SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 16
Download to read offline
Editorial	
  by	
  Information	
  Society	
  	
  (ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ	
  ОБЩЕСТВО)	
  
Editor	
  in	
  Chief	
  and	
  Interviews	
  with	
  Three	
  Brazilian	
  Internet	
  Leaders	
  
	
  
	
  
Table	
  of	
  Contents	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
Translation	
  to	
  English	
  of	
  Tatiana	
  Ershova’s	
  Editorial,	
  “A	
  Brazilian	
  Serial”	
  Information	
  Society	
  
(ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ	
  ОБЩЕСТВО),	
  1:2015,	
  first	
  page. ..........................................................................2	
  
	
  
	
  
You	
  Have	
  to	
  Take	
  Advantage	
  of	
  Opportunities.	
  Exclusive	
  interview	
  with	
  Dr.	
  Michael	
  Stanton	
  
by	
  Tatiana	
  Ershova,	
  ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ	
  ОБЩЕСТВО,	
  4:2014,	
  pp	
  4-­‐13	
  (original	
  english	
  
version)..........................................................................................................................................................................3	
  
	
  
	
  
We	
  need	
  to	
  preserve	
  what	
  the	
  Internet	
  has	
  brought	
  us.	
  Exclusive	
  interview	
  with	
  Demi	
  
Getschko	
  by	
  Tatiana	
  Ershova,	
  ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ	
  ОБЩЕСТВО,	
  5-­‐6:2014,	
  4-­‐7	
  (original	
  
englsh	
  version) ........................................................................................................................................................ 11	
  
	
  
	
  
It	
  is	
  important	
  to	
  preserve	
  what	
  the	
  Internet	
  has	
  brought	
  to	
  our	
  lives.	
  Exclusive	
  Interview	
  
with	
  Hartmut	
  Glaeser	
  by	
  Tatiana	
  Ershova,	
  ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ	
  ОБЩЕСТВО,	
  1:2015,	
  4-­‐6	
  
(original	
  english	
  version).................................................................................................................................... 14	
  
	
  
  2	
  
Translation	
  to	
  English	
  of	
  Tatiana	
  Ershova’s	
  Editorial,	
  “A	
  Brazilian	
  Serial”	
  
Information	
  Society	
  (ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ	
  ОБЩЕСТВО),	
  1:2015,	
  first	
  page.	
  
	
  
For	
  a	
  long	
  time	
  no	
  Brazilian	
  dramatic	
  serials	
  have	
  appeared	
  on	
  our	
  television	
  screens.	
  So	
  we	
  
decided	
  to	
  fill	
  this	
  gap	
  and	
  in	
  three	
  issues	
  of	
  our	
  journal	
  by	
  publishing	
  parts	
  of	
  the	
  new	
  book	
  by	
  
Peter	
  Knight,	
  The	
  Internet	
  in	
  Brazil:	
  Origins,	
  strategy,	
  development	
  and	
  governance."	
  We	
  did	
  so	
  
for	
   several	
   reasons.	
   Firstly,	
   he	
   is	
   one	
   of	
   the	
   world's	
   leading	
   experts	
   on	
   the	
   use	
   of	
   ICTs	
   for	
  
development;	
  secondly,	
  Brazil	
  is	
  now	
  undoubtedly	
  one	
  of	
  the	
  most	
  active	
  and	
  influential	
  players	
  
in	
   the	
   field	
   of	
   Internet	
   governance	
   at	
   the	
   international	
   level;	
   and	
   thirdly,	
   the	
   country	
   is	
   a	
  
member	
  of	
  the	
  BRICS,	
  which	
  is	
  important	
  given	
  the	
  current	
  difficult	
  political	
  situation	
  in	
  Russia.	
  
Complementing	
   the	
   articles	
   by	
   P.	
   Knight	
   are	
   exclusive	
   interviews	
   with	
   founders	
   and	
   very	
  
influential	
   figures	
   of	
   the	
   Brazilian	
   segment	
   of	
   the	
   global	
   Internet	
   –	
   Michael	
   Stanton,	
   now	
  
Director	
  of	
  Research	
  and	
  Development	
  of	
  the	
  Brazil’s	
  National	
  Education	
  and	
  Research	
  Network	
  
(RNP);	
   Demi	
   Getschko,	
   Chairman	
   of	
   the	
   Brazilian	
   Network	
   Information	
   Center	
   (NIC.br),	
   and	
  
Hartmut	
  Glaser,	
  Executive	
  Secretary	
  of	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  Internet	
  Steering	
  Committee	
  (CGI.br).	
  We	
  
hope	
   that	
   this	
   Brazilian	
   serial	
   we	
   have	
   presented	
   to	
   our	
   dear	
   readers	
   will	
   be	
   evaluated	
   as	
   a	
  
detailed	
  and	
  comprehensive	
  analysis	
  of	
  the	
  development	
  of	
  a	
  very	
  important	
  information	
  and	
  
communication	
  technology,	
  the	
  Internet,	
  in	
  a	
  friendly	
  country.	
  
