From: The Secretariat of ICT Policy Planning

Re: SICTPP as central executing agency for e-Berkmania

Given the current urgency to implement a new vision of development for Berkmania that will enable us to realize the goal of becoming a “knowledge economy,” there is a need for decisive change in how the Berkmanian government responds to the new and unique challenges of policymaking in the Information Age. In particular, we need a new, innovative governance structure to coordinate and implement the range of new initiatives and projects related to information and communication technologies and the national vision that you have laid out.

With these needs in mind, it is imperative to give the newly-created Secretariat of ICT Policy Planning (SICTPP) the central role in the policy planning process. We propose that the SICTPP serve as the primary coordinating and executing agency for the Berkmanian government in matters relating to ICTs and the “Berkmania for the Information Age” program. The general responsibilities of the SICTPP will be to:

· Continue to develop the national vision;

· prioritize and coordinate the wide range of national level ICT initiatives; and

· oversee the implementation of changes to the legal and regulatory frameworks to support these priorities.

SICTPP will lead the way to produce a coordinated and informed response to ICT development opportunities and challenges. It will provide the essential strategic framework for integrating and maximizing the potential of ICT development initiatives to achieve our national, social and economic development goals. Centralized ICT policy planning by the SICTPP will be the single most important contributor to the success of E-Berkmania. The E-Berkmania Fund should be allocated accordingly.

SICTPP As a Vision and a Plan

The Secretariat has a vision for bringing together the stakeholders in our communities and leveraging ICTs to realize our social and economic development goals through broad-based access. The Secretariat is committed to these goals and believes that it is well placed to coordinate implementation. With our recent successful recruitment and staffing campaign, the SICTPP is the only agency in Berkmania with the technical expertise necessary to ensure that ICT proposals are appropriate for the task and operationally feasible.

For these reasons, we recommend that $700,000 be allocated to the Secretariat, and $300,000 be allocated equally to the three major government agencies that will play key roles in the implementation of the E-Berkmania program. Because of the pivotal role that the SICTPP will play in coordinating, planning and implementing the E-Berkmania program, the bulk of Berkmanian funding should support this important responsibility. The SICTPP will have the discretion to further allocate funds to other agencies, on a case-by-case per need basis, to fulfill the following essential tasks:

· Comprehensive assessment of Berkmania’s overall e-readiness.

· Research and development of a comprehensive e-Berkmania strategy.

· Review and evaluation of all ICT-related initiatives in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

· Coordination of all national level ICT projects and initiatives in support of the overall development vision.

· Following the priorities identified in the e-strategy, and in consultation with the President, the Secretariat may finance the most promising and effective initiatives whether from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Telecommunications or Ministry of Commerce or from other Ministries (such as the Ministry of Health), the private sector and/or international organizations not represented here.

· Ongoing administration, support and coordination of the strategy, including a process to ensure that all Ministries are in conformance with new initiatives.

Finally, should the office of the President choose to separately support the proposals of other Ministries, we urge you to consider the critical enabling role that the SICTPP should play in support of them all and to allocate sufficient resources to the SICTPP to ensure that assistance.

We have a vision that we believe will reap the “digital dividends” we seek. Now we must develop that vision. The first step is to assess the e-readiness of our country by investigating our current capacity to exploit the opportunities offered by ICTs. This critical information is necessary to design a comprehensive e-strategy tailored precisely to Berkmania’s unique strengths and goals and to evaluate the specific proposals to promote infrastructure, learning, entrepreneurship, e-government and health. An e-Berkmania strategy will provide the broad framework that is required to co-ordinate a national strategy, to evaluate the trade-offs and compromises among competing interests that any given strategy entails and to explore the complex relationships between and interdependencies of these initiatives. In this way, an informed e-Berkmania strategy is an essential resource for decision-making and priority setting. It increases efficiency by reducing wasteful duplication and avoiding incompatible technologies. Preparing a national strategy has other benefits as well. By engaging multiple stakeholders and partners in the process (including representatives from other Ministries such as Defense and Justice, civil society, the business community, international development organizations, etc.) we will not only enrich the decision-making process with diverse perspectives and information resources, we also make the decision-making process more transparent and ultimately enhance the legitimacy (and hence the effectiveness) of the decisions that are made.

The SICTPP is Key to Enabling ICT Initiatives

Centralized coordination by an independent government body is key to the creation of supportive legislative and regulatory frameworks. It is essential that we insulate the E-Berkmania program as much as possible from existing, vested political interests. For example, if we choose to prioritize local entrepreneurship, improved intellectual property laws and regulations that facilitate e-commerce will be important, and the participation of the legislature, the Ministry of Commerce and others will be essential. The role of the SICTPP as a neutral broker for the creation of this policy will be critical to the success of whatever initiative is given priority and resources should be allocated accordingly.

SICTPP is Key to Providing On-Going Leadership, Coordination and Support of ICT Strategies

An effective national strategy requires on-going administration – a locus of leadership and responsibility. The Secretariat of ICT Policy Planning is best placed to play this role for a number of reasons. Devoted solely to the administration of this important national project and independent of other ministries and conflicting obligations and interests, the Secretariat is best able to make informed decisions in this area that represent the balanced ICT needs of all our citizens. The committed support of your office will ensure that Berkmania makes these difficult decisions wisely.

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