In Colombia, the Internet Governance Roundtable was created with the participation of the Government, Civil Society, Academia and the Private Sector, who join forces to shape the evolution and use of the Internet in the country.
Luis Pinto*
This table discusses issues such as the use of the Internet to reduce poverty, net neutrality, internet governance, cybersecurity and cyber defense, without neglecting freedom of expression (find more information at: www.gobernanzadeinternet.co/es). This group of experts interested in the subject meets bimonthly in scenarios given by the universities, thus encouraging the link with the academy.
The ICT Minister, David Luna, met with several representatives of the table and assured that the best way to exercise governance in the network of networks is through concerted democratic actions between the interested sectors, thus highlighting the work that is done at the table. He noted that "The national government is committed to this multistakeholder model for the construction of a common Internet framework in line with diverse interests."
As part of the work being done around net neutrality, a conference was given with the father of the Internet in the Jockey Building Auditorium of the El Rosario University in Bogotá, Vinton 'Vint' Gray Cerf, Vice President and evangelist of Google, American computer scientist, considered one of the 'fathers' of the Internet. Vinton, born in Connecticut (United States) in 1943, graduated in mathematics and computer science from Stanford University (1965). During his subsequent stay at the University of California (UCLA) he earned a Master of Science and a Ph.D.
In the early '70s he began working with Robert Kahn on the development of a set of communications protocols for the military network, funded by the government agency DARPA. The objective was to create a "network of networks" that would allow the interconnection of the different networks of the United States Department of Defense, all of them of different types and that worked with different operating systems, regardless of the type of connection: radio links, satellites and telephone lines.
We asked him about the entry of OTTs as network-mounted applications and their relationship with pay-TV service to which he replied:
"The service of transport of information and content must be separated, so you can charge differently and provide it differently, when we affirm that somehow the OTT are taking the freedom of opportunity or the ability to enter this is not true, it is about competitive services and choices of services by the end user. If you don't offer your subscribers a competitive app, then you shouldn't be providing internet services at all. I'm sure most cable companies didn't make this decision in time, because there's already a market for that, the same with TELCOS, that kind of argument (that OTTs are taking the market without paying the same trade-offs to the state), in my opinion they're trying to hide the fact that there are different ways to deliver the same kind of service, the same type of content and the user should be allowed to choose; the regulatory framework of this must say that it is right for the user to have freedom of choice and it is wrong for them to inhibit that freedom of choice."
For her part, Ana Lucia Lenis, Manager of Public Policies and Government Affairs for the Andean Region of Google, summarized her position in a simple sentence: "I do not know why cable operators insist that those who provide video service on the Internet pay taxes in the same way as they do, when what is involved is to go over to that side, where there is not that same tax burden, why look for us to have more controls where there are none?"
Much remains to be said and addressed, being clear that Governance should not be confused with Government, in the first this is a network integration, called "networks of public-private-civil interaction along the local/global axis" and the Government is the one that directs, controls and administers the institutions of the State. Governance is balanced between the control and management of technology.
ANTV hand in hand with the PND
On June 9, 2015, Through Law 1753 of 2015, the National Development Plan (PND) for Colombia 2014 – 2018 was issued under the title "All for a new country". Article 01 sets out the general objective, which states the following: "(...) to build a Colombia in peace, equitable and educated, in harmony with the purposes of the national Government, with the best practices and international standards, and with the long-term planning vision foreseen by the sustainable development goals..."
This Plan is grouped into three strategic pillars, peace, equity and education, the latter being the most powerful instrument of social equality and long-term economic growth. The National Television Authority approved on December 16, 2015 its Institutional Strategic Plan (PEI), which highlights three commitments in accordance with this NDP, first: competition with quality; second, to guarantee plurality in Public Television, and finally, universal coverage of Public Television.
What tools does the ANTV have to make this a reality? For me the problem is not the lack of rules but the non-compliance with existing ones and, to a large extent, the existing bureaucracy around the subject.