Concluding	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  theme,	
  a	
  contribution	
  to	
  the	
  journal	
  that	
  has	
  acquainted	
  we	
  Russians	
  
with	
   foreign	
   names,	
   I	
   cannot	
   but	
   remember	
   famous	
   Brazilian	
   writer	
   and	
   philosopher,	
   Paulo	
  
Coelho.	
  In	
  his	
  book	
  Zaire	
  he	
  wrote:	
  "I	
  knew	
  news	
  from	
  that	
  country	
  from	
  childhood:	
  one	
  country	
  
threatens	
  another,	
  someone	
  is	
  betrayed,	
  the	
  economy	
  is	
  in	
  decline...."	
  Indeed,	
  we	
  live	
  in	
  a	
  world	
  
that	
  changes	
  little.	
  But	
  now	
  such	
  problems	
  are	
  affecting	
  us	
  directly,	
  so	
  we	
  felt	
  these	
  words	
  more	
  
strongly.	
  Let's	
  hope	
  that	
  the	
  crisis	
  will	
  end	
  and	
  then,	
  so	
  like	
  a	
  nightmare,	
  fade	
  away.	
  
In	
  the	
  meantime,	
  we	
  continue	
  to	
  do	
  our	
  job,	
  publishing	
  scientific	
  articles	
  and	
  research.	
  As	
  for	
  
the	
   Russian	
   authors	
   in	
   this	
   issue	
   of	
   the	
   journal,	
   we	
   include	
   the	
   work	
   of	
   Doctor	
   of	
   Science,	
  
Moscow	
  philosopher,	
  George	
  Smolyan,	
  on	
  key	
  concepts	
  of	
  computerization;	
  PhD	
  from	
  Kazan,	
  
Rima	
   Elizarovi,	
   of	
   the	
   National	
   Library	
   of	
   Tatarstan;	
   two	
   PhDs	
   from	
   Ekaterinburg,	
   Helena	
  
Dyakova	
   and	
   Anna	
   Trachtenberg,	
   on	
   the	
   problem	
   of	
   organizational	
   resistance	
   in	
   the	
   field	
   of	
  
information	
   health;	
   as	
   well	
   as	
   specialists	
   from	
   Ufa	
   –	
   Tagira	
   Yakubov,	
   Almaza	
   	
   Iskhakova,	
   and	
  
Alberta	
  Mannapova	
  –	
  about	
  trusted	
  networks.	
  Thus,	
  opening	
  our	
  editorial	
  portfolio	
  in	
  2015,	
  we	
  
have	
  tried,	
  as	
  promised,	
  to	
  provide	
  thematic	
  and	
  geographic	
  diversity	
  in	
  our	
  articles.	
  
EDITOR	
  IN	
  CHIEF,	
  Tatiana	
  Ershova	
  
  3	
  
You	
  Have	
  to	
  Take	
  Advantage	
  of	
  Opportunities.	
  Exclusive	
  interview	
  with	
  Dr.	
  
Michael	
  Stanton	
  by	
  Tatiana	
  Ershova,	
  ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ	
  ОБЩЕСТВО,	
  4:2014,	
  pp	
  4-­‐
13	
  
	
  
Michael	
  Stanton,	
  Director	
  for	
  Research	
  and	
  Development,	
  (Brazilian)	
  National	
  Education	
  and	
  
Research	
  Network	
  (RNP)	
  	
  
Tatiana	
   Ershova:	
   Michael,	
   I	
   know	
   that	
   you	
   participated	
   in	
   the	
   introduction	
   of	
   the	
   Internet	
   in	
  
Brazil.	
  But	
  at	
  the	
  same	
  time	
  your	
  name	
  is	
  not	
  at	
  all	
  Brazilian.	
  How	
  did	
  you	
  come	
  to	
  this	
  country	
  
and	
  what	
  was	
  your	
  mission	
  at	
  that	
  time?	
  And	
  how	
  did	
  it	
  relate	
  to	
  what	
  we	
  now	
  call	
  the	
  Internet?	
  
What	
  was	
  going	
  on	
  in	
  those	
  early	
  years	
  in	
  Brazil?	
  
Michael	
  Stanton:	
  I’m	
  originally	
  from	
  Britain,	
  and	
  came	
  to	
  Brazil	
  in	
  1971.	
  There	
  was	
  no	
  Internet	
  
at	
  that	
  time.	
  It	
  was	
  only	
  invented	
  about	
  ten	
  years	
  later.	
  So,	
  I	
  came	
  for	
  a	
  completely	
  different	
  
reason.	
  I	
  studied	
  mathematics	
  at	
  the	
  university.	
  I	
  had	
  just	
  finished	
  my	
  Ph.D.	
  and	
  I	
  had	
  spent	
  two	
  
years	
  living	
  in	
  the	
  US	
  while	
  I	
  was	
  finishing	
  my	
  thesis.	
  I	
  needed	
  a	
  job,	
  and	
  I	
  thought	
  to	
  see	
  some	
  
other	
  parts	
  of	
  the	
  world.	
  Brazil	
  was	
  on	
  my	
  list,	
  and	
  I	
  decided	
  to	
  look	
  for	
  a	
  job	
  here.	
  I	
  was	
  hired	
  to	
  
teach	
   mathematics	
   at	
   a	
   place	
   called	
   ITA	
   (Instituto	
   Tecnológico	
   de	
   Aeronáutica,	
   or	
   the	
  
Aeronautical	
  Engineering	
  Institute)	
  run	
  by	
  the	
  air	
  force	
  here,	
  in	
  a	
  town	
  an	
  hour	
  away	
  from	
  the	
  
city	
  of	
  São	
  Paulo.	
  
