LACIGF 2024: A Debate in Defense of Open Access and Net Neutrality
At this year’s Latin America and Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (LACIGF), held in Santiago, ITS Rio and ISOC Brazil united to advocate for an open and inclusive Internet, opposing proposals for network fees. During the event, we hosted an extensive program on “Integration Day,” facilitating critical discussions about the impact of network fees on universal access and meaningful connectivity in countries such as Peru, Chile, and Colombia. The core message? Network fees – or fair share – are a solution in search of a problem.
As part of the official event agenda, the panel “Network Fees or Cost-Sharing?” explored how these proposals jeopardize net neutrality and Internet accessibility. Cristina Alves (ITS Rio) moderated the discussion, featuring Thobias Moura (ISOC Brazil), Paula Bernardi (ISOC Global), Cristiane Sanches (ABRINT), Alessandro Molon (AIA), Felipe Díaz (Colombia’s Communications Regulation Commission), and João Victor Archegas (ITS Rio).
Panelists underscored the complexities and risks of network fee proposals, such as the one advanced by Conexis in Brazil, criticized for its opacity and “secret” clauses. Paula Bernardi opened the session by highlighting how these proposals directly threaten net neutrality, a fundamental pillar of an open and accessible Internet in Brazil and worldwide. Cristiane Sanches provided insights into Brazil’s telecommunications infrastructure, stressing the vital role of small and medium-sized providers in driving digital inclusion by reaching underserved remote areas.
Alessandro Molon called out the flawed premise of network fee proposals, asserting that they are designed solely to serve the financial interests of large telecommunications companies. Felipe Díaz shared the perspective of Colombia’s CRC, which is investigating whether the issues cited by major telcos are legitimate, emphasizing that any regulatory measures must be based on concrete evidence. To date, no structural problem has been identified. João Victor Archegas highlighted the need to simplify these complex issues for broader public understanding, warning that network fees obscure the real challenge: achieving meaningful connectivity in Brazil and across Latin America.
Policies that require digital platforms to pay for using telecommunications infrastructure have encountered resistance not only in Brazil but throughout Latin America, as illustrated during LACIGF. The proposal by Conexis, championed solely by large telecom operators, undermines equitable and inclusive Internet access. Panelists from diverse sectors shed light on the detrimental effects of network fees on the digital ecosystem, from increasing market concentration to fragmenting the Internet, ultimately harming consumers, small providers, and innovation while limiting meaningful connectivity.
ITS Rio and ISOC Brazil remain steadfast in defending a free and open Internet, exposing the dangers of fair share policies in Brazil, Latin America, and beyond. Our participation in LACIGF 2024 reaffirmed the urgency of mobilizing against measures that threaten net neutrality and equal access. We are committed to continuing to provide resources and foster dialogue to educate society and inform regulators about the risks of Internet tolls and the viable alternatives to these proposals.