Docelect

Universal Service Policies in the Context of National Broadband Plans

2012-08-18T15:31:00.000-06:00

Broadband networks, or more specifically the services and applications they support, are increasingly critical for economic growth, global competitiveness and a better life. While these networks are rolled out and technologies evolve there is a need to review universal service regimes so that they continue to fulfil their role. This report therefore discusses the main areas in which national strategies to expand broadband networks affect universal service objectives, proposes criteria to rethink the terms of universal service policies, and shares the latest developments across a selected group of OECD countries.

The notion of universal service in telecommunications was established immediately after the liberalisation of the sector. The common view was that guaranteeing affordable access to a minimum set of predetermined services for all would help prevent social exclusion and maximise the economic benefits of existing telecommunication networks. No common concept of universal service was ever adopted across the OECD. However, to articulate universal service goals, most OECD countries imposed an obligation to provide service on one or more carriers.

The economic and social objectives that served as the original foundation for universal service in telecommunications remain valid today but acquire a new dimension with the expansion of high capacity networks and the evolution of social needs. Economic incentives are insufficient to extend broadband networks and their services beyond a certain point, but there are broader economic and social justifications that support the provision of telecommunication services for all at a certain level. In this context, strategies to articulate universal service goals are changing. Legally enforceable universal service obligations remain a core instrument in many countries. However, OECD countries increasingly rely on a host of additional demand and supply instruments to achieve the maximum possible availability, affordability and accessibility of telecommunication services. These additional instruments are not always legally enforceable and include, among others, political commitments, national plans, and aspirational goals to expand broadband for all; computer and Internet literacy plans; or standard setting measures to ensure einclusion.

A re-evaluation of the scope of universal service aims to establish whether some of the services currently guaranteed through universal service obligations no longer need to be supported through this means, and vice versa, whether other services fulfil essential needs and should be supported through enforceable obligations or through other policy instruments. The inclusion of broadband service in the scope of universal service obligations is currently a core issue and there is no common position on the subject. OECD countries share a vision about the socio-economic role of broadband networks and services and they are committed to attain their greatest practical national coverage and use. However some countries view a universal service obligation on broadband as the adequate instrument to articulate their goals and others consider that an obligation may discourage market-driven investment and innovation.

Governments should follow a systematic process to decide which tool is the most suitable instrument to achieve their universal service goals in regards to broadband. The decision-making process should clearly define the specific features of the service under consideration, determine whether broadband is essential for full participation in society, establish that market mechanisms are insufficient to ensure that service is available and affordable for those without it, assess the option of imposing a universal service obligation relative to other policy alternatives, and evaluate those alternatives in light of broader policy objectives and other on-going programmes. In the end, the ever-present question will be how best to economically expand broadband coverage and use, to the greatest practical extent, with the minimum distortion on competition, as opposed to imposing a particular policy instrument.

As mobile telephony becomes ubiquitous, OECD countries may consider the role of wireless
technologies in universal service policies. In some cases, the inclusion of mobile telephony in the scope of
universal service obligations could lead to better coverage and reception. Conversely, costs could be hard
to justify, especially in large, sparsely or unpopulated areas. Countries with high population densities and
extensive, advanced wireless networks are more likely to consider the universal service obligation option.
Wireless broadband may come to play an important supporting role to fibre networks. Wireless already provides broadband connectivity to remote areas. Furthermore, mobile connectivity is eroding the justification for fixed-line subsidisation through universal service obligations by reducing the costs and expanding the functionalities of public payphones. To ensure that the potential of wireless technologies is fully unleashed, countries will need to ensure that telecommunication policies are technology neutral, and that enough suitable spectrum is made available to expand coverage and to support bandwidth intensive services.

Where universal service funds (USFs) exist, they were designed to cover relatively small gaps derived from fulfilling universal service obligations over existing networks, not to deploy new infrastructure. Where fulfilling universal service goals requires network deployment, countries will sometimes need to supplement private investment. To do so, countries face the option of reforming existing USFs or creating new funding mechanisms. USF reform requires fundamental changes to the funding mechanism and may face substantial opposition. In those cases where reform is undertaken, mechanisms should ensure that the USF is sufficient, flexible, technologically neutral and efficient. Timing for reforms should be carefully considered to prevent any potential negative impact on private investment.

New broadband networks introduce uncertainty regarding the costs of fulfilling universal service policies. Price and cost structures of broadband networks differ from those of the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Therefore it is unclear how many people will be unable to afford services on broadband networks or what will be the cost per connection. Current subscription prices for PSTN telephony may serve as rough estimates, but will need to be adapted to account for broadband network characteristics. The difficulties estimating costs may be compounded during the transition to next generation access (NGA) networks. Decreasing traffic will likely increase the costs of maintaining PSTN networks and voice-only customers may require assistance to prevent discontinuity in service and topurchase adequate equipment. Furthermore, investment will be needed to design reliable and efficient systems to transmit emergency communications over VoIP. Transition may therefore cause a temporary spike in funding requirements.

To maximize the benefits of NGA networks and telecommunication technologies for people with physical disabilities, countries will need to develop specific policies and consider the potential role of universal technical standards. Measures could be taken early on in the state of development of new communication infrastructures and encompass design, development and fabrication processes of applications and equipment to ensure that developments do not go down a path that creates new barriers and forces the disabled to play catch-up. That being said, new technologies, such as text-to-speech functions on computers/e-readers, or voice prompted “search and query responses” on smart-phones offer tremendous opportunities to empower users that face challenges in one or more areas. These technologies are sometimes driven by commercial imperatives and in other cases they are developed in response to requests from certain communities. Both these drivers need to be acknowledged in the formulation of government policy. In addition, historical differences in the treatment for content (e.g. value added tax) delivered through different media (e.g. books and newspapers vs. electronic devices) need to be considered in terms of the ability of electronic devices to foster inclusion.

The Annex provides a description of universal service policies in selected OECD countries.

Calvo, A. G. (2012), “Universal Service Policies in the Context of National Broadband Plans”, OECD Digital Economy Papers, No. 203, OECD Publishing.

Universal Service Policies in the Context of National Broadband Plans

Learning from China's rise to escape the middle-income trap : a new structural economics approach to Latin America

2012-08-10T19:02:00.002-06:00

This paper discusses the causes of the middle-income trap in Latin America and the Caribbean, identifies the challenges and opportunities for Latin America that come from China's rise, and draws lessons from New Structural Economics and the Growth Identification and Facilitation Framework to help Latin America escape the middle-income trap. Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are caught in a middle-income trap due to their inability to structurally upgrade from low value-added to high value-added products.

Governments in Latin America and the Caribbean should intervene in industries in which they have a comparative advantage, calibrating supporting policies in close collaboration with the private sector through public-private sector alliances. Through continuous structural upgrading in sectors intensive in factors such as natural resources, scientific knowledge, and unskilled labor, the region could achieve dynamic growth. This would require investments in education, research and development, and physical infrastructure.

Therefore, industrial upgrading and diversification would be essential to avoid further de-industrialization arising from the competitive pressures of the rise of China, broaden the base for economic growth, and create the basis for further sustained reduction in unemployment, poverty and income inequality. Failure to do so would lead to a loss of competitiveness and risks of further de-industrialization.

Learning from China's rise to escape the middle-income trap : a new structural economics approach to Latin America

Key National Education Indicators: Workshop Summary

2012-08-07T21:52:00.000-06:00

The education system in the United States is continually challenged to adapt and improve, in part because its mission has become far more ambitious than it once was. At the turn of the 20th century, less than one-tenth of students enrolled were expected to graduate from high school. Today, most people expect schools to prepare all students to succeed in postsecondary education and to prosper in a complex, fast-changing global economy. Goals have broadened to include not only rigorous benchmarks in core academic subjects, but also technological literacy and the subtler capacities known as 21st-century skills.

To identify the most important measures for education and other issues and provide quality data on them to the American people, Congress authorized the creation of a Key National Indicators System (KNIS). This system will be a single Web-based information source designed to help policy makers and the public better assess the position and progress of the nation across a wide range of areas. Identifying the right set of indicators for each area is not a small challenge. To serve their purpose of providing objective information that can encourage improvement and innovation, the indicators need to be valid and reliable but they also need to capture the report committee's aspirations for education.

This report describes a workshop, planned under the aegis of the Board on Testing and Assessment and the Committee on National Statistics of the National Research Council. Key National Education Indicators is a summary of the meeting of a group with extensive experience in research, public policy, and practice. The goal of the workshop was not to make a final selection of indicators, but to take an important first step by clearly identifying the parameters of the challenge.

Key National Education Indicators: Workshop Summary

From Science to Business: Preparing Female Scientists and Engineers for Successful Transitions into Entrepreneurship: Summary of a Workshop

2012-08-06T22:16:00.000-06:00

The opening workshop address was designed to provide an overview of women’s status and participation in entrepreneurial careers. E. J. Reedy presented findings from a Kauffman Foundation study titled “Sources of Financing for New Technology Firms: A Comparison by Gender” (2009) and noted that a relatively small

number of studies have specifically examined the experience of women in high-tech entrepreneurship.2 The Kauffman Foundation study shows that among all surveyed startup firms, only 15 percent of those in the biotechnology and hightechnology sectors reported having a female primary owner as compared to 30 percent femaleowned startup firms in all other sectors. In the initial start-up year, among the high-tech start-ups examined, 20 percent of male-owned firms reported obtaining formal equity (primarily venture capital or angel funding), compared to 7 percent of female-owned firms. Reddy suggested that this occurs because the venture capital industry is relatively closed and male-dominated. His studies show that women-owned firms represent a small minority of the overall venture capital backed firms, which may contribute to the lack of initial formal equity.

He noted that an additional factor may be that female owners of high-technology firms have less overall

managerial experience than their male counterparts and are less likely to have previously owned

start-up companies in the same field, since 55 percent of male owners have previously owned a

high-technology start-up compared to 12 percent of females. Reedy pointed out that venture

capitalists view this serial behavior—and even serial failure—as a mark of an entrepreneur being

tested, because investors value an entrepreneur’s willingness to start over again and again.

Reedy further elaborated on the gender gap in the high-tech industry by quoting similar

findings by other researchers. A 2006 study by Cross and Linehan found that in established

high-tech organizations, women are often excluded from formal and informal networks that

would otherwise provide access to managerial or technical leadership positions in those firms.3

Similarly, a 2005 study by Tai and Randi L. Sims4 found that women had difficulty gaining

senior management experience that would make them attractive to external capital providers,

should they start their own companies. Reedy considered the pervasive culture in such

enterprises as a plausible reason for this gap, where issues such as work-life balance and familyfriendly

policies affect gender equity.

Despite the existing gaps, Reddy noted that women-owned firms represent a growing

component of the small-business sector. According to a U.S. Census Bureau report,5 there were

6.5 million privately held women-owned firms in the United States in 2002. These firms

generated an estimated $940 billion in sales and employed 7.1 million people. He continued to

comment that women-owned firms now account for 30 percent of all firms, including selfemployment

and larger businesses. From 1997 to 2002, the number of women-owned businesses

increased 20 percent. However, he noted that revenues from women-owned businesses increased

less than 15 percent during this period, compared to a 22 percent revenue increase for all

businesses.

A study on women-owned high-tech firms in four metropolitan regions in the United

States—Silicon Valley, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Portland, Oregon— found that in all four

regions women-owned high-tech firms were smaller in terms of average revenue and

employment.6 Reddy suggested that women are more likely to form companies alone than in

partnership with men, even though studies indicate that the success rate for new companies

increases as the number of company founders increases. Women entrepreneurs are also more

likely to participate in high-tech sectors such as software publishing, computer systems design

services, research services, and management and consulting services; whereas men are more

likely to establish companies in the manufacturing sector. Interestingly, Reddy noted both maleand

female-owned start-ups were initially shown to be based out of the home, 50 percent of the

time for males and 60 percent of the time for females, suggesting a focus on consulting efforts.

Female-owned high-tech start-ups do show a slightly higher survival rate than those

owned by men. However, Reedy noted that women entrepreneurs launch high-technology firms

with less financial capital than men, and continue to follow a different financial strategy over time. Women’s reliance on internal funding sources (e.g., owners’ savings, loans from family

and friends, credit cards) makes a difference such that years after startup, women-owned hightech

firms lag behind men-owned firms in numerous performance measures, including revenues,

assets, and employment. However, profits were shown to be higher for female-owned firms.

In addition, Reedy discussed the age at which entrepreneurs usually start their businesses.

One of the common misconceptions about entrepreneurs is that these individuals are age 25 to

30.7 In fact, it is more common for those in their late 30s and early 40s to start companies

because at that age people have considerable industry experience and starting a business is a

strategic part of their overall career goals. This average start-up owner age was not shown to

vary significantly between men and women or across sectors. But women owners reported

working slightly fewer hours per week than their male counterparts.

From Science to Business: Preparing Female Scientists and Engineers for Successful Transitions into Entrepreneurship: Summary of a Workshop

International Religious Freedom Report for 2011

2012-07-31T08:19:00.001-06:00

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 18, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

To think, believe, or doubt. To speak or pray; to gather or stand apart. Such are the movements of the mind and heart, infinitives that take us beyond the finite. Freedom of religion, like all freedoms of thought and expression, are inherent. Our beliefs help define who we are and serve as a foundation for what we contribute to our societies. However, as the 2011 International Religious Freedom Report documents, too many people live under governments that abuse or restrict freedom of religion. People awaken, work, suffer, celebrate, raise children, and mourn unable to follow the dictates of their faith or conscience. Yet, under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, governments have committed to respect freedom of religion. As President Barack Obama said, they ought to "bear witness and speak out" when violations of religious freedom occur.

With these reports, we bear witness and speak out. We speak against authoritarian governments that repressed forms of expression, including religious freedom. Governments restricted religious freedom in a variety of ways, including registration laws that favored state-sanctioned groups, blasphemy laws, and treatment of religious groups as security threats. The report focuses special attention on key trends such as the impact of political and demographic transitions on religious minorities, who tended to suffer the most in 2011; the effects of conflict on religious freedom; and the rising tide of anti-Semitism. Impacted groups, to name just a few, included Baha’is and Sufis in Iran; Christians in Egypt; Ahmadis in Indonesia and Pakistan; Muslims in a range of countries, including in Europe; Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, and Uighur Muslims in China; and Jews in many parts of the world.

Religious minorities in political and demographic transitions

In 2011, the world watched as people in North Africa and the Middle East stood up for dignity, opportunity, and civil and political liberty. In countries in political transition, such as Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt, people took the first steps of what will likely be a challenging path toward democracy. In times of transition, the situation of religious minorities in these societies comes to the forefront. Some members of society who have long been oppressed seek greater freedom and respect for their rights while others fear change. Those differing aspirations can exacerbate existing tensions.