It	
   was	
   a	
   strange	
   time	
   to	
   arrive	
   in	
   Brazil	
   because	
   the	
   country	
   was	
   in	
   the	
   middle	
   of	
   a	
   military	
  
dictatorship.	
  The	
  military	
  had	
  taken	
  over	
  the	
  government	
  seven	
  years	
  previously,	
  and	
  stayed	
  in	
  
power	
  for	
  21	
  years.	
  It	
  was	
  part	
  of	
  a	
  series	
  of	
  similar	
  political	
  changes	
  that	
  took	
  place	
  at	
  that	
  
time.	
  You	
  are	
  probably	
  well	
  aware	
  about	
  them:	
  there	
  was	
  considerable	
  tension	
  in	
  the	
  period	
  
during	
  the	
  so-­‐called	
  Cold	
  War,	
  and	
  Latin	
  America	
  was	
  a	
  region	
  where	
  United	
  States	
  wanted	
  to	
  
make	
  sure	
  that	
  the	
  Soviet	
  Union	
  did	
  not	
  develop	
  many	
  friendships,	
  and	
  encouraged	
  the	
  military	
  
overthrow	
  of	
  many	
  governments	
  in	
  the	
  region,	
  including	
  Brazil.	
  I	
  knew	
  about	
  that	
  before	
  I	
  came	
  
to	
  Brazil,	
  but	
  I’d	
  never	
  lived	
  in	
  such	
  a	
  situation,	
  so	
  it	
  was	
  an	
  unusual	
  experience	
  for	
  me.	
  I	
  think	
  it	
  
is	
  fair	
  to	
  say	
  that	
  the	
  militarism	
  here	
  was	
  not	
  so	
  extensive	
  as	
  maybe	
  in	
  some	
  other	
  neighboring	
  
countries.	
  	
  
So	
  I	
  got	
  to	
  know	
  a	
  lot	
  of	
  people,	
  and	
  to	
  learn	
  about	
  the	
  culture	
  of	
  Brazil.	
  At	
  that	
  time,	
  Brazil	
  was	
  
considered	
  a	
  developing	
  country.	
  Today	
  it	
  is	
  developing,	
  too,	
  but	
  it	
  has	
  progressed	
  a	
  lot	
  since	
  I	
  
came	
   here,	
   forty-­‐odd	
   years	
   ago.	
   Lots	
   of	
   energy,	
   lots	
   of	
   hopes….	
   People	
   were	
   mostly	
   very	
  
enthusiastic	
  about	
  life	
  and	
  the	
  future.	
  However,	
  communications	
  were	
  very	
  bad	
  –	
  that	
  is	
  to	
  say,	
  
communications	
   in	
   terms	
   of	
   anything	
   other	
   than	
   the	
   postal	
   service.	
   Long-­‐distance	
   and	
  
  4	
  
international	
   phone	
   calls	
   were	
   made	
   by	
   operators.	
   Telephones	
   were	
   difficult	
   to	
   come	
   by	
   –	
   I	
  
waited	
  five	
  years	
  to	
  have	
  one	
  installed.	
  International	
  telephony	
  was	
  extremely	
  expensive,	
  so	
  I	
  
was	
   rather	
   cut	
   off	
   from	
   where	
   I	
   had	
   come	
   from.	
   This	
   particular	
   problem	
   was	
   solved	
  
spectacularly	
  more	
  than	
  twenty	
  years	
  later,	
  with	
  the	
  development	
  here	
  of	
  the	
  Internet.	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  What	
  was	
  the	
  first	
  large-­‐scale	
  component	
  of	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  Internet?	
  What	
  was	
  
most	
  special	
  in	
  its	
  development?	
  
Michael	
   Stanton:	
   The	
   telecommunications	
   network	
   in	
   Brazil	
   was	
   completely	
   rebuilt	
   in	
   the	
  
1970s,	
  with	
  the	
  adoption	
  of	
  digital	
  technology,	
  which	
  meant	
  that	
  you	
  could	
  do	
  things	
  like	
  direct	
  
long-­‐distance	
  dialing.	
  Communications	
  were	
  improved,	
  but	
  it	
  was	
  still	
  very	
  expensive.	
  There	
  was	
  
very	
  little	
  in	
  the	
  way	
  of	
  support	
  for	
  data	
  communication,	
  except	
  for	
  remote	
  terminals	
  connected	
  
to	
   mainframe	
   computers.	
   Machine-­‐to-­‐machine	
   communication	
   came	
   slowly,	
   based	
   on	
   old	
  
telecommunications	
  standards	
  like	
  X.25	
  (from	
  CCITT,	
  now	
  known	
  as	
  ITU-­‐T).	
  And	
  they	
  tried	
  to	
  
introduce	
   e-­‐mail	
   using	
   X.400,	
   and	
   so	
   on,	
   but	
   it	
   never	
   did	
   really	
   catch	
   on.	
   By	
   this	
   time	
   I	
   had	
  
changed	
  jobs	
  and	
  moved	
  to	
  live	
  in	
  Rio	
  de	
  Janeiro,	
  got	
  married	
  to	
  my	
  Brazilian	
  wife,	
  Virgilia,	
  and	
  
started	
  a	
  family.	
  It	
  seemed	
  my	
  future	
  would	
  be	
  in	
  Brazil.	
  	
