
<p><strong>Stephen Song</strong>: They are about a $100 each.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena Gyulkhandanyan</strong>: And how much does it cost to set up a network and what is the largest distance that it can cover?</p>
<p><strong>Stephen Song</strong>: The cost of the network is literally just the cost of the Mesh Potatoes and so once you have them and they are powered up, you have network infrastructure that is yours for as long as the technology lasts, which should be many years. So that’s really the core cost; it’s just the cost of the devices. Then if you connect your network to the Internet or to the public switched telephone network you might have to pay for the access to the Internet or for access to voice services.</p>
<p>Each Mesh Potato has a range of about three to four hundred meters but the way the Mesh Potatoes work is each device acts as a repeater for the next one. So as long as the next house that you can see is less than three to four hundred meters away, you can actually build quite a large network, because if you have two houses that are six or seven hundred meters away, as long as you have one house in the middle that’s got a Mesh Potato, then all three of them are connected. Mesh networking has been around for a while but just hasn’t become as mainstream as WiFi hotspots.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena Gyulkhandanyan</strong>: And in what frequency range does this technology operate in?</p>
<p><strong>Stephen Song</strong>: It works in the 2.4GHz range which is your standard WiFi technology, which means that for most countries you can use it without requiring a spectrum license.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena Gyulkhandanyan</strong>: So in what countries, other than South Africa, has this technology been deployed in? </p>
<p><strong>Stephen Song</strong>: Our biggest network is in the capital of East Timor in Dili. There is an NGO there called FONGTIL that has set up a large Village Telco network and there are a number of other smaller networks – one in Brazil, some networks in Nigeria and Cameroon, and then multiple other smaller more informal networks as opposed to formal Village Telcos.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena Gyulkhandanyan</strong>: Have there been barriers in terms of deploying this technology? </p>
<p><strong>Stephen Song</strong>: A barrier for us is bringing the cost of manufacture down. So one of the downsides of being a very small organization is that in terms of negotiating with manufacturers and arranging deals we have very little leverage. So we will want to bring the cost of the Mesh Potatoes down by another 50 percent, which is completely feasible, but it’s a challenge to actually build the relationships with the manufacturers to get things done quickly.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena Gyulkhandanyan</strong>: So what company currently manufactures this technology?</p>
<p><strong>Stephen Song</strong>: A company called Atcom. </p>
<p><strong>Yelena Gyulkhandanyan</strong>: Can you provide a successful case study of this technology being deployed where it has made a difference in the village or where it helped create other social endeavors because people had access to this technology?</p>
<p><strong>Stephen Song</strong>: Yeah, I think Dili in East Timor is probably the most successful example, in that the NGO that is running the network, FONGTIL, is kind of an umbrella organization for other NGOs in the region that need to connect and talk to each other on a regular basis. However mobile communication is quite expensive in Dili. So the NGOs have really valued being able to communicate easily and cheaply with their partner organizations through the Mesh Potato network. </p>
<p><strong>Yelena Gyulkhandanyan</strong>: Sounds good. Thank you very much for your time.</p>
<p><strong>Stephen Song</strong>: All right, bye for now.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/interview-with-stephen-song'>http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/interview-with-stephen-song</a>
</p>
No publisherYelena GyulkhandanyanInterviewTelecom2012-02-29T14:08:54ZBlog EntryAn Interview with PK Garg
http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/interview-with-garg
<b>Former Wireless Advisor to the Government of India, Ministry of Communications & IT, and current ITU regulatory board member, PK Garg, discusses some of the telecom policy interventions in an interview with Yelena Gyulkhandanyan.</b>
As of March 2010, India’s telecommunication network has become the
third largest in the word, with teledensity increasing from 5.11 per
cent in 2003 to 52.74 per cent.<a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/interview-with-garg#fn1" name="fr1">[1] </a>This
tremendous growth is largely attributed to the evolution of
telecommunication policies which served to create competition within the
market and affordability in service provision.
