TACKLING THE DIGITAL GAP IN BRAZIL: SOME SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES

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TACKLING THE DIGITAL GAP IN BRAZIL SOME
SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES

• Luiz Antonio Joia, Ph.D.
• Brazilian School of Public and Business
  Administration - Getulio Vargas Foundation

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E-GOVERNMENT IN BRAZILSocial and Economic
Context

• Internet Users in Brazil 10 million from a
  total population of 170 million
• Fixed-line telephones are the predominant option
  for Internet. Reduced line access is a limiting
  factor for Internet expansion (just 40 of the
  total population)
• High price for conventional telephone services
• Connections between local and international
  backbones are very expensive, and many small
  towns do not have an ISP.

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E-GOVERNMENT IN BRAZILSocial and Economic
Context

• The price of hardware is high for a prevailing
  social and econmic conditions where income per
  capita is very low (US 3,500/yr.)
• The predominance of English-language content in
  the Web is a barrier for those with a low
  educational level
• Lack of training and familiarity with new
  technologies are other enablers of infoexclusion

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A NEW PARADIGM FOR INFOINCLUSION IN BRAZIL
INFOINCLUSION
CONTENT
SUSTAINABILITY
INFRASTRUCTURE / ACCESS
TRAINING
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A NEW PARADIGM FOR INFOINCLUSION IN BRAZIL

• INFRASTRUCTURE / ACCESS
• Collective and individual easinesses to local
  access at a low cost
• TRAINING
• Training on using the media and training to
  create critical mass to configure, operate and
  develop services and systems

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A NEW PARADIGM FOR INFOINCLUSION IN BRAZIL

• CONTENT
• Creation and dissemination of local content in
  Brazilian Portuguese language
• SUSTAINABILITY
• Economic and financial conditions to support the
  mantainance and updating of the local services

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BRAZILIAN SUCCESSFUL INFOINCLUSION INITIATIVES

• INFRASTRUCTURE / ACCESS
• The multi-service network - Br_at_sil.gov is under
  implementation, with multi-service communication
  resources, including voice, data and images. It
  will operate nationally, supporting various
  applications, systems and services
• Open Door Programs information kiosks to be
  located at all post offices and public
  telecenters already installed in major cities.

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BRAZILIAN SUCCESSFUL INFOINCLUSION INITIATIVES

• TRAINING
• Telecommunity 13,327 public high schools will
  have computers and access to the Internet by
  end-2003. General public will have access to
  equipment at hours not used by students
• Virtual Libraries one digital library in each
  municipality being installed since 1997. All
  public libraries with an Internet link till 2006
• Teachers Training Programs for the use of
  Internet in the K-12 public classes
• Distance learning activities

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BRAZILIAN SUCCESSFUL INFOINCLUSION INITIATIVES

• CONTENT
• Development of several portals by the Brazilian
  Government, offering services such as
• income tax declaration and tax payment
  certificates
• primary and secondary school enrollment
• follow-up of judicial process
• information on retirement funds and other social
  securities benefits
• National Health Network (to allow and promote
  federal health institutions to exchange
  information and provide services, e.g., organ
  donations for transplant)

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BRAZILIAN SUCCESSFUL INFOINCLUSION INITIATIVES

• SUSTAINABILITY
• UNIVERSAL ACCESS FUND
• The Fund for Universal Access to
  Telecommunications Services (FUST) entered into
  legislation at the end of 2000
• Various revenues sources are provided for, the
  most important being 50 of the
  Telecommunications Inspection Fund (made up of
  funds from privatisation) and 1 from the gross
  revenue of companies
• In 2001 funds form FUST were estimated at US 500
  million

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MAIN CHALLENGES

• To advance digital literacy in the general
  population, without allowing infoexclusion to
  reinforce other inequalities in Brazilian society
• Access must be available (either on an individual
  or community basis), have a cost that is viable
  (independent of geographical location), and have
  no restrictions for use (equal opportunity)

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MAIN CHALLENGES

• The number of POPs (Point of Presence) must be
  increased and solutions created for call centers,
  telecenters and information kiosks
• Substantial efforts must be made to educate the
  public to use the new information and
  communication technologies in a conscientious and
  responsable way

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MAIN CHALLENGES

• Development and diffusion of local content in
  Brazilian Portuguese language must be fostered by
  the Government
• The concept of universal access to electronic
  public services must be present at every stage,
  from expansion and improvement of access
  infrastructure through the computer literacy of
  the citizen.