Alliance for Affordable Internet

Alliance for Affordable Internet
Name	Alliance for Affordable Internet
Formation	2013
Founder	Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates
Type	Non-profit organization
Purpose	Affordable internet access
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom

Alliance for Affordable Internet is a global coalition of private sector, public sector, and civil society organizations working together to make internet access more affordable for people in developing countries, in collaboration with Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Yahoo!. The organization aims to reduce the cost of internet access and increase its availability, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with the support of United Nations, World Bank, and International Telecommunication Union. By working with governments of countries such as India, Brazil, and South Africa, the Alliance for Affordable Internet seeks to promote affordable internet access as a key driver of economic growth, social development, and human rights, as emphasized by Kofi Annan, Ban Ki-moon, and António Guterres. The organization's efforts are also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, particularly SDG 9, which aims to increase access to information and communication technology, as highlighted by Melinda Gates, Bill Gates, and Jeffrey Sachs.

Introduction

The Alliance for Affordable Internet was launched in 2013 by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, and Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, with the support of Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, and Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia. The organization's founding members also included Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo!, as well as civil society organizations such as Public Knowledge and Access Now, which work closely with Electronic Frontier Foundation, Free Software Foundation, and Human Rights Watch. The Alliance for Affordable Internet is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and has regional offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with partnerships with African Union, Asian Development Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank. The organization's work is guided by a board of directors that includes representatives from Vodafone, Orange, and Telenor, as well as experts from Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

History

The Alliance for Affordable Internet was established in response to the growing recognition of the importance of internet access for economic development, social inclusion, and human rights, as highlighted by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and UNICEF. In the early 2000s, organizations such as ICANN and ISOC began to advocate for affordable internet access, with the support of European Union, African Union, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The launch of the Alliance for Affordable Internet in 2013 marked a significant milestone in this effort, as it brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to work towards a common goal, including World Economic Forum, Davos, and G20. Since its inception, the organization has worked with governments, private sector companies, and civil society organizations to promote affordable internet access, with partnerships with IBM, Cisco Systems, and Intel Corporation. The Alliance for Affordable Internet has also collaborated with international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union and the World Bank, as well as regional organizations such as the African Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank, to advance its mission.

Mission_and_Objectives

The mission of the Alliance for Affordable Internet is to make internet access more affordable and widely available, particularly in developing countries, with the support of United States Agency for International Development, UK Department for International Development, and Australian Agency for International Development. The organization's objectives include reducing the cost of internet access, increasing the availability of internet infrastructure, and promoting digital literacy, as emphasized by UNESCO, World Health Organization, and Food and Agriculture Organization. The Alliance for Affordable Internet also seeks to promote policies and regulations that support affordable internet access, such as net neutrality and open internet principles, as advocated by Federal Communications Commission, European Commission, and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. To achieve its objectives, the organization works with a range of stakeholders, including governments, private sector companies, and civil society organizations, such as Open Society Foundations, Ford Foundation, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Membership_and_Partnership

The Alliance for Affordable Internet has a diverse membership that includes private sector companies, civil society organizations, and governments, with partnerships with European Union, African Union, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The organization's members include Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Yahoo!, as well as civil society organizations such as Public Knowledge and Access Now, which work closely with Electronic Frontier Foundation, Free Software Foundation, and Human Rights Watch. The Alliance for Affordable Internet also partners with international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union and the World Bank, as well as regional organizations such as the African Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank, to advance its mission. The organization's membership and partnership model is designed to leverage the expertise and resources of its members to promote affordable internet access, with the support of Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Initiatives_and_Programs

The Alliance for Affordable Internet has launched a range of initiatives and programs to promote affordable internet access, with partnerships with IBM, Cisco Systems, and Intel Corporation. These initiatives include the Affordable Internet Program, which provides funding and technical assistance to governments and private sector companies to support the development of affordable internet infrastructure, as well as the Digital Literacy Program, which provides training and resources to promote digital literacy, with the support of UNESCO, World Health Organization, and Food and Agriculture Organization. The organization has also launched the Policy and Regulatory Program, which provides technical assistance and advocacy support to promote policies and regulations that support affordable internet access, as advocated by Federal Communications Commission, European Commission, and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The Alliance for Affordable Internet has also partnered with international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union and the World Bank to support the development of affordable internet access in developing countries, with the support of United States Agency for International Development, UK Department for International Development, and Australian Agency for International Development.

Impact_and_Achievements

The Alliance for Affordable Internet has made significant progress in promoting affordable internet access since its inception, with the support of European Union, African Union, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The organization's initiatives and programs have helped to reduce the cost of internet access and increase its availability, particularly in developing countries, as highlighted by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and UNICEF. The Alliance for Affordable Internet has also played a key role in promoting policies and regulations that support affordable internet access, such as net neutrality and open internet principles, as advocated by Federal Communications Commission, European Commission, and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The organization's work has been recognized by international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union and the World Bank, as well as regional organizations such as the African Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank, with partnerships with Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Alliance for Affordable Internet continues to work towards its mission of making internet access more affordable and widely available, with the support of United Nations, World Economic Forum, and Davos.

Category:Internet