<p><strong><br />P. K. Garg</strong>: In 1991, the teledensity of India was less than 2
per cent. The then government, as part of the economic liberalization
policy wanted the teledensity to grow fast. At that point of time the
government was supporting the telecom sector for the growth of
teledensity to the tune of about four to five billion dollars per year
through the annual budget. During the same time frame it was felt that
the government would further need to support the telecom sector to
almost double the level if teledensity was to reach five per cent and
also if every village was to have a telecom connection to make
telecommunications accessible to each and every citizen. At that time
the thrust was more on accessibility rather than having an individual
connection for every home or every citizen.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: So if a telecom connection is accessible to the whole
village then all villagers can share one line instead of having an
individual connection?</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: Yes, until that time telecom facilities were not
accessible to many people. So with the accessibility at least if there
is one telephone in the village, whether it is a PCO, whether it is a
phone in the Panchayat, all can use it. So the thrust of the government
at that time was that the telecom facilities should be made accessible
to all citizens. And even for taking the teledensity to five per cent it
was estimated that it would require about 25 to 30 billion dollars over a
period of five years. The government made provision for almost
three-fourth of this money in the Indian budgets and the planning
processes. So the fiscal imbalances, etc, that is an overall economic
aspect, not only related to telecom. I think you have plenty of material
from other sources on what measures the government took to deal with
the issue – one of which was the liberalization: entry of the private
sector was decided upon and it was also decided that the government
telecom department would concentrate on increasing the accessibility
through line telephones. The entry of wireless was to be left to the
private operators, because the government money that was available for
this was limited.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: And this was prior to 1994?</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: This was around 1991-1992 time frame. The
government decided that the wireless telephony (mobile telephony) should
be left to the private sector because it would require quite a
significant investment and if the government funds were diverted to the
mobile wireless service provision then it would have to reduce the
investments available for line telephony and increase of teledensity.
Another factor at that point of time was that nobody felt that mobile
telephony will grow to that extent. They were feeling that one might get
a few million connections, maximum four to five millions, because it
was considered to be a service for rich and elite people, business
people, top bureaucrats, but not so much for the common masses.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: So where did that shift come where the government realized that mobile connections are important for all citizens?</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: I would say it was a combination of many factors.
To understand this one has to go through the history of our wireless
mobile telephony a little bit. In 1994, licenses for mobile telephony in
India were granted for the four metro service areas – Delhi, Mumbai,
Chennai and Calcutta. Two operators in each of these areas were
selected. At that time it was not pure bidding; it was sort of a beauty
contest where certain pre-conditions were made and only those who
technically qualified for those conditions could bid for that. At that
point of time the government had indicated a certain ceiling for the
tariffs and at that point of time outgoing calls as well as incoming
calls – both were charged. Then around 1995-96 the mobile telephony
licenses for other areas of the country were auctioned. It was slightly
different from the 1994 bids which were more on the pattern of a beauty
contest. And not only the mobile telephony licenses were auctioned; it
was considered then that one more operator in each area should come in
the line telephony sector also as a competitor to the government
operator – first, to provide competition, secondly, to add to the
government efforts to increase the teledensity.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: So the government operator was BSNL right?</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: At that time it was not BSNL, it was called the
Department of Telecom and only in Delhi-Mumbai it was MTNL. MTNL was
formed in 1986, and it was managing the Delhi and Mumbai areas. The rest
of the country was still under the Department of Telecom. Later on they
converted into the Department of Telecom Services. And in 1996-97, one
private licensee or one operator for line telephony areas was also
selected through auctions. The private operators began functioning in
1995, starting their services slowly with first mobile telephony
networks in the metro areas. Mobile telephony networks in the other
areas started functioning around 1996-97 and the private operators for
line telephony were allowed to use wireless in the last mile, the WLL
wireless in local loop. So they also started rolling out their networks
in 1997. </p>
<p>However, around the beginning of 1998 most of the operators,
especially the mobile telephony operators, felt that their business case
which was the basis of their bids was not right. And 1) the growth was
not as expected; 2) the ARPU (average revenue per unit/ subscriber) was
far below their expectations which they had assumed for their business
case. So the net result was that they approached the government saying
sorry, we made a mistake in our business calculations and the government
has to bail us out, otherwise we will not be able to service the
existing customers also. And as you can appreciate most of these funds
were lent by banks and financial institutions. That was not necessarily