The interim government of Egypt began to take measures toward greater inclusiveness, such as passing an anti-discrimination law; arresting and prosecuting alleged instigators of sectarian rioting; and allowing dozens of churches previously closed to reopen. Nevertheless, sectarian tensions and violence increased during the year, along with an overall increase in violence and criminality. This report documents both the Egyptian government’s failure to curb rising violence against Coptic Christians and its involvement in violent attacks. For example, on October 9, 2011, the Egyptian security forces attacked demonstrators in front of the Egyptian radio and television building in the Maspiro area of Cairo. Twenty-five people were killed and 350 injured, most of whom were Coptic Christians. To date, government officials have not been held accountable for their actions, and there were indications in early 2012 of mounting Coptic emigration.

Following the overthrow of Muammar Qadhafi in October 2011, the new government in Libya chose not to enforce some old laws that restricted religious freedom, ceased actively regulating all aspects of religious life, and enshrined the free practice of religion in an interim constitution, which also outlawed discrimination based on religion or sect. Early in 2012, the Libyan Supreme Court overturned a law that criminalized insults against Islam, the state, and religious symbols. Qadhafi-era laws prohibiting certain affronts to Islam, however, remained on the books even though there were no attempts to enforce them.

Transitions were not limited to the Middle East and North Africa in 2011. In Burma, a Country of Particular Concern, the government took steps toward overcoming a longstanding legacy of intense religious oppression. The government eased some restrictions on church construction and generally permitted adherents of religious groups registered with the government to worship as they chose. However, the government continued to impose restrictions on certain religious activities and frequently limited religious freedom. It also continued to monitor the meetings and activities of all organizations, including religious organizations, and required religious groups to seek permission from authorities before holding any large public events. Some of the Buddhist monks arrested in 2007 were released during the year and have not faced harassment since their release, but others were released with conditions attached or remained in prison serving long sentences. The government also refused to recognize the Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority as citizens and imposed restrictions on their movement and marriage.

Countries in Europe are becoming more ethnically, racially, and religiously diverse. These demographic changes are sometimes accompanied by growing xenophobia, anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim sentiment, and intolerance toward people considered "the other." The report documents a rising number of European countries, including Belgium and France, whose laws restricting dress adversely affected Muslims and others. In a separate context, Hungary’s parliament passed a law that regulates registration of religious organizations and requires a political vote in parliament to secure recognition. The law went into effect on January 1, 2012, reducing the number of recognized religious groups from over 300 to fewer than 32.

Effects of conflict on religious freedom

In 2011, governments responded to conflict and to groups they considered to be “violent extremists” in ways that restricted religious freedom and contributed to societal intolerance in countries as diverse as Bahrain, Russia, Iraq, and Nigeria. Authorities often failed to distinguish between peaceful religious practice and criminal or terrorist activities.

In Bahrain, the Sunni minority enjoyed favored status. During the state of emergency from March 15 to June 1, the government arrested and detained protestors, the vast majority of whom were members of the Shia community. The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry received reports that 53 religious structures were demolished, largely during the ongoing unrest. The Commission recommended that the government rebuild some of the demolished structures.

In Russia, violent extremism in the North Caucasus region led to negative popular attitudes in many other regions toward traditionally Muslim ethnic groups. The government continued to use the “Law on Combating Extremist Activity” to justify raids on religious organizations, detain and prosecute their members, and restrict the freedom to worship of minority group members, particularly targeting Muslim followers of Turkish theologian Said Nursi’s works, Jehovah's Witnesses, Falun Gong, and Scientologists. Additionally, a number of small radical-nationalist newspapers printed anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, and xenophobic articles that were readily available throughout the country. Russia labeled 19 Muslim groups as terrorist organizations and banned them. Such bans made it easier for officials to detain some individual Muslims arbitrarily for alleged connections to these groups.

In Iraq, attacks by violent extremist groups and sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia in some parts of the country had a negative impact on the ability of all citizens to practice their religion. A combination of sectarian hiring practices, corruption, targeted attacks, and the uneven application of the law contributed to the departure of significant numbers of non-Muslims from the country, including Christians, Yezidis, and Sabean-Mandeaens. Notably, and in response to these challenges, the government reinforced its commitment to religious freedom by increasing security at places of worship and forming investigative committees to follow up on violent incidents.

In Nigeria, attacks by elements of the violent extremist sect Boko Haram claimed the lives of both Christians and Muslims. The government did not effectively quell rising hostility or investigate and prosecute those responsible for violence. There also were reports of abuses of religious freedom by certain state governments and local political actors who stoked communal and sectarian violence with impunity.

Expanded use and abuse of blasphemy laws

In 2011, governments increasingly used blasphemy, apostasy, and defamation of religion laws to restrict religious liberty, constrain the rights of religious minorities, and limit freedom of expression. In Pakistan, individuals accused of blasphemy or who publicly criticized the blasphemy laws and called for their reform continued to be killed, including Governor Punjab Salman Taseer and Minister of Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian in the cabinet. Aasia Bibi, a Christian, remained in prison, awaiting an appeal of her 2010 death sentence, the first such sentence for blasphemy handed down against a woman. The verdict in the case touched off a debate within the country about the blasphemy laws, with extremists calling for her execution and more moderate voices calling for her pardon or an appeal of the guilty verdict.

In Saudi Arabia, blasphemy against the Wahabi interpretation of Sunni Islam is punishable by death, but the more common penalty is a long prison sentence. In mid-November 2011, Mansor Almaribe, an Australian Shia of Iraqi descent, was arrested and convicted in the country of blasphemy and for “insulting the companions of the Prophet.” He was sentenced to 500 lashes and a year in prison. His sentence was reduced to 75 lashes and no jail time. Almaribe was allowed to return to Australia after he received the lashes.

Indonesia detained and imprisoned individuals under its blasphemy law. For example, Antonius Richmond Bawengan, a Christian, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for blasphemy on February 8 for distributing books deemed “offensive to Islam.” Discrimination and violence against Ahmadis also continued: Ahmadis who violate a government-imposed ban on proselytizing can be imprisoned for blasphemy; more than 26 regional governments enacted additional restrictions on the group; and the government failed to stop the murder of three and beating of five Ahmadis in Cikeusik, Banten province by a mob of 1,500 individuals. Video footage of the attack posted to the Internet shows members of the mob beating victims to death while police officers failed to intervene.

A rising tide of anti-Semitism

This report also documents a global increase in anti-Semitism, manifested in Holocaust denial, glorification, and relativism; conflating opposition to certain policies of Israel with blatant anti-Semitism; growing nationalistic movements that target “the other;” and traditional forms of anti-Semitism, such as conspiracy theories, acts of desecration and assault, “blood libel,” and cartoons demonizing Jews. In Venezuela, the official media published numerous anti-Semitic statements. In Egypt, anti-Israel sentiment in the media was widespread and sometimes included anti-Semitic rhetoric and Holocaust denial or glorification. Web sites promoting Holocaust denial operated with Iran's consent. In France, the report documents desecration of Jewish synagogues and cemeteries. Hungary saw the rise in popularity of an openly anti-Semitic party, the Jobbik party. Jewish property was defaced in Ukraine, including a synagogue and several Holocaust monuments. In both Ukraine and the Netherlands, soccer matches were marred by anti-Semitic slogans.

Chronic violators of religious freedom

A range of countries remained chronic and systemic violators of religious freedom. This report documents the ongoing state of religious repression in China, North Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, and other countries with authoritarian governments. In Iran, Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani remained jailed and faced possible execution simply for practicing his faith. The Iranian government also continued to imprison seven leaders of the Baha’i community: Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Behrouz Tavakkoli, Saeid Rezaie, Vahid Tizfahm, and Mahvash Sabet. Like other freedoms, religious freedom simply does not exist in North Korea.

Executive summaries of select countries

This section summarizes overall conditions in some countries where violations, improvements, or positive developments in religious freedom were noteworthy; additional information can be found in the country reports. States that Secretary Clinton designated as Countries of Particular Concern in August 2011 are denoted with an asterisk.

Afghanistan: The constitution states that “Followers of other religions are free to exercise their faith and perform their religious rites within the limits of the provisions of law,” but also states that Islam is the “religion of the state” and that “no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam.” The government’s failure to protect minority religious groups and individuals limited religious freedom. For example, while the constitution expressly protects free exercise of faith for non-Muslims, in situations where the constitution and penal code are silent, including apostasy and blasphemy, courts relied on interpretations of Islamic law, some of which conflict with the country’s international commitments to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

China*: There was a marked deterioration during 2011 in the government’s respect for and protection of religious freedom in China. In the Tibetan Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas, this included increased restrictions on religious practice, especially in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and nunneries. Official interference in the practice of these religious traditions exacerbated grievances and contributed to at least 12 self-immolations by Tibetans in 2011. The repression tightened in the lead-up to and during politically and religiously sensitive anniversaries and events, such as the third anniversary of the protests and riots in Tibetan areas that began on March 10, 2008; the observance of “Serf Emancipation Day” on March 28; the 90thanniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party on July 1; the Dalai Lama’s birthday on July 6; and the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the “peaceful liberation” of Tibet on July 19.

China only allows groups belonging to one of the five state-sanctioned “patriotic religious associations” (Buddhist, Taoist, Muslim, Roman Catholic, and Protestant) to register with the government and legally hold worship services. Other religious groups, such as Protestant groups unaffiliated with the official patriotic religious association or Catholics professing loyalty to the Vatican, are not permitted to register as legal entities. Proselytizing in public or unregistered places of worship is not permitted. Some religious and spiritual groups are outlawed. Tibetan Buddhists in China are not free to venerate the Dalai Lama and encounter severe government interference in religious practice. The government continued to severely repress Muslims living in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region and other parts of China. Crackdowns on Christian house churches, such as the Shouwang church in Beijing, continued. Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members are required to be atheists and are generally discouraged from participating in religious activities.

Cuba: The government’s respect for religious freedom improved, although significant restrictions remained in place and the Cuban Communist Party, through its Office of Religious Affairs, continued to wield regulatory control over most aspects of religious life. Most religious groups reported increased ability to cultivate new members, hold religious activities, and conduct charitable and community service projects, while at the same time reporting fewer restrictions on religious expression, importation of religious materials, and travel. However, the government’s repression of peaceful human rights activists included preventing some of them from attending religious services. For example, members of the Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco) group were routinely prevented from attending church, a practice that was particularly pronounced in the eastern provinces of Holguin and Santiago. Adisnidia Cruz, mother of political prisoners Marcos and Antonio Lima-Cruz, was prevented from leaving her house in Holguin on Sundays to attend mass on dozens of occasions. In other instances the government harassed human rights activists immediately after religious services. On September 8, for instance, members of the Damas de Blanco were arrested after attending mass in Santiago to celebrate the day of Cuba’s patron saint.

Eritrea*: The situation deteriorated as the government continued to harass and detain members of registered and unregistered religious groups, some of whom reportedly died in detention as a result of torture and lack of medical treatment. The government retained significant control over the four registered religious groups. Many places of worship closed because of government intimidation and mass conscription of religious workers and parishioners. At year’s end, many estimated that the population of religious prisoners remained at 2,000 to 3,000. This estimate did not include the approximately 3,000 religious workers that were compelled to national service against their will, nor the members of the Catholic Church who engaged in protests, all of whom reportedly were released subsequently. It was unknown how many of the approximately 100 individuals detained during the year were released on the condition of recanting their faith or paying a fine.

Iran*: Religious freedom in Iran deteriorated further from an already egregious situation. Government imprisonment, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination based on religious beliefs continued during the year. Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani remained jailed and faced possible execution for practicing his faith, and sentences of the seven Baha’i leaders were re-extended to the original 20 years after having been reduced to 10 years in 2010. The government arrested the seven in 2009 for “espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities, and propaganda against the Islamic Republic.” The government created a threatening atmosphere for nearly all non-Shia religious groups, most notably for Baha’is, as well as for Sufi Muslims, evangelical Christians, Jews, Sunni, and Zoroastrians. Shia adherents who did not share the government’s official religious views also faced harassment and intimidation.

North Korea*: Religious freedom does not exist in any form in North Korea. The government continued to repress unauthorized religious groups, and dealt harshly with those who engaged in religious activities it deemed unacceptable. Reports by refugees, defectors, missionaries, and nongovernmental organizations indicated that religious persons who engaged in proselytizing in the country and those who were in contact with foreigners or missionaries were arrested and subjected to harsh penalties. Refugees and defectors stated that they witnessed or heard of arrests and possible executions of underground Christian church members in prior years. Due to the country’s inaccessibility and the inability of foreigners to gain timely information, the continuation of arrests and executions during the year remained difficult to quantify.

Pakistan: The situation deteriorated as some government practices limited freedom of religion, particularly for members of religious minority groups. Freedom of speech is constitutionally “subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam.” Abuses continued under the blasphemy law and other discriminatory laws, such as “the anti-Ahmadi laws”; the government did not take adequate measures to prevent these incidents or reform the laws to prevent abuse. Since the government rarely investigated or prosecuted the perpetrators of extremist attacks on religious minorities and members of the Muslim majority promoting tolerance, the number of attacks increased and the climate of impunity continued. There were instances in which law enforcement personnel reportedly abused persons belonging to religious minorities in custody. The government took some steps to improve religious freedom and promote tolerance, such as the creation of a Ministry of National Harmony after devolution of the Ministry of Minorities. Following the assassination of Minister of Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti, the president appointed his brother, Paul Bhatti, as his special advisor for minority affairs.

Russia: The government generally respected religious freedom, but some minority denominations continued to experience difficulties. The most significant constraints on religious freedom during the year included the use of extremism charges to target minority religions and some broad restrictions on the freedoms of expression and association, in addition to efforts related to denial of registration as a religious organization, preventing access to places of worship, denial of visas for religious visitors, and detention of members of religious organizations. While there is no state religion, the Russian Orthodox Church and selected other “traditional” religious communities received preferential consideration.

Saudi Arabia* does not recognize freedom of religion and prohibits the public practice of any religion other than Islam. The government subjected Muslims who did not adhere to the government’s interpretation of Islam to political, economic, legal, social, and religious discrimination. Some non-Muslims faced harassment, detention, and death. The Saudi government revised some school textbooks, but Arabic and religion textbooks still contained overtly intolerant statements against Jews and Christians as well as intolerant references by allusion against Shia and Sufi Muslims and other religious groups.

Sudan*: The interim constitution and other laws and policies provide for some religious freedom; however, apostasy, conversion from Islam, blasphemy, and some interfaith marriages are prohibited. In addition, observers asserted that Salafists were growing as a proportion of the total Muslim population and that this growth was creating new sources of conflict with Christians and non-Salafist Muslims.

