PARLATINO

On February 15, the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (Parlatino) approved a model law to guarantee the Human Right to access Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the Internet and to eliminate the digital gap. Among other measures, it establishes that States will declare Information and Communication Technologies and Internet Services as essential public services. The law will be sent to each of the national congresses of the 23 member countries of the organisation, to be used as a reference framework for updating their current legislation in this area. The final version of the text is still being drafted.

The approved text seeks to enable access for the entire population to Information and Communication Technology Services, especially access to the Internet under equitable social and geographical conditions. Thus, it aims to achieve the highest quality parameters, promoting differentiated policies to balance the inequalities in the development of the country’s populations and regions.

To this end, the law establishes that the States will declare Information and Communication Technology Services and the Internet as essential public services. It also establishes the creation of National Connectivity Plans, which will seek to provide universal access to ICTs and the Internet, as well as the promotion of coordination mechanisms for the deployment of telecommunications networks.