  
In	
  the	
  new	
  job	
  I	
  was	
  working	
  from	
  the	
  beginning	
  in	
  the	
  computer	
  science	
  department,	
  and	
  we	
  
had	
  a	
  period	
  when	
  there	
  was	
  government	
  control	
  of	
  imports	
  of	
  computers.	
  They	
  tried	
  to	
  create	
  
a	
  local	
  minicomputer	
  industry	
  here.	
  So,	
  there	
  was	
  a	
  lot	
  of	
  involvement	
  of	
  universities	
  like	
  one	
  I	
  
was	
  at,	
  which	
  was	
  the	
  Catholic	
  University	
  of	
  Rio	
  de	
  Janeiro,	
  and	
  things	
  progressed,	
  but	
  slowly.	
  	
  
In	
  1985	
  the	
  military	
  government	
  came	
  to	
  an	
  end,	
  and	
  things	
  began	
  to	
  open	
  up,	
  in	
  particular,	
  the	
  
policy	
  of	
  a	
  “market	
  reserve”	
  for	
  small	
  computers	
  was	
  abandoned,	
  and	
  began	
  to	
  import	
  different	
  
technologies	
  like	
  small	
  computers	
  and	
  local	
  area	
  networks.	
  In	
  particular,	
  this	
  was	
  the	
  period	
  of	
  
the	
  adoption	
  of	
  networked	
  personal	
  computers.	
  Then,	
  suddenly	
  in	
  1986,	
  some	
  of	
  us,	
  who	
  were	
  
attentive	
  to	
  what	
  was	
  going	
  on	
  in	
  the	
  United	
  States,	
  learned	
  about	
  developments	
  in	
  large-­‐scale	
  
networking,	
   in	
   particular,	
   the	
   introduction	
   by	
   NSF	
   (the	
   National	
   Science	
   Foundation)	
   of	
   the	
  
NSFNET	
  in	
  1985.	
  This	
  served	
  as	
  a	
  great	
  example	
  for	
  us	
  of	
  the	
  things	
  that	
  we	
  didn’t	
  have	
  and	
  that	
  
could	
  be	
  of	
  use,	
  particularly	
  for	
  the	
  universities.	
  	
  
As	
   I	
   mentioned,	
   the	
   postal	
   service	
   was	
   our	
   main	
   means	
   of	
   communication,	
   and	
   when	
   you	
  
learned	
   that	
   you	
   could	
   do	
   instantaneous	
   communication	
   of	
   information	
   using	
   computer	
  
networks,	
  then	
  it	
  became	
  very	
  clear	
  that	
  it	
  would	
  be	
  a	
  very	
  revolutionary	
  change	
  for	
  Brazil,	
  to	
  
bring	
  this	
  kind	
  of	
  technology	
  here	
  and	
  to	
  aid	
  in	
  establishing	
  much	
  closer	
  collaboration,	
  not	
  only	
  
within	
  the	
  country,	
  but	
  also	
  between	
  Brazil	
  and	
  rest	
  of	
  the	
  world,	
  which,	
  as	
  we	
  have	
  seen,	
  was	
  
very	
   limited	
   at	
   that	
   time.	
   So	
   we	
   started	
   discussing	
   within	
   the	
   scientific	
   community	
   how	
   this	
  
could	
  be	
  done,	
  and	
  some	
  government	
  bodies	
  also	
  became	
  involved.	
  Three	
  years	
  later	
  we	
  had	
  a	
  
national	
   academic	
   network	
   project	
   underway,	
   financed	
   by	
   the	
   federal	
   government.	
   It	
   took	
  
another	
   three	
   years	
   before	
   it	
   delivered	
   its	
   first	
   network,	
   but	
   by	
   then	
   we	
   already	
   had	
   gained	
  
something	
  like	
  four	
  years	
  of	
  experience	
  with	
  the	
  BITNET	
  network,	
  which	
  was	
  essentially	
  an	
  e-­‐
mail	
  network.	
  	