Syria: As the government's unconscionable attacks against its people escalated, civilians in the Sunni majority endured the greatest violence. The regime also targeted and destroyed churches and mosques across the country during this period of protest which began in response to regime abuses. The regime contextualized the protests within a sectarian framework, maintaining that the protesters were associated with "extreme Islamist factions." At times, popular perception among the protesters conflated the regime's brutality and killing of over 5,000 civilians with alleged Alawite violence against Sunni Muslims. This led to an increase of tension, violence, and killing between largely Alawite and Sunni communities. Some Christians, Druze, and opposition members also suffered at the hands of the regime. As the violence grew, members of minority religious communities were increasingly vulnerable.

Turkmenistan: The government’s respect for religious freedom remained low, despite provisions for religious freedom in the constitution and in some laws and policies. Discriminatory government practices in the treatment of some registered and unregistered groups continued. Authorities often failed to distinguish between peaceful religious practice and criminal or terrorist activities. Several religious groups remained unable to register and the government restricted even registered groups’ ability to obtain places to worship and to print, distribute, or import religious materials. Although there were fewer reports of raids and arbitrary detentions involving Jehovah’s Witnesses, the government continued to arrest, charge, and imprison Jehovah’s Witnesses who were conscientious objectors to military service.

Uzbekistan* requires religious groups to register and prohibits some activities, such as proselytizing, as well as publishing, importing, and distributing religious materials without a license. Most minority religious groups had difficulty meeting the government’s strict registration requirements. In some cases, members faced heavy fines and even jail terms for violations of the state’s religion laws. The government restricted religious activities that it proclaimed to be in conflict with national security and generally dealt harshly with Muslims who practice and discuss Islam outside of government-sanctioned mosques. Uzbek law prohibits religious groups from forming political parties and social movements, as well as the private teaching of religious principles.

Vietnam restricted religious freedom in a number of ways. Christians, in particular, faced challenges. The government held religious prisoners, including lay preachers Ksor Y Du and Kpa Y Ko. Hundreds of churches continued to await registration by local authorities in the Northwest Highlands, and the government has not allowed publication of the Bible in the modern H’mong language, despite pledging to do so. Authorities harassed some groups and individuals. In March authorities of An Giang, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, and Can Tho ordered surveillance of unsanctioned Hoa Hao monks, and police blocked roads and harassed or threatened followers. Police beat one follower severely. Protestant Khmers reported harassment, intimidation, and, in some cases, property damage and beatings by Khmer Krom Buddhists in certain districts of Tra Vinh Province.

Conclusion

Even as this report documents abuses of religious freedom, the events of 2011 show that change is possible and suggests that countries whose constitution, laws, policies, and practices protect religious freedom and human rights will be the most vibrant and stable. This report documents places where intolerance does not have the last word. Turkey issued a decree facilitating the return of property confiscated from religious community foundations in the past. In Ukraine, the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, which represents 95 percent of religious congregations in the country, discussed with the government legal protections for religious freedom, visas for foreign religious workers, and procedures for religious organizations to obtain legal status in Ukraine. In France, members of a Jewish - Muslim friendship association traveled around the country to educate youth about Islam and Judaism.

The United States was active around the world promoting religious freedom, and challenging threats to such freedom. For example, senior U.S. officials, including President Barack Obama, raised deep U.S. concerns about increased religious violence and discrimination against Copts with senior Egyptian officials, including concerns about the government’s failure to prosecute perpetrators of sectarian violence. The United States also sponsored programs in Egypt to promote religious tolerance and freedom.

To promote religious freedom in Burma*, U.S. embassy representatives offered support to local nongovernmental organizations and religious leaders, including through small grants and training programs. The U.S. government has a wide array of sanctions in place against the country for its violations of human rights; steps to ease those sanctions depend on the government undertaking significant reform.

U.S. officials from the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. embassy and consulates in Iraq met regularly with representatives of all of Iraq’s religious and ethnic communities, including its minority communities. A U.S. government-funded program sponsored successful interfaith dialogues in areas with religious tensions, such as Kirkuk. The assistant chief of mission for assistance transition led the embassy’s efforts to reach out to ethnic and religious minority communities.

The U.S. government’s efforts to promote religious freedom are intertwined with our efforts to promote freedom of expression. Blasphemy laws silence voices in the name of “protecting religion.” They are anathema to religious freedom since the deeply held beliefs of one religious group may be interpreted as blasphemous by another group. The United States strongly opposed the Organization of the Islamic Conference’s (OIC) 12-year campaign at the United Nations to ban so-called “defamation” of religion. At the March 2011 session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), the OIC, the United States, the European Union, and all other members joined consensus on Resolution 16/18 “Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence, and violence against persons based on religion or belief.” In the fall, the UN General Assembly passed a similar resolution by consensus. This resolution helped the HRC move past the divisive and problematic debates about intolerance and expression to an action-oriented approach that is protective of human rights.

In December, the United States hosted the first expert-level implementation meeting. Experts from 27 countries discussed effective government strategies to engage members of religious minorities, train officials on religious and cultural awareness, and enforce laws that prevent discrimination on the basis of religion or belief.

The United States is also giving voice to others. At an Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe conference, Hannah Rosenthal, our Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, and Farah Anwar Pandith, our Special Representative to Muslim Communities, traded speeches to launch the 2011 Hours Against Hatecampaign. Special Envoy Rosenthal spoke out against Muslim-hatred and Special Representative Pandith spoke out against anti-Semitism. They ended their remarks with this simple line, “Jews cannot fight anti-Semitism alone. Muslims cannot fight “Islamophobia” alone… Hate is hate, but we can overcome it together.”

This campaign called upon young people to volunteer their time to assist persons from other communities -- a Jew for a Muslim charity, a man for a women’s shelter, a Muslim for a Jewish clinic, a Christian for a Baha’i food pantry. The campaign generated so much interest and so many hours of volunteer time that it has been endorsed by the London Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee as one of its tolerance campaigns for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, now called 2012 Hours Against Hate.

President Obama said at a celebration of Coptic Christmas in January 2012, "as history repeatedly reminds us, freedom of religion, the protection of people of all faiths, and the ability to worship as you choose are critical to a peaceful, inclusive, and thriving society." These reports document where people live, think, pray, and speak freely and where, in contrast, governments limit those freedoms, abusing the rights of their people, violating international agreements, and diminishing the reputations of their own countries.

International Religious Freedom Report for 2011

The Pensions Outlook 2012

2012-07-30T08:01:00.003-06:00

Governments will need to raise retirement ages gradually to address increasing life expectancy in order to ensure that their national pension systems are both affordable and adequate, according to a new OECD report. At a time of heightened global economic uncertainty, such reforms can also play a crucial role in governments’ responses to the crisis, contributing to fiscal consolidation at the same time as boosting growth.

Over the next 50 years, life expectancy at birth is expected to increase by more than 7 years in developed economies. The long-term retirement age in half of OECD countries will be 65, and in 14 countries it will be between 67 and 69. The Pensions Outlook 2012says that increases in retirement ages are underway or planned in 28 out of the 34 OECD countries. These increases, however, are expected to keep pace with improved life expectancy only in six countries for men and in 10 countries for women. Governments should thus consider formally linking retirement ages to life expectancy, as in Denmark and Italy, and make greater efforts to promote private pensions.

“Bold action is required. Breaking down the barriers that stop older people from working beyond traditional retirement ages will be a necessity to ensure that our children and grand-children can enjoy an adequate pension at the end of their working life,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría. “Though these reforms can sometimes be unpopular and painful, at this time of tight public finances and limited scope for fiscal and monetary policy, these reforms can also serve to boost much needed growth in ageing economies.”

The Pensions Outlook 2012 finds that reforms over the past decade have cut future public pension payouts, typically by 20 to 25 per cent. People starting work today can expect a net public pension of about half their net earnings on average in OECD countries, if they retire after a full career, at the official retirement age. But in nearly all the 13 countries that have made private pensions mandatory, pensioners can expect benefits of around 60% of earnings.

Conversely, in countries where public pensions are relatively low and private pensions voluntary, such as Germany, Ireland, Korea, Japan and the United States, large segments of the population can expect major falls in income upon retirement.

This could cause pensioner poverty to increase significantly. Later retirement and greater access to private pensions will be critical to closing this pension gap, says the OECD.

However, making private pensions compulsory is not necessarily the answer for every country. According to the report, such action could unfairly affect low earners and be perceived as an additional tax. Auto-enrolment schemes – where people are enrolled automatically and can then opt out within a certain time frame – might be a suitable alternative.

Italy and New Zealand have already introduced such schemes and the UK is set to roll one out in October 2012. However, the report finds that results are mixed, with a major expansion of coverage of private pensions in countries like New Zealand, and having only a small effect in others like Italy.

More broadly, reforming tax reliefs to encourage private pension savings is also needed, as low earners and younger workers are much less likely to have a private pension. Facilitating matching contributions or giving flat subsidies to savers, such as in Germany and New Zealand, would improve their incentives to contribute. To boost confidence in private pensions, governments also need to improve their oversight of funds to ensure that charges are kept low and risks minimised.

This inaugural edition of the Pensions Outlook also includes the first comprehensive evaluation of national Defined Contribution systems, which are now a central feature of many countries’ pension systems. Among other recommendations, the report argues that it is critical to set the minimum or default contribution rate in Defined Contribution systems at an appropriate level.

Contributions to these systems need to be high enough so that together with public pensions they generate sufficient income at retirement. While Australia is moving in the right direction by increasing its contribution rate from 9% to 12%, it remains too low in countries such as Mexico and New Zealand (6.5% and 3%, respectively).

For comment or further information, journalists should contact Juan Yermo of the OECD’s Financial Affairs division (tel. + 33 1 45 24 96 62) or Edward Whitehouse of the OECD’s Social Policy division (tel. + 33 6 25 89 56 67).

Highlights of the report are available at www.oecd.org/daf/pensions/outlook

OECD broadband statistics (December 2011)

2012-07-30T07:36:00.000-06:00

Switzerland tops fixed broadband ranking, while Korea leads in wireless broadband

Switzerland tops for the first time the OECD fixed broadband ranking, with 39.9 subscribers per 100 inhabitants, followed closely by the Netherlands (39.1) and Denmark (37.9). The OECD average is 25.6.

Fixed wired broadband subscriptions reached 314 million in the OECD area at the end of 2011, although growth slowed to 1.8% in the second half. Year-on-year subscriptions rose by 4.1%. Greece, Poland and Chile experienced the highest growth, of 5%, to reach 21.8, 15.0 and 11.7 respectively.

The overall share of DSL subscriptions continues to decrease (55.8%), to the benefit of cable (30%) and, especially, fibre-to-the-home subscriptions that now represent 13.7% of the total number of fixed broadband subscriptions.

Wireless broadband subscriptions showed healthy growth of over 13% in the last six months and Korea (100.6) and Sweden (98.0) continue to top the table. The global number of wireless broadband subscriptions in OECD countries totals 667 million, up from 590 million in June 2011.

Data and charts for the December 2011 broadband statistics are available at: http://www.oecd.org/sti/ict/broadband

For comment or further information, journalists should contact Agustin Diaz-Pines (agustin.diaz-pines<a>oecd.org or tel. + 33 1 45 24 19 62) of the OECD’s Information, Communications and Consumer Policy division.x

Global Innovation Index 2012

2012-07-29T07:20:00.001-06:00

The Global Innovation Index (GII) is a recognition of the key role that innovation serves as a driver of economic growth and prosperity. It is also an acknowledgement of the need for a broad horizontal vision of innovation that is applicable to both developed and emerging economies, with the inclusion of indicators that go beyond the traditional measures of innovation (such as the level of research and development in a given country). The GII is a valuable benchmarking tool to facilitate public-private dialogue, whereby policymakers, business leaders and other stakeholders can evaluate progress on a continual basis.

The fifth edition (2012), of the GII is co-published by INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Download

Full Report (8.9mb)
Table of Contents
Preface by INSEAD and WIPO
Forewords by Knowledge Partners
Contributors
Advisory Board
Global Innovation Index 2012 Rankings
Chapter 1: The Global Innovation Index 2012: Stronger Innovation Linkages for Global Growth
- Annex 1: The Global Innovation Index Conceptual Framework
- Annex 2: Adjustments to the Global Innovation Index Framework and Year-on-Year Comparability of Results
- Annex 3: Statistical Tests on the Global Innovation Index
Chapter 2: The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Driving Innovation
Chapter 3: Academia-Industry Innovation Linkages in the Case of Saudi Arabia: Developing a University-Industry Triple-Helix Framework to Promote Research and Development Collaboration
Chapter 4: Accounting for Science-Industry Collaboration in Innovation: Existing Metrics and Related Challenges
Chapter 5: The Role of Coherent Linkages in Fostering Innovation-Based Economies in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries
Chapter 6: The Russian Federation: A New Innovation Policy for Sustainable Growth
Chapter 7: Shaping the National Innovation System: The Indian Perspective
Chapter 8: An Integrated Policy Approach in Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development: A UNESCO Idea in Action
Chapter 9: Broadband, Inevitable Innovation, and Development
Chapter 10: The Internet: An Unprecedented and Unparalleled Platform for Innovation and Change
Chapter 11: We Are All Content Creators Now: Measuring Creativity and Innovation in the Digital Economy
Appendix I: Index of Country/Economy Profiles
Appendix II: Data tables
Appendix III: Sources and Definitions
Appendix IV: Technical Notes
Appendix V: About the Authors

DEA NEWS: Nationwide Synthetic Drug Takedown

2012-07-26T17:17:00.000-06:00

WASHINGTON – More than 90 individuals were arrested and more than five million packets of finished designer synthetic drugs were seized in the first-ever nationwide law enforcement action against the synthetic designer drug industry responsible for the production and sale of synthetic drugs that are often marketed as bath salts, Spice, incense, or plant food. More than $36 million in cash was also seized.

