Ernberg J. (2001) Telecenters and the Incubation of Public Policy, in Journal of Development Communication: Special Issue on Telecenters 12[2]

online: http://ip.cals.cornell.edu/commdev/documents/jdc-ernberg.doc

The author claims that in drawing the lines of new policies some governments seem not to bother about public opinion or about other countries’ policies and regulations, some factors leading to this position could be the lack of awareness or understanding of the issues, particularly when it comes to technical issues or the isolation from their own people because the latter have no means of expressing freely their opinion publicly (cultural, religious, political and socio-economic factors, geographical isolation or language problems).

The authors outlines the role of international organizations in the policies development process, announcing pro and contra; the need of governmental departments to coope in dealing with specific issues, such as ICTs. The author goes on defining a Multipurpose Community Telecentre as intended for all members of a rural community or a deprived urban area with the objective to provide universal access to ICT. […] MCTs will provide a wide range of ICT-based services, ranging from simple information services, government/community-on line and e-learning to e-commerce and tele-medicine, besides user training and support. In addition they may provide many other services, such as library services, business support and a forum for all those involved in community development, which are not necessarily ICT-based.

The aim of the author is to stress the role which MCT could have in helping the development of new policies and in being platform for cross-sectoral collaboration at the local, national and international levels.