the money of the promoters. So then the lending banks and financial
institutions also supported the cause of the operators with the
government. Because many of our banks who had given money to the
operators were nationalized banks, some of them were private also, but
most of them were nationalized banks, and if the national banks were not
able to recover their loans, it means the public money is gone. So the
government had set up a high level group, ministerial level group, in
the last quarter of 1998 to examine this issue and the group had
detailed discussions with the operators, the banks, the user groups, the
economists in the country and many others. They also consulted
international experts. Then finally government agreed that, yes, some
relief needs to be given to these companies/ operators. And that is how
the new telecom policy of 1999 came into play.</p>
<p>The most salient aspect of that policy was revenue share. The license
fee was earlier based on their bids, and in India it was not a total
payment of auction amount upfront, it was staggered. The bid itself was
payable over 10 years and the operator had the choice to indicate at the
time of bidding how he would like to pay – whether he would like to pay
uniformly or whether he would like to pay less in the beginning, more
in the end, or he would like to pay more in the beginning, less in the
end – he had the choice. And as per the normal economic rules the
government then calculates the net present value of that bid amount for
the purpose of comparison. So the result was that instead of the fixed
license fee, the government said OK, now you will not pay any prefixed
amount but you will pay a percentage of the revenues which you will
earn. That was a big relief because then the operator was not required
to pay any fixed amount which was quite large, and he was to pay a
percentage of the revenue towards the license fee.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: So it depends on how much money they make…</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: So if the subscriber growth is there, they get
revenues, they pay that much, and if they don’t get adequate revenues,
they will pay less, if they get more revenues they will pay more. And
then the spectrum charges also, which were earlier based on a formula,
were also changed over to the revenue share or percentage of their
revenues.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: What was the formula?</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: Earlier the formula was that for each city, say
1MHz of paired spectrum was charged at about $10 000 per year, per city
and in addition there was a fee of Rs.100 (appox $ 2) per subscriber,
per year that is the wireless license charge. So instead of separate
spectrum royalty and the license fee, both were combined and it was
taken as the revenue share. So the burden of a fixed fee was taken away
and the operators were to pay a percentage of their earnings; whatever
the revenues they get, they pay a part of that. So that was the biggest
consequence of the New Telecom Policy 1999. This allowed the operators
to reduce their tariffs because anybody can appreciate the two barriers
for the growth of mobile telephony: cost of the handset which is entry
level cost and the tariff costs. During 1999-2000 onwards the cost of
the handsets was already coming down. Plus the revenue share allowed the
operators to reduce the tariffs, because earlier if they were charging
half a dollar per minute then they were paying a fixed amount of license
fee and spectrum charges out of that, but now if they were to reduce
their tariff from half a dollar to 10 cents, they would be paying only
the license fee and the spectrum charge as a percentage of the revenue
out of the 10 cents only. So they didn’t have much of a fear to reduce
their tariffs, because the payment to the government will also be less.
These factors encouraged them to reduce their tariffs – one was
competition and the second was that they could get more customers. </p>
<p>Then the next point which encouraged the fast growth was the decision
of our regulator in 2003 that only the calling party will pay; the
receiving party will not pay. Earlier even the receiving party on the
mobile had to pay.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: In Canada, if you don’t have a good plan, you still have to pay to receive a call.</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: In US also. It is there still. Even if I receive a
call I will have to pay. So the charges for receiving a call were a
hindrance, especially with the lower strata of society, because they
were hesitant to receive the call if they had to pay. But once the
liability was removed from the receiving party, many people started
using the phone for receiving only. For example, the self employed
artisans, electricians, painters, carpenters, anybody else could give
their mobile telephone numbers to the prospective customers or clients
and when they need their services they could call them without any
financial penalty to the receiving party. One doesn’t have to pay
anything except for the normal monthly or rental charges if one uses the
phone for call receiving purposes only. That gave a tremendous boost to
our telecom sector growth. For example, in early 2003, until this
regulation was enforced, the total number of mobile customers in India
was in the region of 10 million. These 10 million subscribers came, you
can say, spread over at least 4-5 years starting from 1995. But from
there onwards, the growth started picking up to almost more than 1
million subscribers per month. Another factor as I mentioned is that by
that time the cost of the handset had come down to about $50-$60.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena:</strong> How much was it before?</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: Initially in the 1995 time frame it was very much in
the range of about $600. And from $600 it came to $60 (one-tenth). So
these factors – the entry level cost of the handsets coming down, the
tariffs also becoming low and the receiving calls becoming free – they
were the factors which put mobile telephony on a very fast growth.