Operation Log Jam Map

As of today, more than 4.8 million packets of synthetic cannabinoids (ex. K2, Spice) and the products to produce nearly 13.6 million more, as well as 167,000 packets of synthetic cathinones (ex. bath salts), and the products to produce an additional 392,000 were seized.
Operation Log Jam was conducted jointly by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, as well as countless state and local law enforcement members in more than 109 U.S. cities and targeted every level of the synthetic designer drug industry, including retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers.
“Although tremendous progress has been made in legislating and scheduling these dangerous substances, this enforcement action has disrupted the entire illegal industry, from manufacturers to retailers,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “Together with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, we are committed to targeting these new and emerging drugs with every scientific, legislative, and investigative tool at our disposal.”
“Today, we struck a huge blow to the synthetic drug industry. The criminal organizations behind the importation, distribution and selling of these synthetic drugs have scant regard for human life in their reckless pursuit of illicit profits,” said Acting Director of ICE’s Office of Homeland Security Investigations James Chaparro. “ICE is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to bring this industry to its knees.”
"The synthetic drug industry is an emerging area where we can leverage our financial investigative expertise to trace the path of illicit drug proceeds by identifying the financial linkages among the various co-conspirators,” said Richard Weber, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. "We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and ultimately dismantle the highest level drug trafficking and drug money laundering organizations that pose the greatest threat to Americans and American interests."
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service aggressively investigates the use of the U.S. Mail system for the distribution of illegal controlled substances and its proceeds. Our agency uses a multi-tiered approach to these crimes: protection against the use of the mail for illegal purposes and enforcement of laws against drug trafficking and money laundering. This includes collaboration with other agencies,” said Chief Postal Inspector Guy J. Cottrell of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
“The mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection is to guard our country’s borders from people and goods that could harm our way of life,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner David V. Aguilar. “We are proud to be part of an operation that disrupts the flow of synthetic drugs into the country and out of the hands of the American people.”
Over the past several years, there has been a growing use of, and interest in, synthetic cathinones (stimulants/hallucinogens) sold under the guise of “bath salts” or “plant food.” Marketed under names such as “Ivory Wave,” “Purple Wave,” “Vanilla Sky,” or “Bliss,” these products are comprised of a class of dangerous substances perceived to mimic cocaine, LSD, MDMA, and/or methamphetamine. Users have reported impaired perception, reduced motor control, disorientation, extreme paranoia, and violent episodes. The long-term physical and psychological effects of use are unknown but potentially severe.
These products have become increasingly popular, particularly among teens and young adults and those who mistakenly believe they can bypass the drug testing protocols that have been set up by employers and government agencies to protect public safety. They are sold at a variety of retail outlets, in head shops, and over the Internet. However, they have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human consumption or for medical use, and there is no oversight of the manufacturing process.
Smokable herbal blends marketed as being “legal” and providing a marijuana-like high have also become increasingly popular, particularly among teens and young adults, because they are easily available and, in many cases, they are more potent and dangerous than marijuana. These products consist of plant material that has been coated with dangerous psychoactive compounds that mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Just as with the synthetic cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids are sold at a variety of retail outlets, in head shops and over the Internet. Brands such as “Spice,” “K2,” “Blaze,” and “Red X Dawn” are labeled as incense to mask their intended purpose.
While many of the designer drugs being marketed today that were seized as part of Operation Log Jam are not specifically prohibited in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the Controlled Substance Analogue Enforcement Act of 1986 (AEA) allows these drugs to be treated as controlled substances if they are proven to be chemically and/or pharmacologically similar to a Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substance. A number of cases that are part of Operation Log Jam will be prosecuted federally under this analogue provision, which specifically exists to combat these new and emerging designer drugs.
DEA has used its emergency scheduling authority to combat both synthetic cathinones (the so-called bath salts like Ivory Wave, etc.) and synthetic cannabinoids (the so-called incense products like K2, Spice, etc.), temporarily placing several of these dangerous chemicals into Schedule I of the CSA. Congress has also acted, permanently placing 26 substances into Schedule I of the CSA.
In 2010, poison centers nationwide responded to about 3,200 calls related to synthetic “Spice” and “bath salts.” In 2011, that number jumped to more than 13,000 calls. Sixty percent of the cases involved patients 25 and younger.
For more information about this operation and synthetic designer drugs, visit www.dea.gov.

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Cities with Take-Down Sites in Operation Log Jam >>d

The Tallinn Manual: Manual on International Law Applicable to Cyber Warfare

2012-07-25T21:16:00.001-06:00

Cyber incidents of the past years as well as the continuous speculation around potential future cyber catastrophes and cyber wars have repeatedly emphasized the need for a revised interpretation of existing law, be it national security law, criminal law, or as in this case, international law. Jus ad bellum (international law governing the use of force) and jus in bello(international humanitarian law) were not developed, having regard to contemporary security threats, including advanced cyber capabilities. Therefore, it is evident that a great need exists for a professional interpretation of the conventions and treaties of the previous centuries in order to demonstrate if and how they can be applied to the modern cyber conflict.

The objective of this Manual is to develop authoritative reference on the international law applicable to cyber conflict. The Manual is meant to address all legal issues deriving from thejus ad bellum and the jus in bello. In addition, it examines related issues such as sovereignty, state responsibility and neutrality.

NATO CCD COE is the sponsor of the Manual on International Law Applicable to Cyber Warfare, written by a group of world-class international law and law of armed conflict experts.

Manual Tallinn

U.S. Global Change Research Program publishes ten-year strategy

2012-07-12T15:00:00.000-06:00

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) is pleased to release the new National Global Change Research Plan 2012-2021: A Strategic Plan for the U. S. Global Change Research Program. The creation of this plan is mandated by the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (GCRA, P.L. 101-606); it will serve as the guiding document for USGCRP for the next decade.

The Plan is built around four strategic goals: Advance Science, Inform Decisions, Conduct Sustained Assessments, and Communicate and Educate. In addition to these four goals, the Plan emphasizes the importance of national and international partnerships that leverage Federal investments and provide for the widest use of Program results. The Plan builds on the Program’s strengths in integrated observations, modeling, and information services for science that serves societal needs.

As mandated by Congress, the USGCRP develops a new Strategic Plan every ten years that must “provide for [the] development and coordination of a comprehensive and integrated United States Research Program which will assist the Nation and the world to understand, assess, predict, and respond to human-induced and natural processes of global change.” The Plan will be implemented through the next decade by the collective efforts of 13 U.S. government agencies that collaboratively help the Nation better understand global change and its impacts.

This 2012-2021 Strategic Plan builds on past USGCRP Strategic Plans and the accomplishments of the USGCRP, and recognizes that effective response to global change requires a strong scientific foundation. The Plan continues to encompass both the fundamental research that improves understanding, as well as the research necessary to inform responses to climate and global change.

Even more strongly than in the past, the 2012 -2021 Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives require coordination across the diverse capabilities and missions of its Federal agency members, as well as the inclusion of other parts of the Federal government, traditionally outside of the core of USGCRP. This need reflects the more interdisciplinary focus of this Strategic Plan and its emphasis on integration across:

• The various components of the Earth system, including the human component
• Observations and modeling
• Space and time
• Scientific disciplines, including physical, biological, social and behavioral sciences
• Domestic and international partnerships
• The intersection of stakeholder needs with research capabilities

In accordance with the GCRA, the Plan was developed by a team of over 100 Federal scientists in collaboration with the USGCRP leadership. The team drew on the advice of the National Academies and feedback from public sessions with stakeholder groups. It was revised in light of public comments, and in response to reviews by the USGCRP, CENRS member agencies, and the National Research Council. To view the Federal Register Notice on public comments regarding the Strategic Plan, click here.

Going forward, this Strategic Plan will be the foundation for the USGCRP as it continues in its role of coordinating research necessary for science and decision support while developing partnerships, and providing information and tools to facilitate the relevancy and utilization of global change science.

Click here to view/print a two-page fact sheet about the USGCRP Strategic Plan.

The Manhattan Project

2012-07-12T11:52:00.001-06:00

The 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Manhattan Project on August 13, 1942, is celebrated this year. The Manhattan Project played an essential role in bringing World War II to an end through the building of the atomic bomb. This major achievement was possible because the U.S. government conducted a massive, secret, nationwide enterprise that took science from the laboratory and into combat with an entirely new type of weapon.

Three primary sites were chosen to be the locations for this effort, with other sites playing key roles. Many renowned scientists from both the United States and abroad combined their extensive knowledge and expertise to meet the challenges of doing great work in a very short period of time. After the end of the war, the United States directed efforts towards peaceful uses of atomic energy.

The Manhattan Project is a predecessor of the U.S. Department of Energy.

Personal & Professional Service Robotics Market – Global Forecast & Assessment by Applications & Geography (2012 – 2017)

2012-07-12T11:29:00.000-06:00

During early 2010s, service robotics evolved with advanced interaction capabilities, in addition to mobility. Entertainment products for exhibitions and products were introduced in Japan to amuse residents- which followed next. Robots were able to respond to vocal commands or gestures and move independently around a living space, watering plants, letting the cat out, operating kitchen appliances, even making toast (as well as serving it), and feeding pets. As the elderly will represent the largest market segment in the years to come, the industry anticipates a huge demand for servant robots.
In the coming ten years, service robotics evolution is expected to continue with its application in Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) or self-driving cars, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or self-piloting airplanes, and autonomous wheelchairs, as well as C3PO-like anthropomorphic robots and less complex simple cleaning robots. The more sophisticated service robots applications include robot snipers, minding children, caring for the elderly, acting as tour guides, and giving people baths or doses of medicine. As with all the digital technologies, the prices of robots are expected to fall, while, at the same time, their capabilities are expected to grow rapidly.

The service robotics market report forecasts and assesses the professional and personal service robotics by applications, and geography from 2012 to 2017. The report analyses the service robotics application market, both qualitatively and quantitatively, giving in-depth insights about each sub segment of all application as well. Industrial service robots can be used to carry out simple tasks, such as examining welding, as well as more complex, harsh-environment tasks, such as aiding in the dismantling of nuclear powers stations. Autonomous scientific robots perform tasks which humans would find difficult or impossible, from the deep sea to outer space. The Woods Hole Sentry can descend to 4,500 meters and allows a higher payload as it does not need a support ship or the oxygen and other facilities demanded by human piloted vessels.

The service robotics market research report aims to capture the market roadmap with market sizes, revenue forecasts, value chain, competitive landscape, leading players and their key developments, strategies, and profiles. Market is split into five regions; namely Americas, Europe, Japan, APAC, and ROW for the geographic analysis of the market.

The global service robotics market in 2011 was worth $18.39 billion. This market is valued at $20.73 billion in 2012 and expected to reach $46.18 billion by 2017 at an estimated CAGR of 17.4% from 2012 to 2017. The market is driven by factors like ageing population, value enhancement by robots, increasing grants and funds by governments, increasing venture capital investments in service robotics companies, enhancements in complementary technologies and integration of robotics with mobile technologies, other smart products, and appliances.

The key market players in service robotics industry are Honda Motors (Japan), iRobot (U.S.), AB Electrolux (Sweden), Sony (Japan), Fujitsu (Japan), Toyota (Japan), GeckoSystems (U.S.), and Yujin Robot (South Korea).

Scope of the report

The service robotics market research report categorizes the global market on the basis of them being used in various applications, and geographical analysis; forecasting revenue, and analyzing trends in the market.

The global service robotics market is segmented into:

This report highlights the basic structure of the service robotics market; i.e. professional and personal service robotics by applications and geography. The report covers the major applications such as defense, rescue & security; agriculture & forestry; aerospace; infrastructure; medical; underwater; others for the professional service robotics. Domestic, entertainment, security, education are covered under personal service robotics.
The report sizes all the sub markets by geography by giving detailed geographic split into Americas, Europe, Japan, APAC, and Rest of the World (ROW).

JASEC e Internet: cuando no todas las redes conducen a Cartago

2012-07-06T21:32:00.000-06:00

Síntesis

En junio del 2012 coincidió mi regreso a Cartago con el anuncio de las dificultades de JASEC para desarrollar su propia red FTTH. $25 millones de dólares y la renuncia a un título habilitante para operar en el mercado de las telecomunicaciones, despertaron mi interés coyuntural. Desde entonces, en los momentos libres con que cuento, he revisado diversa información documental y consultado con algunos expertos del mercado. Lo que sigue a continuación es una síntesis de ese proceso que, provisionalmente descansa en cuatro premisas: 1) JASEC se encuentra en un limbo jurídico muy peligroso por la falta del título habilitante; 2) JASEC ha variado y sobrevalorado las dimensiones de mercado y de financiamiento para su proyecto; 3) JASEC ha renunciado a un modelo de negocios de venta al cliente final por uno de carrier, que se encuentra en peligro por el alquiler de los postes eléctricos y 4) JASEC ha empezado a asumir costos provenientes de ese proyecto, sin ingresos, con préstamos y contratos acordados. Existe una gran cantidad de información disponible para profundizar estos temas, siendo una de ellas las actas de la Junta Directiva de JASEC.

wfc

6 de julio, 2012
última actualización 1 de agosto, 2012
actualizado: 30 de julio, 2012
actualizado 16 de julio, 2012
actualizado 13 de julio 2012

1 de agosto 2012

Se entrega copia a la ARESEP, la Procuraduria General de la República y a la Contraloría General de la República, de la Oposición presentada ante SUTEL.

30 de julio 2012

Conforme el Edicto de la SUTEL, publicado el 13 de julio pasado en La Gaceta donde se conceden diez días para apersonarse y hacer valer los derechos, hoy, 30 de julio, se presentó "formal oposición al trámite de autorización iniciado por segunda ocasión por JASEC".

16 de julio 2012

El jueves 12 de julio recibí de la administración de la Junta Directiva de JASEC copia del oficio JD-335-2012 del 11 de julio del 2012, mediante el cual se me comunica que me facilitarán copia de las actas solicitadas de los años 2010,2011 y 2012, "previa coordinación con la administración y una vez que ésta proceda a clasificar la información que en éstas consta, a fin de determinar si guardan carácter público o privado". Empezaré a coordinar con la administración la entrega correspondiente. Abajo copia del Oficio

13 de julio 2012

En el Alcance de la Gaceta del 13 de julio sale publicado Edicto informando que la SUTEL (Expediente SUTEL-OT-088-2012) admitió la solicitud de JASEC para "brindar transferencia de datos-acarreador-redes de fibra óptica", concediendo 10 días para apersonarse para hacer valer sus derechos.
"Brindar transferencia de datos-acarreador-redes de fibra óptica" es un negocio diferente al de la primera solicitud que fue el de "brindar servicios de telecomunicaciones en su modalidad de televisión por cable, modo (CATV) analógico e internet". Los supuestos y modelos técnicos, de negocios y financieros son diferentes
¿Los habrá realizado JASEC? ¿Los habrá conocido y aprobado la Junta Directiva? ¿Los habrá presentado a SUTEL? ¿Se podrán conocer?

A continuación reproducción de la información relacionada con ambas solicitudes

Segunda Solicitud

Primera Solicitud

JASEC y su ingreso al mercado de las telecomunicaciones

Parte de la solución para lograr el acuerdo legislativo que permitió, en agosto del 2008, el fortalecimiento y modernización del sector de telecomunicaciones, Ley 8660, fue autorizar a JASEC a participar en el nuevo mercado. Específicamente, en su artículo 45, la facultó para prestar servicios de telecomunicaciones, infocomunicaciones y otros servicios en convergencia, incluyendo televisión por cable.

