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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MUST HELP RAISE LIVING STANDARDS--OAS

The Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) opened the third regular meeting of its Assembly in Washington today, with the Organization of American States' (OAS) Assistant Secretary General challenging the hemispheric body to help raise living standards in the region by combining technological innovation with policies, strategies and programs that foster development.

Ambassador Luigi Einaudi said such initiatives must also reinforce the skills and know-how of all citizens of the Hemisphere. He commended CITEL for its priority on delivery of this "public service" to isolated regions and the most vulnerable population groups, calling such emphasis "a recognition of communication as an essential human right."

In his remarks, Permanent Council Chairman Roger Noriega, the U.S. Ambassador to the OAS, hailed the Commission as an "outstanding OAS success story," singling out as a model CITEL's ground-breaking initiatives involving private sector participation.

According to Yoshio Utsumi, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), despite the current "crisis of confidence" facing the telecommunications sector, the prospects are bright. He told participants that even in countries hard hit by economic turmoil, the telecommunication sector is doing much better than the rest of the economy. He observed that the combined level of fixed-lines and mobile subscribers per 100 inhabitants in Latin America and the Caribbean, at 32 per cent compared to 110 in North America, means that "networks of the South can grow at least three times their current size."

José Pileggi, the CITEL Chairman, spoke about how information technology was bolstering the pillars of development, noting the sector is being opened up even further and pointed to national and regional strategies to open up Internet use and in general to knock down barriers to Internet access.

On "democratic inclusion" and combating "digital illiteracy" in the information- and knowledge-based society, Pileggi asserted that "The main objective is to strengthen democracy, human rights, industry, trade, labor, equitable economic development, environmental protection and natural disaster aid while strengthening education, healthcare and gender equality."

During their weeklong meeting, the participants will consider a variety of issues, among them the Agenda of Connectivity in the Americas and Plan of Action of Quito; CITEL's implementation of Summit of the Americas mandates; and preparations for the World Summit on Information Society.

For more information on the Assembly, visit on the Internet: www.citel.oas.org/assembly/iiiassembly.asp

Reference: E-162/02