(E-152/00)
August 16, 2000TELECOMMUNICATION AGENCY SAYS INTERNET PROMOTES DEVELOPMENT
Stressing that the rapid growth of information technology provides unprecedented opportunity for economic development, the Chairman of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL), José Pileggi, today challenged the countries of the Organization of American States to use that technology to speed up development.
"CITEL is definitely a vehicle for change," the CITEL chief told the representatives of OAS member countries at a meeting of the Permanent Council, asking for their support to make the agency even more productive.
Pileggi noted that the region's countries as a whole must put more emphasis on developing home-grown Internet technology infrastructure and other Internet services.
Surveying the exponential growth of Internet use worldwide, he noted that over 200 countries are now connected to the Internet, compared with only 20 a decade ago. In 1981, there were only 213 Internet hosts or servers. There are now some 43 million main servers—an exponential rate of growth to be sure, and one which Pileggi said can provide a wealth of opportunity for the region's countries.
Pileggi reported that among CITEL’s recent accomplishments are a book on universal telecommunication services in the Americas, and a "blue book" on telecommunication policies for the Americas. This is a guide for countries in the process of reforming the communications sector. CITEL has strongly recommended that member states promote Internet use as a priority to provide all citizens with equal access to knowledge and information, and develop the skills required for the new knowledge based economies.
Pileggi noted that " … this means that we must promote industry, build infrastructure and provide special rates for everyone to have access." CITEL is promoting universal access to the wired universe in all countries of the hemisphere – especially with respect to access to quality long distance education and to tele-medicine facilities needed to address the challenges facing health care systems in the new millennium, he noted.
CITEL was established as the principal OAS advisory body on telecommunication development in the Hemisphere.
**********