Day 3 | Session 9: Policy advocacy to policy change: LocNet’s experience on what works

Thursday, 1 July, 2021 [9:00 - 10:30 UTC]

Objective: This session is tailored to understand practical developments seen through consistent policy advocacy in telecommunication spaces. This is done by looking at how the LocNet initiative worked on regulatory frameworks on community networks in international spaces. Participants will be engaged in discussions around elements behind a long-term policy advocacy strategy that is starting to create tangible policy change for community networks.

Session plan:

• What is LocNet and what are community networks?
• How and why did LocNet start and are progressing on policy work especially on technical regulatory work
• Working with telecommunication regulators 
• What are the different areas of work for Policy Advocacy in LocNet?
• Rationale behind them 
• Objectives
• Results obtained thus far
• Lessons learned
• What are the advocacy spaces at the international level for telecom policy?
• What have been the most successful changes and what are the challenges?
• Next steps and feedback to make it work in Asia

*Reading materials and Tables are hyperlinked, please click the text to access

Reading Materials:

Suggested Readings 

1. APC, Expanding the telecommunications operators ecosystem: Policy and regulatory guidelines to enable local operators
   
2. LocNet, Policy and Regulation for Community Networks
   
3. LocNet, Engagement at International Telecommunication Union processes
4. Internet Society, Telecommunications Reclaimed: A Hands On Guide to Networking Communities

Additional Readings 

1. APC, Mapping the Regulatory Environment of Community Networks in India, Myanmar & Philippines
2. UNESCAP, Digital connectivity and e-resilience as a foundation infrastructure: perspectives during COVID-19
3. UNESCAP, In-Depth Study of the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway in CLMV Countries: Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (AP-IS) Working Paper Series
4. UNESCAP, Master Plan for the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway, 2019-2022

Representations:

1. AP-IS Master Plan Initiatives
2. Community Networks
3. Internet Society, Community Networks 101
4. Four Pillars of Asia Pacific Superhighway
5. ITU AP-IS Interactive Map
6. LocNet Country Profiles 

🔖 Read Day 3 Summary Here