El legislador de entonces no fue injusto y le concedió algunos beneficios adicionales para que hiciera frente al nuevo mercado. Así, JASEC está exenta de impuestos nacionales y municipales y no está sujeta a la Leyes de Administración Financiera, Presupuestos Públicos, Equilibrio Financiero y Autoridad Presupuestaria. En su momento, la CGR le llamó un “régimen especial”, “una mayor libertad en su gestión” y ella misma lo ha acatado, disponiendo, en virtud de la nueva normativa, que JASEC no está obligada a enviar los presupuestos para su aprobación, criterio que se utiliza desde el presupuesto del 2010.

Además, la Ley 8660 (título II, capítulo IV) señaló que a JASEC se le aplicaría el mismo régimen de contratación administrativa que al ICE, lo que significa que “este régimen especial de contratación supone entonces que la adquisición de bienes y servicios requeridos por la JASEC está sometida desde el 13 de agosto de 2008, fecha en que entró en vigencia la Ley No. 8660 a los procedimientos descritos en el mencionado Capítulo, así como en lo que corresponda al Reglamento No. 35148, decretado por el Poder Ejecutivo el 24 de febrero de 2009 y sus reformas, siendo a partir de ello, de supletorio acatamiento los postulados de la Ley de Contratación Administrativa, N.° 7494 y su reglamento. Lo anterior no deja sin efecto los principios a los cuales remite la Ley No. 7494, los cuales proceden de una norma superior como es la propia Constitución Política”, conforme lo estableció el Oficio 5499 del 10 de junio del 2010 de la CGR, que desde entonces ejerce “sus competencias bajo la modalidad de control posterior”. JASEC no está exenta de cumplir cierta normativa especializada, incluyendo el “Reglamento sobre refrendo de las contrataciones de la administración pública” emitido por la Contraloría General de la República.

Fue tanto el gozo de ver a JASEC en el siglo XXI, que doña Lorena Vásquez, para entonces Jefa de Fracción del PUSC, declaró que JASEC “entraría como empresa modelo en el sector telecomunicaciones”. Sin embargo, en el 2012, la misma JASEC ha reconocido como una de sus amenazas que “camina a pasos muy lentos en lo referente a las telecomunicaciones”, específicamente en desarrollar “el servicio de infocomunicación”, es decir, brindar “el servicio de Internet y otros servicios de valor agregado” y el “de televisión por cable”.

Sobre el Título Habilitante

Dada la autorización concedida por ley, como cualquier otro potencial operador, JASEC solicitó a la SUTEL, el 5 de febrero del 2009, el permiso para brindar servicios de telecomunicaciones en su modalidad de televisión por cable, modo (CATV) analógico e internet. Para aquel entonces, un 22 de febrero, un entusiasmado Gerente, don Oscar Meneses, declaraba que el interés de JASEC sería el de “vender paquetes con tres servicios incluidos: telefonía, televisión de alta definición e Internet” es decir, el conocido “triple play”.

Don Oscar también declaró que la intención de JASEC era entrar al mercado en sociedad con el ICE, no como su competencia, sino como su brazo, para llevar los servicios del ICE al cliente final, puesto que JASEC ya contaba con un tendido público y con la experiencia de sus cuadrillas que conocen a los clientes de la zona. Sin embargo, la solicitud presentada por JASEC a la SUTEL no llevaba alianza de ningún tipo. Al contrario, durante la fase de estudio por parte de la SUTEL tanto el ICE como RACSA se opusieron a la solicitud de JASEC. Curiosamente, mes y medio después de presentadas, el propio ICE renunció a las oposiciones suscritas.

El 22 de junio, SUTEL otorga a JASEC el título habilitante respectivo, SUTEL-TH-005, para diez años a partir del 7 de julio del 2009, inicialmente para el servicio de internet en San Rafael de Oreamuno y los distritos Oriental, Occidental y el Carmen, debiendo comunicar, JASEC, la ampliación de nuevos servicios y nuevas zonas, expandible al territorio nacional, para su inclusión en el Registro Nacional de Telecomunicaciones.

Dado que a junio del 2010 aun no había iniciado operaciones a la luz del título habilitante obtenido, JASEC solicita a la SUTEL una prórroga para el inicio correspondiente, que le es concedido el 14 de julio. En marzo del 2011, JASEC solicita una nueva prórroga que SUTEL aprueba el 4 de agosto del 2011, que venció nuevamente en el 2012.

Ante esa situación, JASEC renuncia al título habilitante y el 4 de junio del 2012 solicita a SUTEL la obtención de uno nuevo. Algunas fuentes consultadas señalaron que era extraña la decisión jurídica tomada por JASEC cuando perfectamente pudo solicitar una prórroga argumentando el atraso de las obras presentadas. Hay que tomar en cuenta que todo el procedimiento de concesión “ha sido llevado por el Proceso de Administración Financiera, desde que el proyecto inició”.

Tanto la renuncia como la nueva solicitud se encuentran pendientes de respuesta por parte de SUTEL. Dada la unilateralidad, se sabe que ante cualquier decisión de SUTEL sobre la renuncia no cabrá recuso de revocatoria. JASEC ha señalado que el trámite de dichas resoluciones durarán unos tres meses y que se promoverían encuentros con el Consejo o la Presidencia de SUTEL para explicar la situación. La Junta Directiva ordenó la realización de una investigación preliminar sobre el vencimiento del título habilitante que debió ser conocido el 5 de julio.

Aunque JASEC argumenta que la nueva solicitud no traerá problemas, puesto que SUTEL no declaró la caducidad del primer título, sino que JASEC renunció a él, no existe certeza que la nueva solicitud sea aprobada, puesto que la Ley General de Telecomunicaciones, 8642, establece, en su artículo 25, como causal de caducidad del título, como el otorgado a JASEC, “no haber iniciado la operación y explotación de las redes o la prestación de los servicios luego de un año de haber obtenido la autorización o de haberse concedido la prórroga”. Ese mismo artículo señala que “el titular de la autorización cuya caducidad haya sido declarada, estará imposibilitado para obtener nuevas autorizaciones de las previstas en esta Ley, por un plazo de cinco años, contado a partir de la firmeza de la resolución”.

Por las razones que hayan sido, lo cierto es que JASEC, como empresa, no cumplió con su obligación de empezar operaciones dos años después de obtenido el título inicial. Hay que tomar en cuenta que la prestación de servicios telecom es una competencia de JASEC y no una concesión ni una autorización en sí misma, dado que JASEC no está, como operador de telecomunicaciones, en el mismo régimen laxo que los legisladores le concedieron, como institución, para convertirse en uno de aquellos. JASEC está obligada a cumplir con la normativa de telecomunicaciones, lo que significa que no basta la voluntad del legislador para que preste los servicios, cualesquiera que ellos sean, porque es indispensable que cumpla con la normativa especializada. SI no lo hace, simplemente no puede operar en ese mercado. Hoy, eso es lo que sucede, por más préstamos, contratos y nuevos anuncios.

En cualquier caso, es la primera vez que ocurre esta situación creándose un contexto de inseguridad jurídica, carente de antecedentes, que pone en una situación incómoda a la propia SUTEL, puesto que la decisión de JASEC de renunciar al primer título para solicitar el segundo, puede interpretarse como un mero recurso jurídico para invisibilizar la incapacidad de cumplir con el primero. Para SUTEL eso podría ser un problema crítico.

Es cierto que JASEC es una empresa importante en Cartago, pero también lo es que el mercado de las telecomunicaciones requiere y exige igualdad y seguridad jurídica. SI existe la posibilidad, como lo puede ser, que un potencial operador busque un garabato jurídico para su exclusivo beneficio y SUTEL obvia esa posibilidad, adopta un camino de incertidumbre para todo el mercado. Para SUTEL, el problema no es el proyecto de JASEC; su problema es mostrar equilibrio para preservar y potenciar el mercado de las telecomunicaciones. Y ahí, no debieran existir casos especiales.

En estricto sentido, jurídicamente, hoy se encuentran desprotegidos el endeudamiento con el BCR y el BN por $8 millones y los contratos firmados con ambas empresas por $25 millones- De hecho, aun en el caso que JASEC llegara a un buen término con ambas empresas, mientras que no posea la resolución definitiva de la SUTEL, autorizándole un nuevo título habilitante, si ello sucede, que no existe certeza, se vería imposibilitado para prestar sus propios servicios, imposibilitada de utilizar su propia red.

Proyecto de la Red de Comunicación de JASEC

A lo interno, JASEC creó el “Proyecto de la Red de Comunicación de JASEC”, consistente en la construcción de una red de comunicación, sobre la infraestructura actual del Servicio de Distribución de Energía Eléctrica, para dar conectividad a los edificios de la empresa, áreas de operación, dispositivos inteligentes de la red eléctrica, sistemas de medición remota, servidores de comunicaciones, contratación de la obra civil del centro de datos, contratación de empresa para realizar suministro, Instalación, y puesta en marcha del equipamiento para el centro de operación y adquisición de ONTs adicionales.

La “Red de Transmisión de Comunicación”, como la llama y sostiene la propia JASEC, ampliará las posibilidades de uso de la infraestructura de distribución eléctrica existente y permitirá el desarrollo de los servicios comunicación en Cartago. Así, de acuerdo al proyecto, JASEC será el gestor de una infraestructura mediante red de fibra óptica de última generación, primera en su tipo y capacidades en Costa Rica sobre la que pondrá a disposición ancho de banda a empresas proveedoras de servicios y contenidos, como pueden ser internet de alta velocidad, televisión por cable, voz y video sobre IP, entre otros servicios. De esa manera, mejorará la calidad de vida de los habitantes, y la competitividad de la Provincia para atraer inversiones, en particular de empresas de servicios intensivos en uso de capital humano calificado.

En ese contexto, uno de los objetivos estratégicos de JASEC es el crear una infraestructura de última generación capaz de dar respuesta a las necesidades de modernización en la gestión de la red eléctrica, en la autoprestación en infocomunicaciones, y las actuales y futuras del sector de infocomunicaciones en la región. Eso significa convertirse en una empresa líder gestionando infraestructura de última generación con tal de realizar una gestión óptima de la red de generación y distribución de electricidad y de la infraestructura de última generación de infocomunicaciones en la región. De esa forma, JASEC atraerá la mayoría del mercado de infocomunicaciones en la región hacia la red de última generación desplegada, de forma que un gran parte de los operadores utilicen los servicios mayoristas ofrecidos por el GIT (Gestor de Infraestructuras de Telecomunicaciones).

Al Programa le fue asignado un total de ¢9.491.7 millones.

Licitaciones

1. TFO-S.A.-Alfa Mark Delta S.A.: $8.555.985.22

La primera contratación relacionada con el proyecto se produjo cuando a inicios del 2010, JASEC convocó la Licitación Púbica Nacional N.2010LN-000001-03 con el objetivo contractual de “construir una red de transmisión de datos para la conectividad entre los edificios de JASEC, los reconectadores y colectores de medición remota de la red de distribución eléctrica”.

El 16 de febrero (publicada el 22 de febrero en La Gaceta), JASEC hizo pública la I Modificación del cartel inicial que “establece claramente el registro obligatorio de que los oferentes establezcan en sus ofertas al menos 40.000 puntos de conexión, expandible a 70.000 para atender los requerimientos actuales y futuros”. La II Modificación varió las fórmulas iniciales solicitadas, agregando la “construcción de una red tipo FTTH”, que se agregó a la construcción de la red, mantenimiento y operación de una red híbrida, arrendamiento de red de fibra óptica, adquisición de redes en zonas de cobertura, financiamiento y mantenimiento y operación de la Red FTTH.

El 2 de junio del 2010 (Gaceta del 6 de junio), excepto la construcción de la red FTTH, todas las demás fórmulas fueron declaradas desiertas, incluyendo el mantenimiento y operación de la Red FTTH, “por falta de contenido presupuestario” y el financiamiento “debido a que JASEC ha negociado directamente con entidades financieras y logró obtener el financiamiento con mejores condiciones para la institución” (los créditos bancarios aprobados el 29 de abril; ver más adelante).

Para la construcción de la red FTTH, participaron tres empresas: el Consorcio TFO S.A-Alfa Mark Delta S.A. (cotiza una oferta por $4.077.503,76 y una alternativa por $8.555.985.22); Datagrama Comunicaciones S.A. (cotiza una oferta por $9.107.494,29 y una alternativa para la Fórmula No. 6 por $8.071.999,61) y Super Cable Grupo Tent S.A. ($10.671.642,73).

El 2 de junio del 2010, por acuerdo de la Junta de Adquisiciones, según oficio N°UE-367-10 (Gaceta del 6 de junio), JASEC adjudicó la construcción de la red FTTH al Consorcio TFO S.A-Alfa Mark Delta S.A. por un monto de $8.166.655.21 (¢4.487.740.371; tipo de cambio: 549.52; fuente: Consulta de Compras con Fondos Públicos. Informe de Actividad Contractual. CGR, actualizado 26/6/12). Las empresas Datagrama y Super Cable apelaron la adjudicación ante la CGR, quien el 31 de agosto del 2010 resolvió rechazar las apelaciones de ambas.

2. Huawei: $16.793.964.04

En junio del 2011, JASEC convoca a una segunda licitación relacionada con el proyecto, el Cartel de Licitación N.2011LN-000002-03, para la “Contratación de un Gestor de Infraestructura de Telecomunicaciones con Servicios de Suministro, Operación y Mantenimiento de la Red FTTH y de los Sistemas OSS”, adjudicada a la empresa Huawei por $16.793.964.04. El Órgano Fiscalizador del contrato, que le corresponden las atribuciones y las obligaciones establecidas en el Reglamento General de la Contratación Administrativa, lo designó la Gerencia. El cartel original tuvo tres modificaciones. Aunque en todos los casos, JASEC se dejó la potestad de fijar la fecha de inicio, el plazo del contrato se amplió de 2 años en el cartel inicial, a 5 años en la I modificación, en ambos casos pudiéndose prorrogar por períodos anuales hasta completar un máximo de dos prórrogas.

En el caso de TFO-Alfa Mark, JASEC considera, junio del 2012, que “el proyecto actual con el Consorcio TFO-AMD, está en el proceso de negociación, la que se está reactivando con la esperanza de concretar lo más pronto posible y se prevé finalice en noviembre próximo”. A junio del 2012, el contrato de la segunda contratación aún no se había firmado. JASEC esperaba firmarlo ese mismo mes, para conseguir el refrendo en julio, su entrada en operación en agosto y finalizar en noviembre, al igual que el proyecto.