Article 39 of the same NDP plan states that: "... Through the items of the Fund for the Development of Television and Content, destined by the National Television Authority (ANTV) to public television channels, the development of multiplatform digital content will be supported to the beneficiaries established by the current regulations." Mr. Ernesto Orozco, member of the National Television Board gave us these clarifications regarding:
Ernesto Orozco: The Strategic Plan 2015 – 2018 approved by the National Television Board was structured based on the guidelines of the National Development Plan, the Sectoral Plan and the policies, objectives and strategies of the National Television Authority.
This Strategic Plan focuses on the fulfillment of the purpose of the ANTV: to provide the tools for the execution of the plans and programs of the provision of the public television service; ensuring access to television; ensure pluralism and impartiality of information; ensure competence and efficiency in the provision of the service; avoid monopolistic practices in their operation and exploitation and disseminate, protect and defend the interests of viewers.
As regards compliance with Article 39 of the NDP, it is precise when it states that "... support for the development of multi-platform digital content should be allocated to beneficiaries established by the rules in force and through the provisions of the Television Development Fund, intended for public television channels".
In accordance with this legal mandate, our 2016 Action Plan describes the activity to "Regulate the promotion of multiplatform digital content and the promotion and support of new audiovisual content", which will address two specific objectives inscribed in our Institutional Strategic Plan (IEP): "Promote the development of multiplatform digital content" and "Encourage and support the production of new audiovisual formats".
Luis Pinto: Currently, who can access these funds? It is not consistent to say that cross-platform content is supported if the beneficiaries are regional channels and independent filmmakers who have no way to reach or move their content within these channels are excluded.
Ernesto Orozco: In the chapter on regulatory management of the IEP you can inform about the initiatives and strategic actions aimed at addressing each of the components of our object.
Specifically, with regard to greater access, inclusion, impartiality, protection and defense of the interests of the population, agreements have been advanced to build inputs for the development of regulation and recognition of ethnic minorities, called "emerging population", made up of the Rrom people, indigenous, black, raizales, Afro-Colombians and Palenqueros.
In the same sense, the regulatory project for the implementation of access systems for the hearing impaired population is published for comments.
Luis Pinto: The goals established in the Strategic Plan do not include guaranteeing access to information for the hearing impaired population, nor is the intention to strengthen the community television model explicit. This is only named because of its level of territorial coverage within the classification of the service according to its level of coverage. What concrete actions does the ANTV intend to implement in the face of these two issues?
Ernesto Orozco: As for what was planned for community television, on November 12 it was reported (http://www.antv.gov.co/sala-de-prensa/noticias/revision-la-television-comunitaria-en-colombia) that the National Television Board determined to carry out a comprehensive review of the current regulations provided for in Resolution 433 of 2013 to analyze the current conditions of provision of the community television service with the purpose of promoting and encouraging this modality of service in the Country.
After 2 years of issuing this resolution, the National Television Board decided to resume the study taking into account the difficult situation facing community television, on the occasion of the new rules issued in the Congress of the Republic.
That is why the 2016 action plan contemplates an update to the regulation of community television, which recognizes the importance of organized communities the television service offered throughout the national territory and responds to several concerns raised by the sector and whose materialization must occur in effective measures for the positioning of community content in Colombia.
All this is within the scope of our activity "Harmonize the regulatory framework for the provision of television service" and points to our strategic objective of "Determining clear rules for access to and for the provision of public television service that promote pluralism, information impartiality and competition".
Personally, I have held meetings with representatives of some organizations in which the will and willingness of the guild to contribute to the development of this project and the commitment to advance a process of purification of the current current licenses, transparency in the information of coverage and reporting of associates and absolute respect for the copyright of the owners of the channels and contents has been expressed.
In this way, the ANTV has designed a Strategic Plan 2015 – 2018 and an Action Plan 2016 aimed at promoting Digital Television for All: more inclusion (minorities and disabled), more access (DTT and social DTH), more competition (promotion of competition, efficiency, effectiveness, flexibility and innovation in community TV, subscription and open TV), sustainability (through the TV Development Fund) and clear rules (public policy and regulatory harmonization).
Software if you increase Pay-TV revenue
Do you know what are the advantages of having an effective and efficient management and billing system for the administrative management of the operation of your company?
