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TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The institute's telecommunications efforts are designed to provide a forum for cooperative efforts to understand and bridge the digital divide in the Arctic by sharing of information and technology transfer through join demonstrations projects. The aim is to provide telephone service and internet access to communities where these services are lacking or deficient.
Projects
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Arctic Information and Communications Technologies Assessment
The Institute of the North is serving as the secretariat for this critical Arctic Council project.
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The AICTA organizing committee, with the assistance of CISCO Internet Business Solutions Group, held a workshop in Amsterdam, the Netherlands June 11-12, 2007 to create the survey instrument to measure the level of ICT activity in the Arctic. A "core team" was charged with creating the assessment tool. Once the survey is completed, the team will analyze the data and present their findings to the SDWG for consideration.
In addition to the survey, a chapter will be written providing the background of ICT in the Arctic which will include the rationale for conducting the assessment. That document is to be presented to the SDWG with follow-up recommendations for other chapters in the assessment and a budget and timeline to complete the work.
While this assessment will certainly be about information communications technology, it will not be simply a technical study. It is important to have members on the core team who come from broader perspectives representing government, business, transportation, education, health and other sectors. Those individuals selected should have sufficient experience and knowledge to be able to contact the relevant agencies and individuals in their respective states to gather the needed material for the assessment.
AICTA brochure
AICTA background
October 31, 2007: Presentation by Managing Director Ben Ellis
to the Sustainable Development Working Group of the Arctic Council
Vadso, Norway
Arctic Information and Communication Technology Assessment (AICTA)
(PowerPoint in PDF format)
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Events
Alaska Statewide Telecommunications Workshop
February 15, 2008
Anchorage, Alaska
The workshop, co-sponsored by the University of Alaska and the Institute of the North, brought together the state’s leading communications providers and a cross section of Alaska consumers to share information on telecommunications and infrastructure needs, as well as discuss how best to facilitate improved connectivity, especially in remote Alaska.
• Keynote speaker, David Lassner, chair of the Hawaii Broadband Task Force, shared his perspectives on efforts to advance Hawaii’s telecommunications infrastructure.
• Breakout groups discussed the critical telecommunication issues facing Alaska today. A summary was formulated based on input from all participants.
• At the workshop, Rep. David Guttenberg’s legislative aide, Jeff Stepp, announced the introduction of the Alaska Broadband Task Force bill (HB 388).
Keynote presentation by David Lassner:
The Hawaii Story: Hawai'i Broadband Task Force (PowerPoint in PDF format)
Discussion summary (PowerPoint in PDF format)
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Information and Communications Technologies Scoping Workshop
February 23-24, 2005
Washington, DC
At the request of the Arctic Council’s Senior Arctic Officials, the Institute of the North hosted an Information and Communications Technologies Scoping Workshop, which comprised two sessions: the first focused on the policy frameworks in various Arctic states which provide the context for ICT activities in the Arctic regions of those states; the second session focused on Arctic ICT issues and activities in the context of the Arctic Council.
The SDWG and SAOs were requested to consider and approve the following recommendations at their meetings in Russia in April 2005:
• A continuing role for an Information and Communications Technologies Network (ICTN), with appropriate participation from Arctic states and Permanent Participants;
• The concept of an Arctic ICT assessment to provide baseline information and assist the Arctic Council, member states, Permanent Participants and Observers in identifying possible cooperative activities and projects in relation to ICT;
• A role for the ICTN in facilitating the further development of ICT projects under the SDWG in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and the SDWG Terms of Reference;
• Ongoing information exchange in relation to ICT in the Arctic in accordance with the directions from Ministers and SAOs.
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