11/02/2011
http://assets.fundacionfaes.org/Fotos+desarrollo+home/2011/02/FAESCES_d.jpg Eduardo Zaplana: "ICTs contribute to approximately 7% of GDP, and over 300,000 jobs already depend on information and communications technology. Within this framework, it is necessary to promote regulatory policies and initiatives addressed to extend the use of these tools as elements of innovation and progress. If the Spanish and European people wish to take Internet's and the ICTs' challenges seriously, we cannot have regulatory frameworks that constrain individual entrepreneurship." "I think that from a freedom point of view we must make the Internet policies focus on: promoting business freedom, boosting innovation and giving more space to free market. In the 21st century, the scenario where freedom is at stake is the Internet. Therefore, we need to make the net a space of freedom." Pilar del Castillo: "The Internet makes us face a world as powerful as is fragile. We have the responsibility of making it strong and free, offering opportunities to all and having rules of the game. In other words, the principles that comprehend offline democratic societies, have to be the same as those comprehending the online world. Because if it is not that way, we will plunge into total schizophrenia." "In any case I think there's an extraordinary future lying ahead. Before us is a revolution impossible to perceive yet and which will need many more years for us to understand its full extent. The advantages for mankind as a whole are already, and will be, extraordinary. But like all new worlds it is full of risks and it is our task to stop them from killing the Internet. Quite the opposite, they must turn it into a tool to extend the possibilities of each and every one of the inhabitants of the Earth." Carlos L?pez Blanco: "The problem is that with regard to Internet's regulation the challenge is huge for two reasons: First, because the Internet has attained a huge importance in today's societies. It is probably the most important infrastructure in today's world. and second, making it particularly difficult for the world of Law, the Internet is too complex. And complexity has much to do with how it has developed: it is not a hierarchical network, it is an educated network, there's not a centre, everyone can get connected with everyone. In short, it is an intrinsically global phenomenon. "The true challenge is to face Internet's regulation with two conditionalities: not killing the Internet and not trying to make it what it cannot be (a hierarchical, global,? network). Furthermore, solving the problems it poses: the need to continue growing, and therefore, that communication networks continue having increasingly more capacities and that there are sufficient financial resources for it; giving users increasingly more service quality; managing new business models with the Internet as an economic platform; protecting intellectual property in a delocalised world; safeguarding user privacy and giving them confidence." Gabriel Elorriaga: "I think, in general, the Internet poses a problem that is classical and that we could preach in almost every aspect. How is it possible that there's a necessity to regulate, in order to enable free competition? Regulatory intervention should be minimal but always enough. What for? To guarantee that citizens receive the best services at the lowest prices." "If there's something that can materialize or fulfil globalisation, it is the Internet. The great tool, what really makes this society different with respect to 30 years ago, is undoubtedly the irruption of such a powerful tool. It lies at the core of economic development models that we advanced countries want to reach. We are talking about the basic nervous system of the most advanced societies." Len Cali: "I recognize that Spain in particular has been a leader in the Internet age. Early investment in schools paid off as the young generation took advantage of the Internet and ICT to innovate and create new businesses and new forms of art and entertainment". "I think we all know that the Internet has become the crucial communications platform of our globalised world and a foundation for our future well-being: driving greater economic and job growth; advancing important goals in health, education, government, and energy use; and, improving the human condition in ways that we cannot yet even imagine". Roland Freudenstein: "We want the Internet to generate growth and it has a huge potential to do that. If we had in Europe a single digital market we would be able to increase our GDP in four percentage points, and we would probably solve some of the national debts problems. However, we don't have it. We have to really harmonize European regulations and eradicate as many barriers as is possible." "The three prime goals of Internet's regulation are: 1) encouraging confidence in the Internet's platforms and services; 2) guaranteeing a secure, fair and protected environment and ensuring fundamental freedoms are protected; and 3) creating a space for economic actors, so that innovation can be promoted."