  
In	
   1992	
   we	
   launched	
   our	
   own	
   national	
   academic	
   network,	
   connected	
   to	
   the	
   global	
   Internet,	
  
delivered	
  by	
  a	
  project	
  called	
  National	
  Research	
  Network	
  (Rede	
  Nacional	
  de	
  Pesquisa	
  –	
  RNP)	
  that	
  
later	
  became	
  the	
  organization	
  I	
  currently	
  work	
  for.	
  Now	
  it	
  is	
  called	
  the	
  National	
  Education	
  and	
  
Research	
  Network,	
  with	
  great	
  emphasis	
  on	
  higher	
  education.	
  It	
  is	
  usual	
  here,	
  and	
  most	
  likely	
  
elsewhere	
  too,	
  that	
  you	
  have	
  to	
  take	
  advantage	
  of	
  opportunities,	
  and	
  we	
  did	
  so.	
  A	
  global	
  United	
  
Nations	
  conference	
  on	
  ecology	
  and	
  development	
  was	
  to	
  be	
  held	
  in	
  in	
  Rio	
  de	
  Janeiro	
  in	
  1992,	
  and	
  
this	
  was	
  chosen	
  as	
  the	
  opportunity	
  for	
  the	
  introduction	
  of	
  Internet	
  connectivity	
  to	
  Brazil.	
  This	
  
  5	
  
connectivity	
   did	
   not	
   go	
   away	
   after	
   the	
   conference:	
   1992	
   was	
   year	
   zero	
   for	
   our	
   life	
   on	
   the	
  
Internet.	
  	
  
You	
  asked	
  what	
  was	
  special	
  about	
  the	
  development	
  of	
  the	
  first	
  large-­‐scale	
  component	
  of	
  the	
  
Brazilian	
  Internet.	
  Well,	
  it	
  was	
  designed	
  after	
  studying	
  the	
  experiences	
  of	
  other	
  countries.	
  The	
  
other	
  thing	
  was	
  that	
  planning	
  was	
  very	
  important.	
  There	
  was	
  a	
  very	
  effective	
  team	
  planning	
  the	
  
development	
  of	
  this	
  network,	
  seeking	
  widespread	
  support	
  from	
  government	
  entities	
  all	
  over	
  the	
  
country.	
  We	
  have	
  a	
  federal	
  structure	
  of	
  government	
  in	
  Brazil.	
  There	
  are	
  26	
  state	
  governments,	
  
as	
  well	
  as	
  the	
  federal	
  government.	
  Considerable	
  effort	
  was	
  made	
  to	
  involve	
  all	
  of	
  these	
  different	
  
governments	
  in	
  providing	
  support	
  for	
  our	
  network	
  project.	
  This	
  led	
  to	
  the	
  adoption	
  of	
  a	
  specific	
  
architecture	
  for	
  the	
  national	
  network	
  with	
  just	
  one	
  point	
  of	
  presence	
  in	
  each	
  state	
  capital,	
  and	
  a	
  
second-­‐tier	
  network	
  to	
  be	
  built	
  in	
  each	
  state.	
  Unfortunately,	
  it	
  did	
  not	
  always	
  work	
  out	
  this	
  way	
  
–	
   fewer	
   than	
   half	
   the	
   states	
   implemented	
   a	
   state	
   network.	
   Nevertheless,	
   this	
   architectural	
  
model	
  has	
  been	
  maintained	
  till	
  today.	
  Obviously,	
  we	
  also	
  had	
  to	
  teach	
  people	
  what	
  they	
  could	
  
do	
  with	
  the	
  network,	
  and	
  that	
  has	
  been	
  going	
  ever	
  since.	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  For	
  a	
  certain	
  period	
  of	
  time	
  you	
  had	
  little	
  involvement	
  in	
  RNP.	
  Why	
  did	
  this	
  
happen	
  and	
  what	
  was	
  the	
  motivation	
  for	
  you	
  to	
  come	
  back	
  in	
  2001?	
  
During	
  my	
  first	
  involvement	
  in	
  RNP,	
  I	
  helped	
  to	
  set	
  up	
  RNP	
  through	
  advocating	
  the	
  benefits	
  of	
  
large-­‐scale	
  networking	
  in	
  the	
  late	
  1980s.	
  In	
  1990	
  I	
  was	
  invited	
  to	
  become	
  part	
  of	
  the	
  national	
  
coordination	
  group	
  of	
  three	
  people,	
  led	
  by	
  Tadao	
  Takahashi,	
  the	
  coordinator	
  of	
  the	
  RNP	
  project,	
  
and	
  also	
  including	
  Demi	
  Getschko,	
  coordinator	
  of	
  network	
  operations,	
  who	
  was	
  then	
  employed	
  
as	
  IT	
  manager	
  at	
  FAPESP	
  (the	
  São	
  Paulo	
  state	
  research	
  agency)	
  and	
  had	
  been	
  heavily	
  involved	
  in	
  
bringing	
  BITNET	
  to	
  Brazil	
  starting	
  in	
  1988.	
  Demi	
  is	
  still	
  very	
  active	
  in	
  Internet	
  governance	
  both	
  
nationally	
  and	
  internationally.	
  I	
  was	
  given	
  the	
  title	
  of	
  coordinator	
  of	
  research	
  and	
  development,	
  
and	
  my	
  main	
  job	
  was	
  related	
  to	
  the	
  university	
  community	
  in	
  my	
  area	
  of	
  computer	
  science.	
  I	
  
stayed	
  on	
  in	
  this	
  unpaid	
  role	
  until	
  1993,	
  one	
  year	
  after	
  the	
  network	
  was	
  launched,	
  when	
  Tadao	
  
decided	
  to	
  make	
  it	
  more	
  professional.	
  He	
  invited	
  me	
  to	
  leave	
  the	
  university	
  and	
  work	
  full-­‐time	
  
for	
  RNP,	
  but	
  I	
  said	
  I	
  did	
  not	
  want	
  to	
  do	
  that.	
  So	
  we	
  parted,	
  I	
  stayed	
  with	
  the	
  university	
  and	
  I	
  left	
  
RNP.	
  Obviously,	
  I	
  could	
  not	
  abandon	
  RNP	
  completely,	
  because	
  my	
  university	
  was	
  connected	
  and	
  
used	
  RNP	
  for	
  communications.	
  That	
  was	
  why	
  I	
  participated	
  in	
  some	
  of	
  the	
  later	
  developments,	
  
but	
  at	
  a	
  much	
  more	
  distant	
  level	
  than	
  before.	
  	
