Prague, Board Meeting, March 24-25 2007 1

Latin America and Caribbean Latin America and Caribbean Regional BureauRegional Bureau

SebastiSebastián Bellagamba, Mán Bellagamba, Manageranager

Prague, Board Meeting, March 24-25 2007 2

LAC BureauLAC Bureau

• Established late January 2007 (9 weeks of Established late January 2007 (9 weeks of

operation)operation)

• Located in Buenos Aires, ArgentinaLocated in Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Coverage area includes 38 economiesCoverage area includes 38 economies

– But only 8 chartered Chapters in regionBut only 8 chartered Chapters in region

•ArgentinaArgentina•BrazilBrazil•ColombiaColombia•EcuadorEcuador

•MexicoMexico•PeruPeru•Puerto RicoPuerto Rico•VenezuelaVenezuela

Prague, Board Meeting, March 24-25 2007 3

Bureau’s goalsBureau’s goals

• Promote and defend ISOC’s core valuesPromote and defend ISOC’s core values

• Drive regional and local recognition of ISOC, Drive regional and local recognition of ISOC, its policies and its mission its policies and its mission

• Promote activities and initiatives at regional Promote activities and initiatives at regional and sub-regional levels and sub-regional levels

• Identify local and regional priorities for policy Identify local and regional priorities for policy and educationand education

• Understand and support Chapter needsUnderstand and support Chapter needs

Prague, Board Meeting, March 24-25 2007 4

Chapter DevelopmentChapter Development

First tasksFirst tasks

• Get in contact with the chaptersGet in contact with the chapters

– Email, phone calls, instant messagingEmail, phone calls, instant messaging

• Survey chapter activity levelSurvey chapter activity level

– ResultResult: 6 chapters considered active (Argentina, : 6 chapters considered active (Argentina,

Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Puerto Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Puerto

Rico); 2 chapters considered inactive (Brazil and Rico); 2 chapters considered inactive (Brazil and

Venezuela)Venezuela)

Prague, Board Meeting, March 24-25 2007 5

Active ChaptersActive Chapters

• Encourage regional chapter interaction and Encourage regional chapter interaction and

coordinationcoordination

– Regional chapters mailing listRegional chapters mailing list

– Website (in progress)Website (in progress)

– Instant message sessions, phone calls, SkypeInstant message sessions, phone calls, Skype

• Provide support for local activitiesProvide support for local activities

– ISOC Puerto Rico, Argentina and Brazil are ISOC Puerto Rico, Argentina and Brazil are

planning eventsplanning events

Prague, Board Meeting, March 24-25 2007 6

Inactive ChaptersInactive Chapters

Two inactive chapters, two different situations:Two inactive chapters, two different situations:

• VenezuelaVenezuela– No response from current officersNo response from current officers

– Email sent to all ISOC members Email sent to all ISOC members

– A new group was found and they are already A new group was found and they are already working on a new charterworking on a new charter

• BrazilBrazil– Current officers were found. Chapter set to be re-Current officers were found. Chapter set to be re-

launched in mid-April with expanded membershiplaunched in mid-April with expanded membership

Prague, Board Meeting, March 24-25 2007 7

Next steps - ChaptersNext steps - Chapters

• Keep improving coordination and cooperationKeep improving coordination and cooperation

• In-person meeting in Venezuela (late May, In-person meeting in Venezuela (late May,

with LACNIC)with LACNIC)

– First regional chapter meetingFirst regional chapter meeting

– Outreaching event focused on Internet Outreaching event focused on Internet

Governance (IGF in Rio!)Governance (IGF in Rio!)

• Launch regional website (mid-April)Launch regional website (mid-April)

• Assist people willing to create new ChaptersAssist people willing to create new Chapters

Prague, Board Meeting, March 24-25 2007 8

Next steps - PolicyNext steps - Policy

• Internet Governance Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Internet Governance Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,

as top priorityas top priority

• Participation in regional IG eventsParticipation in regional IG events– CITEL (OAS) - March and SeptemberCITEL (OAS) - March and September

– Caribbean Telecommunications Union (mid-April)Caribbean Telecommunications Union (mid-April)

– CARICOM (mid-August)CARICOM (mid-August)

– eLAC2007 (ECLAC, UN) - NovembereLAC2007 (ECLAC, UN) - November

• A regional ISOC event on IG is being planned for A regional ISOC event on IG is being planned for

SeptemberSeptember

Prague, Board Meeting, March 24-25 2007 9

Next steps - EducationNext steps - Education

• Launching second phase of FRIDA small Launching second phase of FRIDA small

grants program (end of March) with LACNIC grants program (end of March) with LACNIC

and IDRCand IDRC

• Continue to support WALC training programContinue to support WALC training program

• Identify priorities for new training programs in Identify priorities for new training programs in

regionregion

• Already in talks with LACTLD for ccTLDs Already in talks with LACTLD for ccTLDs

workshopsworkshops

Prague, Board Meeting, March 24-25 2007 10

Cooperation / coordinationCooperation / coordination

• Already working with several organizations:Already working with several organizations:– LACNICLACNIC– ECLAC (UN)ECLAC (UN)– ICANNICANN– LACTLDLACTLD– eCOMLACeCOMLAC– CITEL (OAS)CITEL (OAS)– Caribbean Telecommunications UnionCaribbean Telecommunications Union

• Contacts made with:Contacts made with:– ARINARIN– APCAPC

Prague, Board Meeting, March 24-25 2007 11

Questions?Questions?Thank you!Thank you!

bellagamba@isoc.orgbellagamba@isoc.org