[AfrICANN-discuss] Internet Society Member Newsletter

[Anne-Rachel Inné]

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Internet Society Member Newsletter
Volume 10 Number 7 - June 2011
Full online version: http://isoc.org/wp/newsletter/?m=201107
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Contents
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Internet Society Updates & General News
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- Internet Society Announces New Board of Trustees
- New Chapters Increase Internet Society's Global Strength
- Internet Evolution
- Inaugural Applied Networking Research Prizes Announced, Nominations for
Next Round Open
- Internet Society IETF 81 Rough Guide

Chapter News
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- Bangladesh Dhaka
- Brazil
- Cameroon
- Ghana
- Singapore

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Internet Society Updates & General News
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Internet Society Announces New Board of Trustees

Leaders from industry, academia, and the Internet community to provide
strategic direction on Internet related standards, education, and policy

The Internet Society today announced its new Board of Trustees, comprised of
distinguished leaders from across the global Internet community. The board
members bring to the organization a broad cross-section of experience and
global perspectives, as well as a keen interest in making a positive impact
on the future of the Internet.

The new Board members with terms beginning this year are:

+ Alain Patrick Aina, Managing Director at Technologies Reséaux & Solutions
and Special Project Manager at AfriNIC (the Internet Address Registry for
Africa)

+ Theresa Swinehart, Executive Director, Global Internet Policy for Verizon
Communications

+  Jason Livingood, Executive Director of Internet Systems Engineering at
Comcast, was appointed to occupy a vacated Board seat.

Also announced at the Board meeting, held 30-31 July:

+ Raúl Echeberría, Executive Director of LACNIC (the Internet Address
Registry for Latin America and the Caribbean) was reelected as Chair of the
Board

+ Bert Wijnen, Research Engineer at RIPE NCC, was reappointed by the IETF
for a second term on the Board

During its meeting, the new Board formally thanked outgoing board members
Daniel Karrenberg and Alejandro Pisanty for their outstanding service and
commitment. For the complete announcement, see:

http://isoc.org/wp/newsletter/?p=4265

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New Chapters Increase Internet Society's Global Strength

Increasing local reach is definitely the theme of this month's newsletter as
the Internet Society celebrates the rejuvenation of three local Chapters and
the creation of one new one.

We're proud to tell our readers they can now get involved with Chapters in:

+ Cameroon
+ Singapore
+ Brazil
+ Bangladesh Dhaka

Our Chapters help provide the fuel for all of our work in helping to keep
the Internet open and accessible for everyone and defined by users -
regardless of where they live, what they do, or who they are.

When an Internet Society Chapter is launched, they make sure their work is
brought to the heart of their local community.

They are:

+ Active and well respected in their local community;
+ Working in partnership with local stakeholders to advance Internet
Society's mission;
+ Strong and engaged with their membership base;
+ Unified components of the Internet Society 'family' working towards a
common cause;
+ Working collaboratively with other chapters;
+ Delivering a clear and consistent message and image of the Internet
Society.

Want to know more about what Chapters do? Read the profiles of our wonderful
new Chapters below and then visit our Chapter pages on our website:

http://www.isoc.org/isoc/chapters/

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Internet Evolution

The Internet is evolving. The majority of end-users perceive this evolution
in the form of changes and updates to the software and networked
applications that they are familiar with, or with the arrival of entirely
new applications that change the way they communicate, do business,
entertain themselves, and so on.

Can we think about the Internet as a whole evolving? What form would such
evolution take, and where could we look for data that offers insight into
changes at the macro scale?

In an effort to stimulate some answers to these questions and to provoke
thought and further consideration among a wider audience, the Internet
Society invited a range of experts to reflect on some recent data-driven
observations about the ways in which the Internet is changing on a global
scale.

The paper summarizing these expert contributions are available here:

http://isoc.org/evolution

Following on the paper, the Internet Society organized a panel in
conjunction with IETF 81 that included Bernard Aboba, Principal Architect,
Lync Division at Microsoft; Mark Handley of the Computer Science department
at University College London; and Geoff Huston, Chief Scientist at the Asia
Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC). More information and an audio
archive of the event is available here:

https://www.isoc.org/isoc/conferences/ietf81-briefing/

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Inaugural Applied Networking Research Prizes Announced, Nominations for Next
Round Open

The Internet Society (ISOC) and the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF)
announced the recipients of the Applied Networking Research Prize (ANRP) in
conjunication with IETF 81. The ANRP is awarded for recent results in
applied networking research that directly improve products and services, and
advance related Internet standards. The winners were Mattia Rossi, of the
Centre for Advanced Internet Architectures at Swinburne University of
Technology; and Beichuan Zhang, of the Computer Science Department at the
University of Arizona.