Thereafter it’s well known to everybody because we crossed 100 million
mobile subscribers in the middle of 2006 and from there onward it has
been picking up and the country has seen almost 15 million per month new
connections. Now also it is about 10 million new connections per month
but it had even crossed 15 million during some time frame around
2007-08. So that is how the growth took place. </p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: The unified access services license: I think it was
introduced in 2003. Could you speak about some of the reasons it was
introduced?</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: Basically it is not my area of specialization,
because mine was spectrum related, but I will give you some general
aspects which I know. As part of the telecom policies most of these
concessions were given to the operators. Then the government got from
them some concessions or levied upon them certain conditions. For the
mobile operators, government said that it will bring in a third operator
which was the government operator. Moreover, the government also said
that because we are giving you a concession with the license fee, etc,
the government will have the right to introduce more operators as and
when it feels the necessity for it in the public interest. Similarly for
the line telephony also, since line telephony operators were also
allowed certain concessions, in 1999 the government said that it may
introduce more operators in addition to the one government and one
private operator. So then in the year 2000 the government asked the
government operator to enter the mobile telephony as the third operator.
The name of the operator was MTNL in Delhi and Mumbai and then the
remaining areas the operating wing of the telecom department was renamed
as BSNL. BSNL was formed in October 2000. Then BSNL was asked to enter
the mobile area for the rest of the country except Delhi-Mumbai where
MTNL was there. Then in 2001, the government felt that one more private
mobile operator can be introduced for which bids were called. They also
said that for line telephony, because the issue of spectrum was not
there, anybody who wished to come for line telephony would be allowed to
do so. And then one operator came almost for all over India, that was
Reliance in the line telephony. TATA also came into the play for a few
areas and then couple of others were there like Shyam telecom for one or
two areas as well as HFCL for one or two areas for line telephony. For
mobile telephony, because it was only one license to be given, no single
operator could get it for the areas all over India. Then some places
Airtel got, some places went to Vodafone, and some places Idea received.
So like that, all of the 22 circles went to different operators.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: And prior to this, per circle there were only two wireless operators?</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: Initially there were two mobile operators, third
one became BSNL-MTNL, and the fourth one was introduced in 2001. And
then what happened was that the fixed line operators were allowed
wireless in the last mile. So they adopted CDMA; Reliance chose CDMA
system to provide WLL and this CDMA technology had developed by that
time to a level that could provide full roaming. Not only could it
provide the wireless in local loop in the last mile but it could also
provide full roaming and it was sort of alleged by many people and even
the wireless mobile operators that Reliance had started providing full
mobile services and not restricting to WLL which was the mandate of
their license. That gave rise to many legal issues; there were legal
cases by the mobile operators saying that the bid amounts offered by the
fourth cellular operator in 2001 and the fixed line operators were
quite different. The line operators’ bids were very low and the mobile
operators’ bid amounts were very high; not as high as 1996-97 time frame,
but still very high as compared to the bids of the fixed line
operators. So they said that this was unfair competition and this was
not allowed as per policy; why are they doing it? They went to court
where they made the government also as a party, claiming that the
government was allowing them to do it. At that time, in 2003, the
government realized that this dispute in the telecom sector should be
ended. After consultations with the Telecom Regulatory Authority the
government decided to no longer issue separate licenses for basic fixed
line services and cellular services, and instead introduced the Unified
Access Services License (UASL). The earlier fixed line operators were
given a choice that if they wanted to go for full mobility using CDMA or
whatever technology, they could do so by paying the bid amount which
was paid for the cellular licenses in 2001. </p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: And dual technology licensing came about in 2007 I believe?</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: Yes that was in 2007. Until that time an operator could have either mobile services in a CDMA or GSM, but not both.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: Great. Thank you for this history overview of telecommunications in India.</p>