Previously the biggest concern of companies was in productivity (numbers and sales), regardless of or identifying the changes in the technological platform that support this end.
Today, many companies, especially the so-called SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises), have been implementing initiatives to include themselves more and more in this great technological world, because they know that if they do not, the competition will and probably gain more ground.
The need and importance of addressing today's market challenges is a challenge for companies, a task that inspires companies to be more dynamic in using competitive strategies, based on detailed knowledge of their customers' needs. Senior executives know that the ability to make sound decisions in uncertain times is based on the proper use of technology, an administrative software that helps entrepreneurs effectively manage their resources.
If we want a cable television subscription company to be really lucrative, its operation must be supported by a technological platform that allows its integration under a management software according to its need, almost made to measure, that meets the requirements and business rules, that meets the needs of the company, that allows to meet the requirements of the competent authority of each country and the own need of its customers.
In the same way it must be flexible, secure, with friendly graphical interfaces and that allows the control of all the management with its subscribers or customers. It must be a solution that automates management operations in all business areas of the cable operator (billing, human resources, accounts receivable, materials administration, technical service management, loyalty management, promotion and collection, maintenance management and integration to all interfaces with communication platforms and digital headers) and in its different service modalities such as television, the Internet, telephony and Voip, thus being more efficient in the administration of all subscribers by having control over all the information of the operation and its different environments It is very important to obtain truthful information and clear reports at the time that management needs, that the information of its subscribers is always protected from intruders, of natural or human failures that may cause considerable losses.
A good management software offers the possibility of creating loyalty with your customers through personalized campaigns, offers an adequate management to the PQR (requests, complaints and claims), must give notices about suspensions for maintenance, payment deadlines and everything you can think of, even, execute marketing campaigns with important brands and thus generate additional income. For this to materialize you only have to have an expert ally in management software that solves unforeseen situations and that can program new needs or functionalities that exceed your expectations, this, without a doubt, potentiates the growth of your operation as a cable operator.
Cinema Luna, Cinema For All platform
Talking about Cinema these days in Colombia is synonymous with success, the film "El Abrazo de la Serpiente" became the first Colombian film nominated for the Oscars in the Best Foreign Film category and was taken to Mitu – Vaupes, (one of the locations where it was shot), thanks to the initiative of its Director, Ciro Guerra and his producer Cristina Gallego, the inhabitants of this remote region of the Colombian territory could appreciate the film exhibited with the outdoor cinema platform managed by the company Cinema Luna, which has been touring the country for 5 years locating its giant screen in front of new audiences in towns lacking scenarios to see and enjoy the magic of cinema.
Without going into detail about the number of screens in the country, this is still an almost exclusive issue for large cities, where we easily access them without much hesitation, for small towns and even intermediate cities cinema is only seen on cable channels, the existence of these alternative distribution media play a very important role when exhibiting a film and generating the impact that they are looking for their filmmakers.
We spoke with Mr. Blas Gómez, the brain of this project and director of Cinema Luna about his experience and this is what he told us:
Luis Pinto: How was Cinema Luna born?
Blas Gómez: Everything starts from the need that in Colombia there were alternative platforms for the exhibition of cinema for new audiences, which are also mobile and allow us to reach a country with a geography as diverse as ours.
Luis Pinto: How was the experience of working with the film El Abrazo de la Serpiente?
Blas Gómez: Thanks to the trajectory of Cinema Luna and its more than 150 performances throughout Colombia, we were invited to take the film to several indigenous communities that participated in it, it was a wonderful experience given that many of the spectators had never seen a movie screen and ironically they had already gone out in it around the world to be part of the cast, 1200 people attended in 2 functions filling the exhibition venues, including the Maloca.
Luis Pinto: What's next for Cinema Luna in 2016?
Blas Gómez: In 2016 we came with a national tour with more than 50 performances through the remote regions of the country, functions to which we will take the latest colombian cinema so that from the inside we know more about our cinematography. We will continue to arrive where others do not.
*Engineer Luis Hernando Pinto is a Technical Commercial Advisor for TVyVideo+Radio magazine and Tecnotelevisión&Radio. You can contact him through [email protected]
Leave your comment