Uni Icts for the Long-Run Broadband: What Happened Since Athens 2007?
UNI ICTS FOR THE LONG-RUN BROADBAND: WHAT HAPPENED SINCE ATHENS 2007? Prepared by Lorenzo De Santis, UNI Global Union, for the Inaugural UNI ICTS World Conference, Mexico, October 2011 BROADBAND: WHAT HAPPENED SINCE ATHENS 2007? 1 Overview Access to broadband has become es- In the US, a recent study sential for full participation in the economy and society at large. Fast broadband net- showed that every percent- works have the potential to create jobs and boost economic output. UNI global union age point increase in broad- and its affiliates have been very active in this field and their campaigns to influence band penetration leads to policy and action in this area are too nu- the creation of 300,000 jobs. merous to mention individually. 1 In the US, a recent study showed that every percent- age point increase in broadband penetra- tion leads to the creation of 300,000 jobs. is a vital utility for small businesses and According to the World Bank, in low-and broadband provision should be a universal 2 1 We know that unions such as middle-income countries every 10 percent- service obligation. Prospect, Ver.di, CWA, CWU-UK, age point increase in broadband penetra- CCOO, UGT, Dansk Metal, Pro and Sintetel are deeply involved in tion improves economic growth by 1.38 During the 2nd UNI Telecom World Confer- their respective national debates, among others. percentage points. And business agrees, ence held in Athens in 2007 we launched 2 Broadband: Steps for an incom- with the Federation of Small Businesses the “UNI Telecom for the long-run cam- ing Government (Federation of Small Businesses, May 2010).
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