<p><em>As part of CIS’s research interests in unlicensed spectrum policies, P. K. Garg was asked to comment on international and national level policies, as well as his perspective on the matter. </em></p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: Do ITU radio regulations reserve any bands for unlicensed use?</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: ITU radio regulations include the international allocations of different frequency bands. These international regulations are agreed by all the member countries of ITU at the world radio conferences. So it is agreed by all the countries, all the countries have to abide by that. In the international allocations there is no band which is unlicensed. There are certain bands which are allocated for ISM (Industrial Scientific and Medical) uses. For example, some bands are earmarked for microwave ovens because that’s an industrial use. Now of course it is for home use also but microwave ovens initially were for industrial use. Similarly certain frequency bands are for operating medical devices. And there are certain other scientific requirements for other bands. So there is a category called ISM (Industrial Scientific and Medical). </p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: And are these the 5GHz and 2.4 GHz bands or are there more?</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: Yes, they are also there, but there are many other sub-bands which are allocated for ISM services. Now many of these bands have been de-licensed for public use in many countries and as you said just now, the 2.4GHz, 5.2GHz, and 5.7GHz are the bands. There are other bands also. Many social requirements like cordless phones, let’s say individual requirements of the society, were developed in many of these unlicensed ISM type bands, because it was considered impractical both for the users, the vendor as well as the regulating authority in the country to issue licenses for each and every cordless phone. That is why they were developed in these bands. Some of these bands were de-licensed first in US and few other countries just like the 1500 or 1600 MHz sub bands. Then there was a band earlier around 150MHz, subsequently there were some parts even in the 900MHz band and the 450MHz band. That is where these cordless phones were developed. The cordless phones were one of the first de-licensed usages. Prior to that there were, you might have heard of them, walkie-talkies. They operated on 400MHz and covered a range of maybe a kilometre. That was to be used when people would go in the forest or trekking or camping, etc. So they were also developed in the ISM bands which were de-licensed in few countries. </p>
<p>Then as the requirements of the cordless phones came subsequently for WiFi modems, all these technologies were developed in ISM bands and even in those countries where they were not de-licensed, it was felt that it was better to de-license them, because 1) it will provide benefit to the society 2) it would be impractical to regulate their use or issue a license for everybody, because, for example, if one thinks of even regulating it or issuing licenses for WiFi modems it is practically impossible. And so the spectrum management authorities in the countries, any country, have to weigh how much is the benefit to the society by de-licensing; that is number 1. Number 2 – whether they can de-license or if there are some other users already there in that band, and how to shift them if possible, because those licensed operators/users have to be protected.</p>
<p>So, for example – the 2.4GHz band was de-licensed in India in 2004. For Licensed and unlicensed bands as such, there are many considerations before the spectrum management authority can decide to de-license them. The government could de-license the 5GHz band only for indoor use, because there were some existing users and it was difficult to shift them away from that band. The outdoor usage by the public cannot be allowed, because it will cause interference to those existing users as well as the public will get interference from them if they use it in the outdoors. That is why it could not be de-licensed for outdoor use. Only a small, 50 MHz portion (5825 to 5875MHz) could be de-licensed for outdoor use, but in the 2.4 GHz band the existing users were able to shift out of that band so it could be de-licensed for the outdoor use also.</p>
<p>There is also another important aspect which you have to keep in view while de-licensing any band: though the public requirement will be there, vendors naturally, you will agree, try to force the issue because they develop some equipment and they want to sell it. Now you would have seen that spectrum is a very valuable commodity, it’s a resource, a very valuable resource and billions of dollars have been spent by the operators to get the spectrum. On the one hand one operator is spending billions of dollars, on the other hand, another operator is using de-licensed spectrum providing the commercial services. There is a big gap as you can see. So when the government de-licenses any spectrum, the idea is that the public will use it for personal use. The intention is not to de-license it for the commercial use, because commercial usages will continue to grow, continue to increase. Today if you de-license 100 MHz, tomorrow requirements will grow and they will say that they need another 100 MHz, and after another few years they will ask for another 100 – 200 MHz. Hence the de-licensing requirements will never end. So this creates quite a difficult situation with respect to other commercial operators who have paid for this spectrum.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: That’s definitely something to keep in mind.</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: Yes. Even now, for example – some of these Internet service providers, they are using this 2.4 GHz band. Now this 2.4GHz de-licensed band which they are using, they are using quite extensively. As a result, the availability of this band for the public gets restricted. If members of the public want to use it they will get interference and if WiFi modems find one channel busy, they will find another channel, and if they find that channel busy too, then they will go to the third channel. Thus the number of channels which are available to the public will continue to decrease.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: So by the public you mean community projects or individuals?</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: Yes. For example – you and me– if we are to use a WiFi modem at home and if we find because of other commercial usages around our houses that we are not able to function, that means the benefit of that unlicensed band is lost for us.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: And there is no way to regulate so that the public gets more access?