¿Demasiada infraestructura e inversión para un mercado tan pequeño?

JASEC presentó ante la SUTEL, para el trámite del primer título habilitante, información técnica, de negocios y financiera para respaldar la solicitud. Por razones comerciales, mediante resolución RCS-019-2009 del 20 de marzo del 2009, SUTEL declaró confidencial, por cinco años, la información presentada por JASEC relativa a su capacidad financiera; el mapa de ubicación de fibra óptica; el detalle de la fase I, plan piloto, anillo de fibra óptica para sistema Scada; la capacidad técnica de los equipos, estrategia de ejecución del negocio, esquema de construcción, operación y mantenimiento de la red; la información financiera; los índices de atención al servicio al cliente; el detalle de la fase II, cobertura infocomunicaciones; el estudio de factibilidad y el de expansión de servicios.

Hay que tomar en cuenta que JASEC no es la única operadora que ha sido autorizada para ofrecer servicios telecom en Cartago, por lo que las variables asociadas al modelo de negocios y de ingresos se vuelven fundamentales para valorar su capacidad competitividad y si el riesgo asumido está bien definido y si valió la pena asumirlo.

Para la Licitación Púbica Nacional N.2010LN-000001-03, JASEC exigió que “dentro del diseño de la red para el servicio de transmisión de contenidos se debe contemplar que el máximo de puntos de conectividad por nodo deberá ser de 200, considerando que se implantará para 40 000 posibles puntos de conectividad en el primer año, expandible a 70 000”. Esta cuestión fue tan importante, esencial, que la propia JASEC, en julio y agosto del 2011, la mencionó, ante la CGR, como una de las razones por las cuales se había desechado la oferta de Datagrama, que solo había ofrecido instalar una red para 26.000 abonados fácilmente expandible a 40.000, cuando JASEC expresamente solicitó una red lista para 40.000 y expandible a 70.000. La CGR aceptó ese argumento y lo mencionó como uno de los factores para no aceptar la apelación de Datagrama.

Datagrama, en sus argumentos ante la CGR, señaló que “la tasa de penetración prevista por Datacom -65,3%- es una tasa alta, basada en una predicción responsable, incluso optimista del desarrollo empresarial esperado para JASEC en Cartago. Debe tenerse presente que el diseño de la red correspondía al oferente y por ende, dados los datos objetivos del cartel (40.000 casas pasadas) se diseño pensando en un escenario con alta demanda del servicio. Esto es tan razonable, que en cualquier estudio de marcado, una vez que se detecta una demanda X de un servicio, se planea la mayor atracción de cliente, pero nunca se espera abarcar el 100% de la demanda, ni siquiera en condiciones de monopolio. En resumen, los porcentajes de penetración son inherentes a todo proceso de diseño de redes como el solicitado en el cartel. (…) de manera ciertamente positiva, resaltamos que el hecho de que la red diseñada por nosotros puede alcanzar fácilmente las 40.000 conexiones”.

En el Cartel de Licitación N.2011LN-000002-03, JASEC establece que el “objeto de la contratación es el establecimiento de un gestor de infraestructura de telecomunicaciones para una red FTTH GPON capacitada para al menos 46.080 casas pasadas y 4.308 clientes conectados, (en el área de cobertura pueden existir más de 60.000 viviendas). Como se observa, en este caso, JASEC ha disminuido la cantidad de viviendas o puntos de conexión posibles. Al menos 46.080, en 60.000 viviendas, 10 mil más que los 70.000 puntos de conexión en la I Licitación.

En junio del 2012, JASEC considera proyecciones, en términos de clientes finales, de 5.740 al finalizar el 2012, 15.050 al 2013 con y 21.300 en el 2014, muy por debajo de las exigibles en la primera licitación, 40.000 y mucho más cercana a los 26.000 que Datagrama consideró razonables hace dos años (Dentro de los 5740 esperados para el 2012 JASEC incluye a 400 clientes de RACSA, sin que se conozca a la fecha acuerdo alguno entre ambas empresas, en medio de un debate interno dentro del ICE sobre el futuro de RACSA y sin que se conozcan estudios técnicos, de negocios o financieros que respalden la viabilidad de dicha alianza).

También en junio del 2012, JASEC reconoció que, en “cuanto al mercado de telecomunicaciones, el porcentaje de penetración ronda el 35% y 40% del mercado total…”. Como se puede observar, incluso muy por debajo del 65% que consideró Datagrama razonable en su apelación ante la CGR.

Hay que tomar en cuenta que para febrero del 2012, en el sector de Cartago, “hay cerca de 15.000 conexiones de Internet ofrecidas por diferentes proveedores como el ICE, su subsidiaria, Racsa, y cableras” y que JASEC no posee ningún monopolio o privilegio especial por encima de esos proveedores.

De un modelo a otro: sin solución

Originalmente, en el 2009, la red fue concebida para que JASEC ofreciera directamente los servicios de “triple play” y en consecuencia, las cifras manejadas en cuanto mercado, conexiones ventas y otras variables, tenían razón para que fueran de 26.000, 40.000, 70.000 u otra. En este caso, los ingresos provienen de la venta directa al cliente final, compitiendo directamente, por ejemplo, con AMNET o Cable Tica.

Sin embargo, la nueva solicitud presentada ante SUTEL por JASEC, en junio del 2012, “está orientada al modelo de negocios en que JASEC se está desarrollando, es decir, el modelo de Carrier…pues obedece a la combinación del modelo del negocio que JASEC está desarrollando y empleando, ello debido a que en un momento determinado puede presentarse una empresa y quererse asociar con la institución, para lo cual se deberá de analizar la mejor figura de negocio a desarrollar”.

No se conoce que JASEC haya elaborado o presentado los requisitos técnicos, financieros y comerciales que exige la legislación de SUTEL (los declarados confidenciales en la primera solicitud), para este segundo modelo de negocios que básicamente consiste en alquiler la red propia a otros operadores.

Según el reporte de la SUTEL, actualizado en abril del 2012, existían en el país 108 proveedores de servicios de telecomunicaciones (incluía a JASEC), siendo ese su mercado potencial principal, agregándole algunas posibles empresas de sectores no telecomunicaciones que, por su volumen de datos, estuvieran interesadas en ese servicio. Algunas fuentes han señalado que, en realidad, a lo sumo, existirían tres empresas interesadas en el servicio de JASEC.

Existe un tercer modelo derivado del alquiler de los postes eléctricos para que proveedores de telecom extiendan sus propias redes. La ley de Telecomunicaciones contempla que la infraestructura eléctrica es demandable para las operadoras del sector por lo que JASEC está obligada a alquilar la suya. Esa relación ya existe En la actualidad, JASEC ya presta el servicio de alquiler de los postes a AMNET y está a punto de firmar (o ya firmó) un contrato con Cabletica y otros proveedores. Por este servicio, sin confirmar el dato oficial, SUTEL le definió a JASEC un cobro por uso de poste anual de cerca de 9000 colones.

Como se observa, los tres son modelos diferentes. En el caso de las licitaciones, JASEC se posiciona como un proveedor directo de servicios a clientes finales. En el que respalda a la solicitud del segundo título, JASEC alquila la red, a empresas que tienen relación con los clientes finales. En el tercero, el único que está funcionando, JASEC alquila los postes para que los operadores extiendan sus propias redes. En esa condición, JASEC se debilita significamente en el modelo de carrier. dado que las empresas a las que JASEC debe alquilar sus postes, ya utilizan sus propias redes para llegar al cliente final, por definición, las pierde como clientes del segundo modelo de negocios, es decir, como carrier.

En cualquier caso no es legítimo realizar cálculos de ventas para el segundo modelo (como carrier) utilizando datos del mercado como proveedor directo, por ejemplo, sustentando el modelo de carrier, con proyecciones de ventas de 5740 clientes finales el 2012, el 2013 con 15.050 y en el 2014 con 21.300 o cualquier otra similar. Esas proyecciones no pueden ser utilizadas para un modelo de negocios que descansa en el uso de la red como carrier puesto que, a lo sumo, como ya se mencionó, considerando el 100% de sus posibles clientes, el escenario perfecto, todo ellos no superan los 108.

Finalmente, aunque el título habilitante concedido originalmente por SUTEL era para todo el territorio nacional (una práctica común en las autorizaciones para todos los operadores), inicialmente fue autorizado para el servicio de internet en San Rafael de Oreamuno y los distritos Oriental, Occidental y el Carmen. En cambio, dentro del Cartel de Licitación N.2011 LN-000002-03, se menciona que el alcance de la red desplegada que el oferente cubriría sería “la totalidad o parte de los cantones de Cartago, Paraíso, Oreamuno y El Guarco”.

Número van y vienen

Al Programa de Comunicación, le fue asignado inicialmente un total de ¢9.491.7 millones. Un primer financiamiento fue aprobado por la Junta Directiva de JASEC, el 29 de abril del 2010, en sesión extraordinaria Nº 4465, artículo 4, que acordó “(…) 1… 2 Seleccionar y contratar, de entre las opciones de financiamiento disponibles, el crédito por $ 5,2 millones con el Banco Nacional y crédito por $ 3,0 millones con el Banco de Costa Rica en las condiciones negociadas por la Gerencia, con el propósito de financiar y desarrollar el proyecto de la Red de Transmisión de Datos. 3. (…)”.

El presupuesto del 2012 ya refleja el impacto del inicio de dicho Programa. Del presupuesto inicial de ingresos, ¢53.334.8 millones, ¢2.198.4, un 4% del total, se previó el ingreso ingreso extraordinario proveniente de “servicios telemáticos/transmisión de datos”, “producto de la venta de servicios a través de la Red de Fibra Óptica”. A pesar que JASEC tenía proyectado obtener, a febrero, 200 millones, el informe de ingresos a ese mes, mostró que durante los dos primeros meses del año, no se había obtenido ingreso alguno por venta de tales servicios (código 1-3-1-2-02-02-0-0-000). En una proyección reciente, en junio del 2012, JASEC ha estimado nuevamente los ingresos para el 2012 por la “red de transmisión de datos” por ₵781.438181, muy por debajo de los ¢2.198.4.

En ese mismo presupuesto, la segunda partida en importancia de los ingresos es el financiamiento, que incluye ¢6.309.4 millones provenientes de desembolsos por los préstamos aprobados por la Junta Directiva de JASEC, el 29 de abril del 2010.

De los ingresos proyectados, ¢4.374.6 millones provendrían de desembolsos provenientes del préstamo con el Banco de Costa Rica, específicamente para la red de transmisión de datos de JASEC y la construcción de canalización-acceso de fibra óptica de su centro de datos, para dar continuidad al financiamiento del proyecto de Red de Comunicaciones. Los otros, ¢1.934.8 millones, serían para dar continuidad al financiamiento del proyecto de Red de Comunicaciones, proveniente de desembolsos del préstamo con el Banco Nacional. A febrero del 2012, JASEC no registraba ingreso por el financiamiento del BN (3-1-1-6-03-00-0-0-000) ni del BCR (3-1-1-6-04-00-0-0-000). Para el 2012 se previó utilizar ¢1.000.0 millones como crédito puente y fuente inmediata en el trámite de los desembolsos. Se desconoce si en el 2010 y el 2011 se presentaron desembolsos por parte de ambos bancos. Nótese la diferencia relativa entre los montos de préstamos y los desembolsos, para cada uno de los bancos.

Aunque para el 2013, JASEC no prevé la formalización de nuevos créditos, el endeudamiento en JASEC se “viene utilizando como herramienta” para el financiamiento de inversiones. En el 2012, el presupuesto de inversiones es de ¢15.502.4 millones, un 29% del total del presupuesto, que se financia en un 88.5% con créditos formalizados. El monto de la deuda es de ¢8.057.2 millones. Dentro de esas inversiones se encuentra la “Red de Comunicación Fibra Óptica”.

En términos de costos consolidados, para el 2011 fueron de 8.858.1 millones, mientras que los del 2012 fueron un 5% menor: 8.858.1 millones. A pesar que JASEC sostuvo que los “costos de la deuda, operación y mantenimiento que genera el Proyecto de Red de Comunicación-Fibra Óptica se autofinancian”, sin embargo, para el 2012, “los costos de generación, operación y mantenimiento del Sistema de Distribución incorpora como nueva actividad la Red de Comunicaciones”. Un informe reciente, a junio del 2012, señala que los gastos de operación asociados a este proyecto alcanzarán los 713.204.365, sin que se hayan generado ingresos efectivos, sin título habilitante y con préstamos y contratos acordados.

Debe tomarse en cuenta que tanto el negocio de la electricidad como el de las telecomunicaciones depende de las tarifas cobradas a sus abonados o a sus clientes.

Finalmente, a pesar de los retrasos en la ejecución del contrato con TFO y la caducidad del título habilitante, para JASEC, en junio del 2012, “que en cuanto al cronograma, prácticamente no ha variado en nada al que se está presentando el día, desprendiéndose que la única variación corresponde al tema de título habilitante”. Es imposible que el cronograma de un proyecto que se inició en el 2009, con los atrasos acumulados, no haya variado en nada.

Última actualización: 6 de julio del 2012. Presentación inicial del tema

wfc

Costa Rica: Equity and Efficiency of Education (World Bank)

2012-05-02T09:36:00.001-06:00

The objectives of the Project are to: (a) reduce education quality gaps in Costa Rica primary and secondary education system in rural areas; and (b) improve the equity and efficiency in the allocation, administration and use of the Borrower#s education sector resources.

Implementation has continued improving over the last 6 months: Component 1 (school infrastructure in rural indigenous areas) is well underway. Contracts worth about $10 million to build 58 new schools (47 primary and 11 secondary) have been completed With respect to Component 2, three key consultancies are in progress with the objective of improving the management of equity programs, the management of administrative school councils and the organizational model of the equity programs unit. Component 3 has started implementation recently with several consultancies, mainly related with inter-cultural education.

Costa Rica: Equity and Efficiency of Education

National Global Change Research Plan 2012-2021: A Strategic Plan for the U. S. Global Change Research Program

2012-05-02T08:43:00.000-06:00

Click here to view/print a two-page fact sheet about the USGCRP Strategic Plan.

Strategic Planning

Tax evasion: Pressure to end tax evasion grows as the Global Forum publishes new reviews

2012-04-05T13:18:00.000-06:00

05/04/2012 - The Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes has just completed peer reviews of another 11 jurisdictions.

Reports on Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Guatemala, Malta,Mexico, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Slovak Republic evaluate whether their national laws allow transparency and international exchange of tax information (Phase 1). The review of Korea also looked at the effectiveness of Korea’s exchange of information in practice (Phase 1 plus Phase 2). These reports bring to a total of 70 the number of peer review the Global Forum has completed since March 2010.