  
In	
  1995,	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  Internet	
  was	
  opened	
  up	
  to	
  the	
  whole	
  society,	
  with	
  the	
  introduction	
  of	
  
commercial	
   services.	
   Between	
   1995	
   and	
   1999	
   the	
   RNP	
   network	
   was	
   also	
   used	
   to	
   provide	
  
backbone	
  services	
  for	
  commercial	
  ISPs.	
  Tadao	
  left	
  RNP	
  at	
  the	
  end	
  of	
  1995	
  and	
  he	
  was	
  succeeded	
  
as	
  coordinator	
  by	
  José	
  Luíz	
  Ribeiro	
  Filho.	
  	
  
This	
   was	
   a	
   period	
   of	
   significant	
   changes	
   in	
   public	
   policies,	
   with	
   large-­‐scale	
   privatization	
   of	
  
existing	
  state-­‐run	
  activities,	
  particularly	
  telecommunications	
  in	
  1998.	
  This	
  led	
  to	
  the	
  emergence	
  
of	
  a	
  small	
  number	
  of	
  large	
  commercial	
  telecommunications	
  providers,	
  which	
  since	
  then	
  have	
  
dominated	
  the	
  sector.	
  This	
  had	
  strong	
  repercussions	
  for	
  the	
  growing	
  commercial	
  Internet,	
  which	
  
no	
   longer	
   needed	
   support	
   from	
   RNP.	
   Thus	
   in	
   1999,	
   RNP	
   returned	
   to	
   its	
   original	
   role	
   as	
   an	
  
academic	
  Internet	
  provider.	
  
By	
  1999,	
  RNP’s	
  situation	
  had	
  changed	
  considerably.	
  Instead	
  of	
  being	
  merely	
  a	
  project	
  of	
  Ministry	
  
of	
  Science	
  and	
  Technology	
  (MCT),	
  with	
  consequent	
  instability	
  and	
  insecurity	
  for	
  RNP	
  staff	
  and	
  
objectives,	
  a	
  non-­‐profit	
  private	
  company,	
  AsRNP	
  (Associação	
  Rede	
  Nacional	
  de	
  Ensino	
  e	
  Pesquisa	
  
or	
  National	
  Education	
  and	
  Research	
  Network	
  Association),	
  was	
  formed	
  and	
  was	
  contracted	
  by	
  
MCT	
  to	
  manage	
  the	
  national	
  network.	
  From	
  the	
  time	
  of	
  its	
  formation,	
  the	
  governing	
  body	
  of	
  
  6	
  
AsRNP	
   included	
   representatives	
   of	
   the	
   government,	
   LARC	
   (the	
   National	
   Laboratory	
   for	
  
Computer	
  Networks)	
  and	
  SBC	
  (the	
  Brazilian	
  Computing	
  Society).	
  	
  
In	
  August	
  2000,	
  José	
  Luíz	
  Ribeiro	
  Filho,	
  after	
  having	
  supervised	
  the	
  long	
  process	
  of	
  the	
  creation	
  
of	
  AsRNP	
  and	
  of	
  securing	
  its	
  financial	
  stability,	
  resigned	
  from	
  the	
  post	
  of	
  its	
  Director	
  General.	
  So	
  
there	
  was	
  a	
  vacancy,	
  and	
  somebody	
  suggested	
  my	
  name	
  as	
  a	
  candidate	
  to	
  fill	
  it.	
  I	
  went	
  along	
  
with	
  this	
  to	
  see	
  where	
  it	
  would	
  lead.	
  I	
  did	
  not	
  get	
  the	
  job	
  –	
  that	
  went	
  to	
  Nelson	
  Simões	
  da	
  Silva,	
  
who	
  had	
  worked	
  closely	
  with	
  his	
  predecessor	
  –	
  and	
  Nelson	
  invited	
  me	
  to	
  come	
  back	
  to	
  RNP	
  to	
  
work	
   with	
   him.	
   Since	
   by	
   that	
   time,	
   I	
   had	
   changed	
   universities	
   again,	
   and	
   since	
   I	
   could	
   now	
  
combine	
  this	
  new	
  activity	
  at	
  RNP	
  with	
  my	
  new	
  university	
  job,	
  I	
  was	
  quite	
  happy	
  with	
  this,	
  and	
  I	
  
have	
  been	
  at	
  RNP	
  in	
  the	
  new	
  role	
  of	
  Director	
  for	
  Research	
  and	
  Development	
  since	
  2001.	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  How	
  has	
  RNP	
  been	
  working	
  since	
  that?	
  	
