Sergio Amadeu da Silveira - Cidadania e Redes Digitais
Sergio Amadeu da Silveira - Cidadania e Redes Digitais
Sergio Amadeu da Silveira - Cidadania e Redes Digitais
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eng<br />
c i t i z e n s h i p a n d d i g i t a l n e t w o r k s<br />
ing Committee (CGI, 2009) offer clues to plan those urban infrastructures, such<br />
as the assurance of freedom, privacy and human rights; the existence of democratic<br />
and collaborative governance processes; universal access; the respect of diversity; the<br />
promotion of innovation; net neutrality 3 ; non-imputability of the network 4 ; functionality,<br />
security and stability; the use of interoperable stan<strong>da</strong>rds; and a legal and<br />
regulatory environment that ensures dynamic and collaborative processes.<br />
Another relevant issue for the city, concerning the citizens’ conditions for connection,<br />
is the management of the electromagnetic spectrum where wireless Internet<br />
signals could be distributed. This spectrum is said to be scarce and limited, but it can<br />
now be used in a much more intelligent way thanks to digital technologies. Besides<br />
the fact that recent technological advances have increased the available space, given<br />
the possibility of compression of digitally transmitted <strong>da</strong>ta, several smart devices<br />
can also guarantee the use of common frequencies while preventing signals from<br />
interfering between each other (SILVEIRA, 2009). Before this scenario, how should<br />
local governments participate in the use of these resources?<br />
As the management of the spectrum is done on a national scale, specifically by<br />
Anatel (Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency), and is based on an extremely<br />
restrictive legislation, the possibilities for municipalities and communities to propose<br />
creative solutions on this topic are extremely limited (JOSGRILBERG, 2009).<br />
In short, municipalities can either resort to a public or a private enterprise in a market<br />
regimen, or they can make use of a license that restricts the allowed actions to online<br />
services associated to the city administration — with a very doubtful definition of<br />
services which, ultimately, inhibits in a decisive way the actions of local governments.<br />
Therefore, besides looking at the current possibilities for using the spectrum, local<br />
governments should strive for greater autonomy in managing this resource. As an<br />
example, couldn’t the municipality or a community organization make a better use<br />
of the spectrum at the regions where it is underutilized? This would be the case for<br />
a region that offers no commercial interest to telecommunications companies oper-<br />
3. “Traffic filtering or traffic privileges must meet only technical and ethical criteria; no political,<br />
commercial, religious or cultural reasons, or any other form of discrimination or favoritism, should be<br />
admitted” (CGI, 2009).<br />
4. “Combat to illicit acts on the network must reach the final responsible subjects and not the means<br />
of access and transport, always preserving the highest principles of defense of liberty, privacy and respect<br />
for human rights” (CGI, 2009).<br />
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