The Global Forum also issued 3 supplementary reports - for Barbados, Bermuda and Qatar – which assess the whether these jurisdictions have acted upon the Forum’s recommendations to improve agreements and legislation. All three jurisdictions’ compliance with the international standards has progressing significantly. The Phase 2 reviews for Bermuda and Qatar will take place in the second half of 2012 and for Barbados in the first half of 2013.

These in depth reviews identify deficiencies and make recommendations on how the jurisdictions should address these concerns. The legal and regulatory framework is improving quickly in many jurisdictions. Previously, 11 jurisdictions were not able to move to the second phase in the review process. As a result of work by Barbados to establish a network of international agreements to underpin information exchange in tax matters, Barbados can now move to its Phase 2 review.

The reports of Costa Rica and Guatemala, however, conclude that they will not yet move to the next stage of the review process because the deficiencies in their legal frameworks are serious. This will be reconsidered once reports on their progress are received.

Outcomes of the 14 Reports

Report on the legal framework and on its application (Phase 1 and 2)

Korea: Korea has long been negotiating tax treaties and now has an extensive network of bilateral agreements that provide for exchange of information (EOI) in tax matters with 86 jurisdictions. Korea’s legal framework ensures the availability of banking information as well as ownership and accounting information for companies, partnerships and trusts, although improvements are needed for information pertaining to holders of bearer shares. Korea’s network of EOI agreements, as well as its tax authorities’ broad powers to gather information, ensure effective exchange of information with a large number of jurisdictions. The report also highlights steps taken by Korea over the last two years which have lead to measurable improvements in Korea’s capacities to answer incoming requests received from other jurisdictions in a timely manner. See the EOI Portal page for Korea: http://www.eoi-tax.org/jurisdictions/KR.

Reports on the legal framework (Phase 1)

Brazil: The legal and regulatory framework for the exchange of tax information in Brazil is in place. Brazil has a network of EOI agreements with 34 jurisdictions, but some gaps remain with regards to older treaties due to restrictions in the conventions, combined or not with restrictions in its treaty partners’ domestic laws. The review recommends that Brazil move more quickly from signing EOI agreements to bringing them into force, speeding up the process which at present can take up to 2 years. Brazil also signed the multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters during the G20 Summit in November 2011, confirming its commitment to the internationally agreed standard. Brazil’s response to the recommendations made in this review, as well as the application of the legal framework in practice, will be considered in detail in the Phase 2 Peer Review of Brazil which is scheduled for the first half of 2012. See the EOI Portal page for Brazil: http://www.eoi-tax.org/jurisdictions/BR.

Chile: The legal and regulatory framework for the availability of information in Chile is in place to a large extent. Though some procedural aspects need improvement, legislation passed in 2009 allows full exchange of bank information so Chilean tax authorities have access powers to all relevant information. Chile has a network of agreements that provide for exchange of information in tax matters to 27 partner jurisdictions of which 25 meet the standard. Chile also continues negotiating new DTCs and recently started negotiating TIEAs. Chile’s response to the recommendations in this report, as well as the application of the legal framework to the practices of its competent authority will be considered in detail in the Phase 2 Peer Review of Chile, which is scheduled for the second half of 2013. See the EOI Portal page for Chile: http://www.eoi-tax.org/jurisdictions/CL.

Costa Rica: Though Costa Rica has signed 13 new TIEAs and a Mutual Convention is in effect with Guatemala and Honduras, it’s domestic laws might hamper effective exchange of information. In particular, ownership and accounting information related to companies, partnerships and trusts is not always available and the tax administration has insufficient powers to access information requested by foreign counterparts. As none of Costa Rica’s EOI agreements therefore meet global standards and a number of elements crucial to effective exchange of information are not yet in place, Costa Rica will not move to a Phase 2 Review until it acts on the recommendations made in this review. Costa Rica will report back on the steps taken to address the recommendations made in this review within 6 months. See the EOI Portal page for Costa Rica:http://www.eoi-tax.org/jurisdictions/CR.

Cyprus: Cyprus has a network of DTCs covering 44 jurisdictions and it also exchanges tax information with other EU members. Its DTCs generally contain provisions which allow Cyprus to exchange all foreseeably relevant information. However, deficiencies have been identified regarding the availability of ownership and accounting information, and the review recommends changes to address these. The report also recommends improvements in the EOI network to ensure Cyprus has agreements to the standard with all relevant partners and will enact appropriate legislation to give effect to these agreements in all cases. Cyprus’ response to the recommendations made in this review, as well as the application of the legal framework and the implementation of the international standard in practice, will be considered in detail in the Phase 2 review of Cyprus, which is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2012. See the EOI Portal page for Cyprus:http://www.eoi-tax.org/jurisdictions/CY.

Czech Republic: Almost all the Czech Republic’s large network of 87 agreements are in force and in line with the international standard. In addition, it exchanges tax information with other EU members under EU instruments. Some gaps exist however with regards to the availability of ownership information on foreign companies in the Czech Republic. More significantly, there is insufficient information on the owners of bearer shares issued by public limited companies. The Czech Republic’s response to the recommendations made in this review, as well as the application of the legal framework and the implementation of the international standard in practice, will be considered in detail in the Phase 2 review of the Czech Republic, which is scheduled to commence in the first half of 2013. The Czech Republic will report back on the steps taken to address the recommendations made in this review within 6 months. See the EOI Portal page for the Czech Republic http://www.eoi-tax.org/jurisdictions/CZ.

Guatemala: Guatemala is party to a Multilateral Convention which provides for exchange of information on request in tax matters between Guatemala, Costa Rica and Honduras and it is in the process of negotiating agreements with 15 other jurisdictions. However, due to restrictions in Guatemala’s domestic law, it has no agreements that provide for effective exchange of information with its partners. The tax authority does not have adequate powers to access information and ownership information is not always available for foreign companies, foreign partnerships or foreign trusts active in Guatemala. As a number of elements which are crucial to achieving effective exchange of information are not in place, Guatemala will not move to a Phase 2 Review until it has acted on the recommendations made in this review. Guatemala will report back on the steps taken to address the recommendations made in this review within 6 months. See the EOI Portal page for Guatemala: http://www.eoi-tax.org/jurisdictions/GT.

Malta: The legal and regulatory framework for exchange of information in Malta is in place. Ownership and identity information, as well as accounting information, is maintained by entities in line with the international standard. In addition, a lot of information must be filed with the government authorities, in particular the tax authorities and the commercial register. Full banking information is available in Malta, including records of all transactions. Malta has committed to the international standards of transparency and effective exchange of information. It has a broad network of 66 treaties, almost all of which conform to the international standard, and continues to expand its network of agreements. Malta’s response to recommendations made in its review as well as the application of its legal framework in practice, will be considered in detail in the Phase 2 Peer Review which is scheduled for the second half of 2012. See the EOI Portal page for Malta:http://www.eoi-tax.org/jurisdictions/MT.

Mexico: Mexico has signed DTCs and TIEAs with 60 jurisdictions, the large majority of which are currently in force and allow Mexico to exchange information in line with the international standard. Mexico is in advanced stages of negotiation of DTCs and TIEAs with further jurisdictions, mostly Global Forum members, including OECD and G20 members. Mexico has a strong legal framework which ensures the availability of banking information as well as ownership and accounting information for companies and partnerships, though information is not always available for those foreign trusts which are administered in Mexico or in respect of which a trustee is resident in Mexico. Mexico’s response to the recommendations made in its review, as well as the application of its legal framework in practice, will be considered in detail in the Phase 2 Peer Review of Mexico, which is scheduled for the second half of 2013. See the EOI Portal page for Mexico: http://www.eoi-tax.org/jurisdictions/MX.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: The legal and regulatory framework for transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes is largely in place for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with regard to the availability of ownership and bank information and authorities have the power to access such information. It has also built up a good network of EOI agreements and can currently exchange information with 22 relevant partners. The review notes one main deficiency - the unavailability of accounting information for international business companies. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ response to the recommendations made in its review, as well as the application of its legal framework in practice, will be considered in detail in its Phase 2 Peer Review, which is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2013. See the EOI Portal page for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: http://www.eoi-tax.org/jurisdictions/VC.

Slovak Republic: The Slovak Republic has a well developed legal framework for exchange of information for tax purposes. It has also built up an extensive network of EOI agreements, most of which are in line with the international standard, allowing it to exchange information with 62 jurisdictions. The review’s key concerns relate to the unavailability of ownership and accounting information for foreign trusts with Slovak-resident trustees and the wide scope of professional privilege for tax advisors and lawyers which may limit the tax administration’s access to needed information. The Slovak Republic’s response to the recommendations made in its review, as well as the application of its legal framework in practice, will be considered in detail in its Phase 2 Peer Review, which is scheduled to commence in the first half of 2013. See the EOI Portal page for the Slovak Republic: http://www.eoi-tax.org/jurisdictions/SK.

Supplementary Reports

Barbados: This supplementary report assesses the new exchange of information instruments signed by Barbados since its Phase 1 review report. As of January 2012, Barbados has EOI instruments with 37 partners, of which 16 meet the standard and another 9 will meet the standard once in force. Barbados also signed a protocol to its DTC with Canada in November 2011. Thus, Barbados now has EOI instruments to the standard with both of its prominent EOI partners and it continues to develop its exchange of information network. Given the progress made by Barbados since October 2010 to its legal and regulatory framework for transparency and exchange of information, in particular in respect of the elements that were found to be “not in place”, the Phase 2 review of Barbados will take place, in accordance with the schedule of reviews adopted by the Global Forum, during the first half of 2013. See the EOI Portal page for Barbados:http://www.eoi-tax.org/jurisdictions/BB.

Bermuda: This report assesses the new exchange of information instruments signed by Bermuda as well as steps it has taken to clarify existing agreements and some legislative amendments. As of January 2012, Bermuda has 30 EOI agreements, 20 of which are in force, the large majority of which are in line with the international standard. Bermuda has passed legislation to ensure that search and seizure powers are available to obtain information requested by its EOI partners. Bermuda is encouraged to continue to review and update its legal and regulatory framework in line with the remaining recommendations made in the 2010 Report, particularly as concerns the availability of ownership and accounting information. All further developments in the legal and regulatory framework, as well as the application of its framework in practice, will be considered in detail in the Phase 2 Peer Review which is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2012. See the EOI Portal page for Bermuda: http://www.eoi-tax.org/jurisdictions/BM.

Qatar: Qatar’s authorities have responded to the recommendations of the Phase 1 report by clarifying their access powers through a new regulation to the tax law and by providing a legal opinion from the QFC authority regarding the scope of their trust laws. Consequently, the recommendations made in the Phase 1 report are considered to be addressed in their entirety. As the only concerns with Qatar’s EOI agreements arose from this access powers issue, Qatar is now considered to have EOI agreements which provide for international exchange of information in line with the international standard. Since the Phase 1 report was prepared, Qatar has signed 7 double tax agreements and one protocol to one of its existing agreements. Any further developments in the legal and regulatory framework, as well as the application of its framework in practice, will be considered in detail in the Phase 2 Peer Review which is scheduled for the second half of 2012. See the EOI Portal page for Qatar: http://www.eoi-tax.org/jurisdictions/QA.

More information about the Global Forum:

Background Information Brief for Journalists
Website of the Global Forum: www.oecd.org/tax/transparency
Exchange of Information Portal: www.eoi-tax.org –

Disclosure of Assets and Income by Public Officials Is Crucial to Curbing Corruption, Finds New StAR Study

2012-04-04T20:21:00.002-06:00

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2012 -- Disclosure by public officials of their income, assets and interests should be mandated if the fight against corruption is to succeed, according to a study released today by the Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative of the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

The first global study of financial disclosure laws and practices, “Public Office, Private Interests: Accountability through Income and Asset Disclosure” calls for renewed commitment to income and asset disclosure to deter the use of public office for private gain and to help manage actual and apparent conflicts of interest in the public sector. The study also finds that asset disclosure systems are more effective when there is a credible threat that violations will be detected and punished.

“Citizens want officials to be honest about their income and assets, to ensure that they are not looting the public coffers or accumulating ill-gotten wealth,” said Jean Pesme, Stolen Asset Recovery Coordinator. “This helps build a climate of integrity and trust towards senior public officials.” Recent cases involving large-scale looting of assets have also shown that effective Income and Asset Declaration Systems can be a crucial tool for countries in detecting and recovering such assets.

The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which came into force in 2003 and has been ratified or acceded to by 159 countries, calls on its States Parties to establish effective financial disclosure systems for public officials, as well as to consider sharing resulting information with relevant authorities in other States. The study aims to close the implementation gap on this critical UNCAC requirement. Among the topics it addresses are the difficult questions around the objectives and scope of a financial disclosure requirement, approaches to verification, sanctions and enforcement, and the often controversial subject of public access to disclosure information. It also makes the case that context matters, and provides practical recommendations on tailoring income and asset disclosure regimes to different country contexts.

“We hope that this critical study will not only help governments design and implement effective income and asset declaration systems but also drive advocacy to challenge policy-makers who might be reluctant to create or improve disclosure systems in their countries. We also have to remember that income and asset disclosure systems cannot function in isolation and need to be part of a country’s broader anti-corruption framework,” saidFrancesa Recanatini, Public Sector Specialist at the World Bank.

The study is based on analysis by the World Bank’s Public Accountability Mechanism (PAM) initiative of disclosure laws in 88 countries and eleven case studies which will be published in a companion volume later this year.

To access the report, please visit www.worldbank.org/star

About StAR

The Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR) is a partnership between the World Bank Group and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime that supports international efforts to end safe havens for corrupt funds. StAR works with developing countries and financial centers to prevent the laundering of the proceeds of corruption and to facilitate more systematic and timely return of stolen assets.