  
Michael	
   Stanton:	
   The	
   relationship	
   between	
   the	
   computing	
   and	
   communications	
   research	
  
communities	
   has	
   broadened	
   and	
   deepened,	
   while	
   the	
   network	
   has	
   grown	
   and	
   its	
   uses	
  
multiplied.	
   By	
   2002,	
   AsRNP	
   had	
   been	
   formally	
   recognized	
   as	
   a	
   Social	
   Organization	
   by	
   MCT,	
  
which	
  legally	
  permitted	
  the	
  ministry	
  to	
  sign	
  long-­‐term	
  contracts	
  without	
  a	
  tender	
  process,	
  and	
  
to	
  administer	
  its	
  relations	
  with	
  AsRNP	
  in	
  a	
  similar	
  way	
  to	
  those	
  with	
  other	
  specialized	
  service-­‐
providing	
  institutions	
  (in	
  scientific	
  computing,	
  astrophysics,	
  synchrotron	
  light,	
  and	
  so	
  on)	
  which	
  
fell	
  in	
  the	
  general	
  category	
  of	
  national	
  laboratories.	
  	
  
Of	
  equal	
  importance	
  was	
  the	
  cofinancing	
  of	
  AsRNP	
  activities	
  by	
  Ministry	
  of	
  Education	
  (MEC),	
  
which	
  provided	
  by	
  far	
  the	
  largest	
  contingent	
  of	
  clients	
  of	
  the	
  national	
  network.	
  In	
  addition,	
  the	
  
national	
  network	
  had	
  been	
  restructured,	
  using	
  the	
  recently	
  introduced	
  ATM	
  and	
  Frame	
  Relay	
  
technologies,	
  that	
  permitted	
  incremental	
  adjustment	
  of	
  available	
  bandwidth.	
  This	
  new	
  network,	
  
launched	
  in	
  2000,	
  was	
  known	
  as	
  RNP2,	
  even	
  though	
  it	
  was	
  much	
  more	
  limited	
  than	
  the	
  Abilene	
  
network	
  of	
  Internet2.	
  However,	
  it	
  did	
  represent	
  a	
  significant	
  improvement	
  over	
  the	
  network	
  it	
  
replaced,	
  and	
  was	
  what	
  was	
  economically	
  feasible	
  at	
  that	
  time.	
  
Between	
  September	
  2000	
  and	
  September	
  2001,	
  when	
  he	
  was	
  confirmed	
  as	
  director	
  general	
  of	
  
AsRNP,	
   Nelson	
   Simões	
   exercised	
   this	
   post	
   in	
   an	
   interim	
   capacity.	
   At	
   the	
   request	
   of	
   MCT,	
   a	
  
workshop	
  was	
  held	
  at	
  RNP	
  headquarters	
  in	
  Rio	
  de	
  Janeiro	
  on	
  April	
  18th
,	
  2001,	
  to	
  discuss	
  the	
  
future	
  directions	
  that	
  RNP	
  should	
  follow.	
  The	
  participants	
  included	
  14	
  invitees	
  from	
  the	
  research	
  
community,	
  with	
  ten	
  from	
  networks	
  and	
  communications	
  and	
  four	
  from	
  different	
  network	
  user	
  
domains,	
  as	
  well	
  as	
  a	
  representative	
  from	
  MCT,	
  and	
  the	
  remaining	
  four	
  directors	
  of	
  AsRNP.	
  All	
  
the	
   user	
   domains	
   represented	
   (high-­‐energy	
   physics,	
   health,	
   bioinformatics,	
   climate/space	
  
studies,	
   distance	
   education,	
   and	
   high-­‐performance	
   computing)	
   explained	
   their	
   network	
  
requirements	
   for	
   the	
   foreseeable	
   future.	
   The	
   network	
   specialists	
   from	
   RNP	
   and	
   the	
   research	
  
community	
  presented	
  some	
  of	
  the	
  technological	
  alternatives	
  that	
  could	
  be	
  considered.	
  
After	
   the	
   workshop,	
   a	
   partnership	
   was	
   formed	
   between	
   RNP	
   and	
   CPqD	
   (the	
   former	
   state	
  
telecommunications	
  monopoly’s	
  R&D	
  centre	
  in	
  Campinas,	
  that	
  had	
  been	
  privatized	
  as	
  a	
  non-­‐
profit	
  foundation)	
  to	
  build	
  an	
  optical	
  testbed	
  network	
  in	
  the	
  states	
  of	
  Rio	
  de	
  Janeiro	
  and	
  São	
  
Paulo,	
  and	
  to	
  carry	
  out	
  and	
  promote	
  experimental	
  research	
  in	
  network	
  and	
  related	
  application	
  
technologies	
  using	
  the	
  testbed	
  as	
  a	
  laboratory.	
  Project	
  GIGA,	
  as	
  the	
  initiative	
  became	
  known,	
  
obtained	
   about	
   US$20M	
   in	
   funding	
   from	
   FUNTTEL	
   (Fund	
   for	
   the	
   Development	
   of	
  
