Question 4/1 and Question 5/1 joint workshop on Challenges and opportunities of the use of USF for bridging the digital divide

A short introduction on the importance of collaboration by Question 4 and Question 5, followed by an explanation on the theme of the workshop.

​SESSION 1: National economic strategies on expansion of the rural and remote infrastructure to bridge the Digital Divide using Universal Service Fund mechanisms. The role of the Universal Service Fund (USF) in building broadband and digital infrastructure in rural and remote areas with focus on Universal Access policies that drive the expansion of infrastructure to bridge the digital divide; Diversification of sources of funding for the USF; Financing and disbursement models for USF; Sustainable and cost-effective solutions to enhance the availability of broadband; and Digital infrastructure for rural and remote areas.​

• Opening Remarks
  Moderator: Mr Jaheung Koo, Co-Rapporteur for ITU-D Question 5/1, Rep. of Korea​ and Mr Christopher Hemmerlein, Vice-Rapporteur for ITU-D Question 5/1, Amazon (United States of America)
  
• National experience on USF governance and programmes on bridging the digital divide in Russian Federation.
  Speaker: Ms Uliana Stolyarova, vice-rapporteur of Question 1/1 and Member of Generation Connect, CIS Youth Group, Russia [Biography​] [Presentation​]​
  
• Bridging the urban-rural digital divide: Implementation path and strategy based on China’s practice.
  Speaker: Dr Yan Chen, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications and vice-Rapporteur Question 4/1, China [Presentation]
  
• The role of the Universal Service Fund in building broadband and digital infrastructure in rural and remote Areas: The FCC Perspective​
     Speaker: Ms Tyronda Brown, Federal Communications Commission, USA [Biography​] [Presentation​]
• Universal Service: The UK’s Experience​
  Speaker: Mr Teddy Woodhouse, Ofcom, UK [​​Biography] [Presentation​]
  
• Enhancing Accessibility of ICT Services
  Speaker: Mr Wesam Sedik, Technical Affair Director, National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Egypt [Biography​] [Presentation​]
• Speaker​: Ms Jésica Selene Giudice, AlterMundi representative for the community networks learning grant initiative, Alliance for Progressive Communications (APC) [Biography​] [Intervention summary]
  Speaker: ​Mr Mike Jensen, APC Labs-Community Networks coordinator, community networks project, Alliance for Progressive Communications (APC) [Biography]​​ [Intervention summary​]
  
• How to identify areas where the Universal Service Fund (USF) should intervene first?​​
  ​Speaker: Mr Antony Virgil Adopo, Deloitte, France [Biography​] [Presentation​]
  
• ​Question and Answers​

SESSION 2: Using the Universal Service Funds (USF) to move from ICT access to ICT use.
Moving from Universal ICT access only policies, to universal ICT use policies or an integrated ICT access and ICT use policy framework with insights into USF and affordability of service, the effective use of USF and digital skilling through USF.

• Opening Remarks
  Moderator: Mr Arseny Plossky, Rapporteur for ITU-D Question 4/1 on Economic aspects of national telecommunications/ICTs
  
• ​Towards new universal service mechanisms in the ECOWAS? (Presentation in French) Vers une évolution des mécanismes de service universel dans la zone CEDEAO?
  Speaker: Ms Diago Diouf, Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts of Senegal (ARTP), vice-Rapporteur Question 4/1, Senegal [Biography​​]​ [Presentation] [English version PPT]
  
• ​SMEs’ digital capabilities and the barriers to adoption of digital innovations. An analysis across Seven North Sea EU regions
  Speaker: Prof Emanuele Giovannetti, Anglia Ruskin University, UK. USF Policies for ICT Use and Digital Skills. [Biography​] [Presentation​]
  
• ​USF Policies for ICT Use and Digital Skills
  Speaker: Mr John Roman, Global Director of Broadband and Regulatory Policy, Intel Corporation [Biography​] [Presentation​]
  
• ​ ​Questions and Answers

Opening remarks on Common Universal Service models in the international practice and their implications.

Mr Arseny Plossky, Rapporteur for ITU-D Question 4/1​ [Biography​​]