"I am extremely pleased that the very first Applied Networking Research
Prizes have been awarded to such deserving individuals," said Lars Eggert,
Chair of the IRTF, the research arm of the Internet Engineering Task Force
(IETF), the premier Internet standards body. "The award committee received
two dozen nominations from the community for this initial round, which
highlights the interest in and importance of applied network research to the
Internet's continued growth and evolution."

Both researchers presented their findings at the Internet Research Task
Force Open Meeting during the Internet Engineering Task Force Meeting (IETF
81) last week in Quebec City.

The ANRP is awarded three times per year, in conjunction with the three
annual IETF meetings. The next call for nominations open 1 August with
nominations due on 28 August. Awardees will be invited to participate in
IETF 82 in Taipei, Taiwan in November 2011.

Read more about the ANRP at:

http://InternetSociety.org/anrp <http://internetsociety.org/anrp>

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IETF 81 Rough Guide

In advance of the IETF 81 in Quebec City, the Internet Society developed our
regular Rough Guide to the sessions most relevant to our current work.
During the meeting, we continued to turn our attention to the following
broad categories:

+ Common and Open Internet
+ Global Addressing
+ Security and Stability
+ Trust and Identity

While the meeting is over, but the Rough Guide is still available at:

http://isoc.org/wp/newsletter/?p=4068

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Chapter News
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Bangladesh Dhaka

- Contributed by: Faisal Hasan

Like many countries in the developing world, Bangladesh Dhaka has seen an
enormous increase in the number of Internet users in the last few years.

That’s why it’s exciting that the Internet Society Bangladesh Dhaka Chapter,
which officially opened its doors on July 20th.

The Chapter, which was rejuvenated after a few years of dormancy, is full of
fresh ideas, new skills, and active members.

These members are dedicated to helping the citizens of Bangladesh Dhaka in
the following for areas:

+ Bridging the digital divide by enabling Internet access and promoting the
use of localized contents;
+ Providing education related to technical and social aspects of Internet
through seminars, workshops, and training;
+ Building Internet related awareness and formulation of policies;
Fostering research.

Due to the large increase in Internet users over the past few years, the
Chapter will also focus its efforts on making sure the people of Bangladesh
Dhaka can create or have access to local content in their own language.  As
with many countries, this lack of locally relevant content is considered one
of the top barriers when it comes to Internet use.

Want to get involved with the Internet Society’s Dhaka’s Bangladesh
Chapter?  Please contact:  isoc.bd.dhaka at gmail.com

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Cameroon

- Contributed by: Victor NDONNANG

While it’s just only a few weeks old, the Internet Society’s rejuvenated
Cameroon Chapter is well on its way at becoming a hub of Internet and web
expertise in their local communities.

“We are open to share the experiences and skills from other Chapters
officers. Our sincere thanks are extended to Internet Society Chapter
formation and development team for their help and support,” said a Chapter
Representative.

The challenges of the new Chapter are many.

As of 2011, Cameroon’s population is just over 19 million.  As of June 2010,
only 3.8 per cent of those are Internet users.

According to an Internet Society report, some of the problems Cameroon faces
are things like:

+ Poor telephone lines, though tremendous efforts are being made to improve
underground lines, mostly in big towns;

+ Lack of more qualified technicians to run TCP/IP networks, despite the
enormous effort made by the Ministry of Higher Education and other
governmental organizations;
+ The difficulty the average African has in affording a computer,
subscribing for an Internet line or having access to information about the
Internet.

But the Cameroon Chapter is well on its way to helping address issues like
these.

They’re doing this by:

+ Raising awareness and be instrumental for the establishment of an Internet
Exchange Point (IXP) in Cameroon in order to reduce the Internet access cost
and promote new services;

+ Active participation in all upcoming Internet events and promotion of
local communication around these events;

+ Creating and publishing of a monthly newsletter for Internet users of
Cameroon in order to promote safe Internet and raise awareness on the risks
of Cybercrime (scam, identity theft…);

+ Writing and publishing an “Internet learning book” to teach students of
high schools and universities about how to efficiently use the Internet.

While the Chapter was officially recognized on July 6th  2011, it held its
Constitutive General Assembly in Yaounde on May 7,  2011

Internet Society members who live in Cameroon and other stakeholders were
invited to participate in the rejuvenation process of the Cameroon Chapter
of the Internet Society. It is important to note that this rejuvenating
process started 2009.