</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: No, because once the spectrum management authority de-licenses any band it sets certain parameters – how much power, what is the bandwidth of each channel, etc. Beyond that it will not control it. Only if somebody is using a higher power than what is allowed, it can be checked and then the person can be penalized. But whether it is for commercial use, personal use, or community use is a very grey area. It is difficult for the government to control this, requires a long litigation process and other interventions.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: That is certainly understandable. However, I’m looking into how unlicensed spectrum can be used for public good. There are projects that provide cost-effective wireless communication networks in remote areas, such as the Dharamsala wireless community network project set up by AirJaldi, or networks set up by the Digital Empowerment Foundation. So, our advocacy for de-licensed spectrum is to benefit such projects.</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: Basically you are right. For example – if you see now for the indoor use, almost 250MHz of spectrum in 2.4GHz and 5GHz band is available unlicensed. I would say even close to 300MHz is available. And out of this 300MHz almost 150MHz is available for outdoor use also. Now if any community wireless network or a city-wide network operating on WiFi is to be created, 150MHz is more than enough if it is used judiciously. However, supposing I am an operator and I started using the unlicensed spectrum for giving services to my customers throughout the city, and their data and the total time requirements are quite extensive, then what will happen is that it will either reduce the availability of spectrum to other users or it will become totally unavailable to them. So the basic purpose of de-licensing is defeated then.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: That makes sense. During my interviews with several other experts who are really strong advocates of unlicensed spectrum, it was stated that a solution to de-licensed spectrum being clogged is to de-license more spectrum. Considering what you mentioned, why are they still advocating for this? </p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: Well, as I was mentioning to you, unfortunately many of these people are not fully aware of the ground realities of the situation. Now no part of spectrum is completely virgin. If somebody says today it is a question of 100GHz band to be de-licensed that is a different issue. But for the 100GHz band there are no devices available today and no usage. But if we come to the band anywhere below 10GHz, all the bands are used by somebody or the other. So before de-licensing, one has to shift those users and shifting anybody is not easy. Which band will the government shift them to?</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: That is definitely something to consider.</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: The government will have to give them alternate bands; where will they provide them from when all the bands are in use? So the proponents of de-licensing sometime are not able to appreciate the full gravity of the situation. And another thing is that the government cannot be regulating whether it is a commercial use/private use or societal use. And many of the problems in the existing unlicensed bands have come up because they are really used more and more for commercial purposes. That is the unfortunate part of it. Otherwise 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands themselves are quite adequate to serve the societal requirements. Tomorrow, the ultra wide band systems are coming. The requirements will be there, but they will be operating in higher bands and they will be confined to very small areas; even home, even your office. So they can be tackled by indoor de-licensing.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: And this is according to the 2011 National Frequency Allocation Plan?</p>
<p><strong>P. K. Garg</strong>: Well, the National Frequency Allocation Plan doesn’t talk of any additional de-licensed bands but they will consider it. However that will be for indoor, very low power applications. As I mentioned to you for indoor usage it is almost like 300 or 350MHz which is available; for outdoors it is only 150MHz which is available. So for indoor it is already 200MHz of additional frequencies which are available as unlicensed. And if all these bands are put to proper use it can very easily allow even up to 100Mbps indoor usage for every house. There shouldn’t be much of a difficulty. One is that all this indoor usages are not continuous; this 100Mbps is not 24/7 because there are short spurts usages over a few milliseconds, then there is a gap and all these WiFi modems and other devices make use of the dynamic situation, so they are able to coexist. Even if I am using it here and somebody else is using it at the other end of the room in this large hall it is possible to coexist. And certainly if it is the next house or the next building the same frequencies can be used; they will be reused. So the solution lies in the greater reuse of the same spectrum; whether you call it reuse or you call it sharing, it’s the same thing. So one has to share the spectrum; reuse the spectrum.</p>
<p><strong>Yelena</strong>: Great. Thank you for your time and for sharing your expertise.</p>
<hr />
<p>[<a href="http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/interview-with-garg#fr1" name="fn1">1</a>].
Indian Telecom Sector. (2010). Government of India Department of
Telecommunications. Retrieved March 11, 2012, from
www.dot.gov.in/osp/Brochure/Brochure.htm.</p>
<p>
For more details visit <a href='http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/interview-with-garg'>http://editors.cis-india.org/telecom/interview-with-garg</a>
</p>
No publisherYelena GyulkhandanyanTelecom2012-03-14T05:20:15ZBlog Entry