La declaración de activos e ingresos, por parte de altos funcionarios públicos, reviste decisiva importancia para poner coto a la corrupción, según un nuevo estudio de la Iniciativa para la Recuperación de Activos Robados

2012-04-04T20:13:00.002-06:00

Comunicado de prensa Nº:2012/360/FPD

CIUDAD DE WASHINGTON, 28 de marzo de 2012. La declaración, por parte de altos funcionarios públicos, de sus ingresos, activos e intereses debería ser preceptiva, para librar con éxito la lucha contra la corrupción, según un estudio dado a conocer en el día de hoy por la Iniciativa para la Recuperación de Activos Robados emprendida por el Banco Mundial y la Oficina de las Naciones Unidas contra la Droga y el Delito. En este primer estudio mundial sobre leyes y prácticas de declaración de información financiera, titulado “Public Office, Private Interests: Accountability through Income and Asset Disclosure”, se recomienda un renovado compromiso en materia de declaración de ingresos y activos, como disuasivo del uso de cargos públicos en provecho privado y para manejar conflictos de intereses —reales y aparentes— en el sector público. En él se concluye asimismo que los sistemas de declaración de activos son más eficaces si los infractores están directamente expuestos a un riesgo de detección y castigo por las transgresiones que cometan. “Los ciudadanos quieren que las autoridades actúen honestamente en relación con sus ingresos activos, como garantía de que no saqueen las arcas públicas o acumulen riquezas mal habidas”, señaló Jean Pesme, coordinador de Recuperación de Activos Robados, “lo que contribuye a crear un entorno de integridad y de confianza en los funcionarios públicos de alta jerarquía”. Casos recientes relacionados con sustracción en gran escala de activos han demostrado también que un eficaz sistema de declaración de ingresos y activos puede constituir un instrumento de decisiva importancia para que los países detecten y recuperen esos activos. La Convención de las Naciones Unidas contra la Corrupción, que entró en vigencia en 2003 y ha sido objeto de ratificación o adhesión por 159 países, insta a sus Estados partes a establecer eficaces sistemas de declaración de información financiera para altos funcionarios públicos, y a considerar la posibilidad de intercambiar la información consiguiente con autoridades competentes de otros Estados. En el estudio se procura llenar el vacío de implementación en esa esfera crítica de los requisitos de la Convención. Los temas que abarca son, entre otros, las arduas cuestiones que giran en torno a los objetivos y al alcance de los sistemas de declaración financiera preceptiva, los enfoques en materia de verificación, las sanciones y los mecanismos de aplicación coercitiva, y el tema, con frecuencia polémico, del acceso público a la información. En él se sostiene que las cuestiones de contexto son significativas, y se formulan recomendaciones prácticas sobre adaptación de los regímenes de declaración de ingresos y activos a los diferentes contextos nacionales. “Esperamos que este estudio crítico no sólo ayude a los gobiernos a diseñar y aplicar eficaces sistemas de declaración de ingresos y activos, sino que además incite a adoptarlos a responsables de políticas que puedan mostrarse reacios a crear o mejorar sistemas de ese género en sus países. Debemos recordar también que tales sistemas no pueden funcionar aisladamente: deben formar parte del más amplio marco anticorrupción de un país”, afirmóFrancesa Recanatini, especialista en Sector Público del Banco Mundial. El estudio se basó en análisis realizados por la iniciativa del Mecanismo de Responsabilidad Pública del Banco Mundial sobre las leyes de declaración vigentes en 88 países y en 11 estudios de casos que se publicarán en un volumen complementario en el presente año. Para obtener acceso al informe, sírvase visitar www.worldbank.org/star Acerca de la Iniciativa para la Recuperación de Activos Robados La Iniciativa para la Recuperación de Activos Robados representa una alianza entre el Grupo del Banco Mundial y la Oficina de las Naciones Unidas contra la Droga y el Delito, que respalda programas internacionales tendientes a eliminar los refugios seguros para fondos provenientes de actos de corrupción. La iniciativa realiza una labor en común con países en desarrollo y centros financieros con el fin de prevenir el lavado del producto de esos actos y facilitar una devolución más sistemática y oportuna de los activos robados.

World Bank. Costa Rica Higher Education - P123146

2012-04-02T10:36:00.000-06:00

The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve access and quality, to increase investments in innovation and scientific and technologic development, as well as to upgrade institutional management in Costa Rica’s public higher education system.

The Project will achieve its development objective through the implementation of the following two components. Component 1. Institutional Improvement Agreements (AMIs) (Total: US$236.3 million; Bank: US$200 million; Universities: US$36.3 million). The objective of this Component would be: (a) to help public universities increase access by investing in infrastructure for teaching, learning and research; (b) to increase the quality of higher education by, among others, upgrading faculty qualifications toward accreditation; (c) to increase relevance in higher education by focusing resources on key priority disciplines that are critical to respond to the challenge of increasing country competitiveness; and (d) to strengthen public universities’ management capacity and accountability, by enabling them to develop a culture: (i) of strategic long-term planning, including the formulation of an institutional mission, vision and strategy; and (ii) of measurement, target setting, accountability, monitoring and evaluation that could lead to further performance-based financing innovations.

Component 2. Strengthening institutional capacity for quality enhancement (Total: US$17 million; Bank: US$0 million; Government and CONARE: US$17 million). The objective of this Component would be to promote the development of strategic activities with a system-wide scope in order to support the objectives of Component 1. By strengthening some key elements of the overall higher education system in Costa Rica, this Component would play an important role in achieving the PDO.(1990) “Plato and Archytas in the Seventh Letter,” Phronesis 35.2: 159–74

World Bank. Costa Rica Higher Education - P123146

New FAO Statistical Yearbook links figures to trends

2012-03-20T10:49:00.000-06:00

20 March 2012, Rome - Keeping track of statistics related to food and agriculture is an important part of efforts to reduce hunger and foster development. Making those numbers more accessible and meaningful to people who need to use them is the idea behind the newly revised FAO Statistical Yearbook.

The yearbook, the foremost collection and reference point for statistical data on food and agriculture, provides a snapshot of related economic, environmental and social trends and issues. It breaks down a myriad of numbers gathered from around the world into four broad thematic categories: the state of the agricultural resource base; hunger dimensions; feeding the world; and sustainability.

Each section of the yearbook is accompanied by background and narrative text, charts, maps and references to additional publications, all of which offer a broader and more in-depth look at a wide range of topics.

Examples of issues examined in the publication include the pressure placed on land and water resources by agriculture, such as overuse and pollution; the potential impact of women's lack of access to agricultural tools and land on national economic and social development; the status of investment in agriculture; the spectrum of malnutrition; food wastage and losses; agriculture and environmental sustainability; and food price volatility.

"The yearbook is a ‘one-stop shop' for all statistical indicator needs. This new product helps researchers, policy-makers, NGOs, journalists — whoever needs statistical information — to more easily narrow the focus to a particular subject and use that as a springboard to get into deeper issues," said Pietro Gennari, FAO Statistics Division Director.

"The broad sweep of this new yearbook reminds us that the eradication of hunger cannot be separated from responses to other global challenges," Gennari added.

Overall, the statistics in the yearbook reflect the growing recognition among governments, donor agencies and others that agriculture must be the mainstay of any development agenda and economic growth policies.

As the sector is intertwined with almost every topic on the development agenda, a major challenge is to capture and monitor the multiple roles of agriculture. This is especially pertinent in developing countries, which account for 98 percent of the world's hungry, and where agriculture remains central to national economies.

The publication also helps to deepen understanding about how the much-needed increases in agricultural productivity must be weighed against broader social and environmental costs, in order to achieve truly sustainable development.

FAO Statistical Yearbook

Prefeasibility Study of an ASEAN Rice Futures Market

2012-03-20T10:34:00.003-06:00

This report presents a prefeasibility study of a rice futures market in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Following are the main points of the study:

Economic benefits. The general consensus among potential exchanges (Singapore Mercantile Exchange and Singapore Exchange), existing exchanges (Agricultural Futures Exchange of Thailand and Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange), Thai Rice Exporters Association members, and international trading houses is that an ASEAN-based rice futures contract would provide two important economic benefits to the market: price discovery and price risk management. ASEAN rice markets are currently opaque and a futures contract could help increase market price transparency to aid all market participants in marketing and production decisions. Representatives of the international trading houses who were interviewed confirmed the hedging need for a liquid rice futures contract.

Limitations of futures markets. Futures markets have a limited role in stabilizing prices across multiple years or seasons. In effect, they reflect current and expected future supply and demand conditions, and if those conditions result in higher or more volatile cash prices, futures prices will also be higher and more volatile. In this sense, futures markets are not a panacea for removing all market price volatility.

Necessary cash market characteristics. Past studies have identified several important cash market characteristics needed to promote the success of a futures contract:

(i) Adequate cash price volatility. The regional/international ASEAN rice market is characterized by high levels of price volatility. Prices must be volatile to create hedging needs and attract speculators. On the other hand, government intervention policies, across many countries in the ASEAN region, have been specifically designed to stabilize domestic price levels. Such policies are direct substitutes for a futures contract and, if successful, negate the need for a futures contract. Thus, under this criterion, a regional contract serving the highly volatile international market would have the greatest chance of success.

(ii) A large competitive and well-defined underlying cash market that lends itself to standardization. Neither domestic nor regional/international ASEAN rice markets meet these criteria. The regional and international markets are thinly traded by a few private traders and a significant amount of trade occurs directly between governments. Both exchange and international trading house representatives interviewed expressed concern that the potential hedging pool (users of the contract) was not large enough to create enough liquidity in a contract.

In addition, the market is highly segmented between different rice varieties and there is a lack of international grading standards to measure and standardize variety and quality differences. Both exchange and international trading house representatives

Andrew McKenzie No. 19. March 2012ADB Sustainable Development Working Paper Series Prefeasibility

Prefeasibility Study of an ASEAN Rice Futures Market

OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050: The Consequences of Inaction

2012-03-16T10:22:00.000-06:00

Humanity has witnessed unprecedented growth and prosperity in the past decades, with the size of the world economy more than tripling and population increasing by over 3 billion people since 1970. This growth, however, has been accompanied by environmental pollution and natural resource depletion. The current growth model and the mismanagement of natural assets could ultimately undermine human development.

The OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050 asks “What will the next four decades bring?” Based on joint modelling by the OECD and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), it looks forward to the year 2050 to find out what demographic and economic trends might mean for the environment if the world does not adopt more ambitious green policies. It also looks at what policies could change that picture for the better.

This Outlook focuses on four areas: climate change, biodiversity, freshwater and health impacts of pollution. These four key environmental challenges were identified by the previous Environmental Outlook to 2030 (OECD, 2008) as “Red Light” issues requiring urgent attention. Based on model projections, this edition of the Environmental Outlook paints a possible picture of what the environment might look like in 2050. It focuses on four areas which were identified by the previous edition of the Outlook as needing urgent attention: climate change, biodiversity, water, and health and environment.

Executive Summary

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2. Socioeconomic Developments

Chapter 3. Climate Change

Chapter 4. Biodiversity

Chapter 5. Water

Chapter 6. Health and Environment

Annex: Modelling Framework

Highlights (English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese and other languages)
Key Facts and Figures

Health financing in Ghana at a crossroads. Draft Final Report January 2012

2012-03-06T12:12:00.000-06:00

This Report reviews Ghana’s health financing system with a special emphasis on its National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Such an assessment is important since Ghana is often considered a global ‘good practice’ as it is one of only a handful of African emerging market countries to actively start implementing universal health insurance coverage by providing formal coverage to its vulnerable population groups. Ghana’s NHIS has evolved rapidly by transitioning its existing community health insurance schemes into a national health insurance program supported by significant amounts of earmarked national government revenues.

In addition to the global interest in the Ghana ‘model’, this review is timely in view of a recent critique of the system and call to abandon it in favor of a National Health Service (NHS) as well as the availability of several new and updated sources of information on: total health spending, inputs, outcomes, household spending, and the macro economy. The study also undertakes for the first time an extensive international benchmarking analysis; assesses the financial protection/equity of the system at both macro and micro levels; and, contains an extensive fiscal space analysis based on Ghana’s new macroeconomic realities (i.e., a 60+ percent higher (Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as of November 2010).

The study focuses on structural and operational reforms of Ghana’s health financing system in terms of its performance to date and future available fiscal space. The report addresses five key areas:

1. It provides the essential background on: demographic and epidemiological trends; the configuration of Ghana’s health system, health financing functions and health systems goals; and, a brief description of Ghana’s health financing system.

2. The study assesses the performance of Ghana’s health system with respect to these goals through international comparisons of health outcomes, inputs, health spending, and financial protection as well as time series comparisons of trends in neighboring countries.

3. Based on this assessment and the significant body of Ghana-specific health policy literature, the report analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of Ghana’s health system, thereby providing Ghana’s health policy reform baseline.

4. The sustainability of the NHIS in the context of Ghana’s future potential fiscal space, based on revised macroeconomic information positioning Ghana as a lower middle income country (LMIC), is analyzed.

5. Major structural and operational reform options for the NHIS to assure its long-term efficacy and sustainability are then discussed.

World Bank.Document Date: 2012/01/01. Document Type: Other Health Study. Report Number: 67325. Volume No: 1 of 1

Health financing in Ghana at a crossroads. Draft Final Report January 2012 x

A health sector in transition to universal coverage in Ghana

2012-03-06T12:09:00.002-06:00

What are Ghana’s health, nutrition and population challenges as it continues its transition to universal health insurance coverage?

1. Ghana has come a long way in improving health outcomes and it performs reasonably well when compared to the other countries in Sub-saharan Africa (SSA). However, when its health outcomes are compared to other countries globally with similar incomes and health spending levels, its performance is more mixed. Ghana’s health outcome performances, in terms of child health and maternal health, are worse than the levels found in other comparable lower middle income and health spending countries, but life expectancy is better.

2. Ghana’s demographic profile is changing, and demographic, epidemiological, and nutrition transitions are well underway. The dependency ratio is expected to be favorably affected by the expanding large numbers of individuals entering the labor force, while fertility albeit still high continues to decline. It is the right time for Ghana to take advantage of this potential demographic dividend. Taking appropriate steps to improve employment opportunities is critical or else the country will face economic pressures as well as political unrest.

3. Unmet needs are high, and contraceptive prevalence is low. Efforts are required to sustain the momentum of a declining population. Families want the ability to space births or to have fewer children, but often do not have the means to control their pregnancy patterns. Better access to contraceptives would have multiple effects: it would positively affect the health of women, and it would give the opportunity for improved quality of life to children.

4. There is a funding shortage for public health goods. Many public health goods, such as immunization and family planning, are generally heavily subsidized, with tax or donor financing. However, Ghana has a low allocation of public funds to meet the demands for family planning commodities. The private sector has responded somewhat to this market failure by selling family planning commodities in private pharmacies, thereby increasing supply. However, many poor are unable to afford and therefore unable to access these commodities. The government has not come up with a feasible solution to provide improved access and affordability to its population.

5. Morbidity and mortality from communicable disease (CD) are highly prevalent in Ghana, and make up fifty three percent of the disease burden. Although, cost-effective interventions are offered, a significant proportion of morbidity and mortality is still CD related. There is a need to have a fresh look at programmatic aspects. Health Systems issues and challenges are a key bottleneck. A quick reduction in CD, would free up resources for new and emerging diseases and for improving quality of care.

Author: Saleh, Karima; Document Date: 2012/01/01.Document Type: Other Health Study. Report Number: 67298

World Bank study : a health sector in transition to universal coverage in Ghana x