Following that General Assembly, exchanges continued with Internet Society
headquarters and have led to official recognition of the Cameroon Chapter on
July 6, 2011.

For more information, please contact the Internet Society Cameroon Chapter’s
team at: info at isoc-cameroon.org

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Ghana

- Contributed by: Vera Doku

The Internet Society Ghana Chapter and the Ghana Network Operator’s Group
welcomed leading network operators who chose to go back to school to help
improve the country’s Internet access.

The two groups held a series of back-to-back workshops from June 18-23:

+ A 2 day Train The Trainer (TTT) programme which was organized by Internet
Society Chapter of Ghana.

+ The fourth edition of the UNIX system administration workshop dubbed
‘ghNOG-4’.

Both workshops happened back-to-back at the University of Cape Coast in
Ghana and instructors for the were AfNOG / ghNOG alumni and practicing
network managers from industry, academia and non-governmental operators.

At the start of the Train the Trainer workshop, the President of the
Internet Society Ghana Chapter, Mr. Daniel Obuobi said he was confident that
the enthusiasm shown by the 15 participants demonstrated their willingness
to join the corps of volunteer instructors who work with the Internet
Society Ghana Chapter and ghNOG to spread the community-based capacity
building programme to other parts of the country.

According to Mr. Obuobi, the Internet Society Ghana Chapter is poised to
expand its capacity building programme to improve quality and enhance
Internet service delivery of network operators in Ghana.

“We will count on your support anytime we have a ghNOG workshop in your
area,” he said.

He hinted that with the corps of new trained instructors, the Internet
Society Ghana Chapter and ghNOG may add new workshop tracks focused on
national IT developmental needs.

Some of the main issues many Africans face when it comes to the Internet are
still basic: cost, education and access.

According to the Internet World Stats Website, only 15% of Africa’s total
population has regular access.  In Ghana, only 5.2% of its population (or
1.1% of Africa’s total) can log on.

The world average for Internet penetration is nearly five times this number,
which means Ghanians have one of the lowest rates when it comes to people
who are using the Internet.

The four-day ghNOG-4 Workshop, which was held back-to-back with the TTT
workshop had twenty six participants from industry, academia and
non-governmental network operators attending. At the end of the workshop,
participants were equipped with skills to setup a UNIX Internet production
system with all essential services, such as email and web services.

Participants also received books donated by Network Startup Resource Center,
a US based organization that helps develop and deploy networking technology
in various projects throughout Asia/Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the
Caribbean, the Middle East, and the New Independent States.

During the closing ceremony, the local host and head of Computer Science &
IT Department of the University of Cape Coast, Dr. J. M. Eghan said he was
happy the workshop was held at the university and added that he would be
glad to promote the ghNOG community based capacity concept in Cape Coast.

Internet Society and Ghana’s premier mobile telecommunication network, MTN
Ghana, made the workshops possible.

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Singapore

- Contributed by: Yvonne Lim

With over 77 per cent of people in Singapore using the Internet, it’s easy
to assume that there isn’t a lot to do to when comes the future of the
Internet or the web.

That’s simply not the case for the Internet Society’s new Chapter in
Singapore.

The Chapter, which was given approval this June, says there’s a lot of
exciting work left to do when it comes to the future of the Internet in
Singapore.  It’s focusing its efforts on the promotion of technology and
applications to help organizations and individuals work together and develop
Singapore’s unique voice.

Its objectives are:

+ To Advance and promote the use of the Internet and its associated
technologies and applications, and as a means of enabling organisations,
professions, and individuals worldwide to more effectively collaborate,
cooperate, and innovate in their respective fields and interests in
Singapore.

+ Cover the engagement of a wide range of Internet educational initiatives

+ Promote the expansion of Internet access at all levels of the local
community and provide forums for professional networking and knowledge
sharing.

It also aims to help with the recruitment and job market development in
local technology industries as well as develop and lead initiatives for the
expansion of broad community access and infrastructure development.

The Chapter will be established as a non-profit organisation under the laws
of Singapore.

As we are young and new, we welcome comments and feedback.
If you’re interested in getting involved, please email them at:

yvonnelyc at ntu.edu.sg

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If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact the Internet
Society membership team at <membership at isoc.org>.

Copyright (c) 2011 Internet Society. Permission to duplicate and
redistribute
in any form is granted as long as this copyright and this notice remain
intact.

http://isoc.org/wp/newsletter/

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Send any comments, questions, or suggestions to:

<newsletter at isoc.org>

Internet Society (ISOC) http://www.isoc.org
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