N-1-3-900.05  Trumpy, "ISOC Committee for Technologically Emerging Countries"


Electronic transmission of data over long distances, combined with the
development of user networks, has become a powerful enabling
technology for many Technologically Emerging Countries (TEC's).  Over
100 nations now have some form of connectivity, but eighty per cent of
the world's population lives in countries where connections are not
robust and nearly half the world's countries have no connections to
the major research networks at all.  The poorest nations are the most
poorly connected.  These least connected nations represent over half
of the world's population.  These data communication "have nots" are
desperately in need of the rapid, low unit-cost information-transfer
capabilities offered by this powerful and robust technology.  The
Internet Society (ISOC) has an important role in this challenging
problem

The Internet Society involves Technologically Emerging Countries (TEC)
as full partners.  The ISOC Committee for TECs serves as a liaison
within the Internet Society to facilitate transfer of latest
internetworking technologies and skills to TECs.  It fosters
development and enhancement of internetworking technologies with
particular use in Technologically Emerging Countries.  The committee
works to insure that low-cost technologies are available for TECs and
obtains funding for scholarships and seminars for TECs to assist in
the technology transfer process.

Committee Tasks

1.  Promote Data Communication as an integral part of development
    efforts in Technologically Emerging Countries (TECs).  Communication
    technology services represent a unique opportunity for developing
    countries.  It is therefore important to dedicate a major ISOC effort
    toward this goal.

2.  Support the human resources formation process on networking
    related activities.  The rapid growth of technology makes networking
    more affordable and accessible-to those who have the proper
    background.  Emphasis will be placed on appropriate means of
    empowering large numbers of users from all specialties and disciplines
    to become qualified to use a full range of network services.

3.  Implement services for collection and distribution of information
    on capabilities available through the network.  The Committee will
    help to distribute documentation and reference materials related to
    network services and to implement other functions as needed.  Examples
    are: help desks and "yellow page" services.

4.  Facilitate linkages among TEC networking initiatives.  The Committee
    will aim to establish closer cooperation among regional networking
    efforts and to reduce duplication in hardware, software and training
    expenses.

5.  Encourage and facilitate the most appropriate solutions for entry
    level networking.  The Committee will provide referral to a range of
    entry level solutions, along with recommended training modalities,
    that encourage the use of the most efficient and successful methods.

6.  Encourage commercial providers of network products and services to
    consider the unique needs and interests of TECs.  Work to see that
    solutions are provided at affordable prices and that commercial
    providers sponsor training, programs and scholarships aimed at TEC
    needs.

7.  Stimulate research in areas of greatest value to TEC's.  The
    committee will sponsor research aimed at improving the ability of
    TEC's to take full advantage of network services.  Examples of this
    type of research are surveys of user's reactions to network services,
    demographic studies, effects of hardware and software changes on
    users, etc.

                                      The Committee

                                      Lee Caldwell
                                      Enzo Puliatti
                                      Steve Ruth
                                      Stefano Trumpy