Telecommunications	
  Technology),	
  of	
  which	
  two	
  thirds	
  were	
  used	
  for	
  R&D	
  activities.	
  Using	
  dark	
  
fibers	
  freely	
  lent	
  by	
  four	
  telcos,	
  the	
  project	
  lit	
  up	
  about	
  750	
  km	
  of	
  fiber,	
  including	
  the	
  use	
  of	
  
DWDM	
  between	
  the	
  cities	
  of	
  Campinas,	
  São	
  Paulo,	
  São	
  José	
  dos	
  Campos,	
  in	
  São	
  Paulo	
  state,	
  and	
  
the	
   city	
   of	
   Rio	
   de	
   Janeiro,	
   further	
   extensions	
   to	
   Cachoeira	
   Paulista,	
   in	
   São	
   Paulo	
   state,	
   and	
  
  7	
  
Niterói	
  and	
  Petrópolis,	
  in	
  Rio	
  de	
  Janeiro	
  state,	
  and	
  metro	
  networks	
  in	
  Campinas,	
  São	
  Paulo	
  and	
  
Rio	
   de	
   Janeiro.	
   Including	
   laboratories	
   belonging	
   to	
   the	
   collaborating	
   telcos,	
   around	
   25	
  
institutions	
  were	
  directly	
  served	
  by	
  the	
  resulting	
  testbed	
  network,	
  that	
  used	
  1	
  and	
  10	
  Gigabit	
  
Ethernet	
  technology	
  to	
  provide	
  network	
  transport	
  between	
  collaborating	
  institutions.	
  	
  
GIGA	
  received	
  funding	
  between	
  2003	
  and	
  2007,	
  and	
  involved	
  a	
  great	
  many	
  research	
  institutions	
  
throughout	
  Brazil.	
  RNP	
  coordinated	
  its	
  own	
  research	
  program,	
  with	
  its	
  own	
  scientific	
  committee	
  
of	
  four	
  well-­‐known	
  researchers.	
  This	
  committee	
  received	
  and	
  evaluated	
  39	
  proposals,	
  with	
  the	
  
assistance	
  of	
  19	
  ad-­‐hoc	
  referees	
  from	
  the	
  LARC-­‐SBC	
  community,	
  and	
  approved	
  33	
  for	
  support.	
  
Due	
   to	
   continuity	
   problems	
   with	
   FUNTTEL	
   funding	
   in	
   2005	
   and	
   part	
   of	
   2006,	
   which	
   caused	
  
interruptions	
  in	
  funding	
  of	
  all	
  supported	
  projects,	
  only	
  27	
  projects	
  were	
  effectively	
  concluded	
  
after	
  funding	
  was	
  restored	
  in	
  2006.	
  These	
  included	
  five	
  in	
  advanced	
  network	
  technologies,	
  and	
  
22	
  in	
  distributed	
  applications.	
  	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  How	
  did	
  it	
  affect	
  the	
  scientific	
  community?	
  
RNP’s	
  GIGA	
  research	
  program	
  effectively	
  involved	
  more	
  than	
  500	
  participants	
  from	
  35	
  Brazilian	
  
and,	
  six	
  foreign	
  research	
  centers,	
  and	
  13	
  companies.	
  Academic	
  production	
  amounted	
  to	
  more	
  
than	
  700	
  documents,	
  including	
  110	
  master’s	
  and	
  28	
  doctoral	
  theses,	
  180	
  articles	
  in	
  periodicals,	
  
240	
  in	
  conferences,	
  two	
  books	
  and	
  16	
  book	
  chapters.	
  Technical	
  production	
  included	
  around	
  90	
  
technical	
  reports	
  and	
  manuals,	
  54	
  products	
  (conceptual,	
  functional	
  and	
  product	
  prototypes)	
  and	
  
10	
  services	
  (prototypes),	
  of	
  which	
  27	
  were	
  in	
  use	
  at	
  the	
  end	
  of	
  2008.	
  Twelve	
  technologies	
  were	
  
effectively	
  transferred	
  to	
  companies,	
  and	
  transfer	
  of	
  technology	
  has	
  been	
  agreed	
  in	
  two	
  further	
  
cases.	
  
Apart	
   from	
   conducting	
   its	
   own	
   research	
   program,	
   RNP	
   also	
   participated	
   in	
   the	
   design	
   and	
  
management	
  of	
  the	
  GIGA	
  testbed,	
  together	
  with	
  CPqD.	
  This	
  testbed	
  began	
  operation	
  in	
  May	
  
2004,	
  and	
  is	
  still	
  active.	
  The	
  benefits	
  which	
  resulted	
  for	
  RNP	
  from	
  this	
  first	
  experience	
  in	
  Gbps	
  
and	
  optical	
  networking	
  were	
  manifold,	
  and	
  were	
  later	
  put	
  to	
  good	
  use	
  in	
  the	
  design	
  of	
  the	
  next	
  
generation	
  backbone	
  network,	
  and	
  the	
  metro	
  access	
  networks	
  begun	
  in	
  2005.	
  
Going	
  back	
  to	
  2002,	
  RNP	
  launched	
  its	
  Working	
  Groups	
  (WGs)	
  initiative,	
  which	
  came	
  to	
  involve	
  
the	
  academic	
  research	
  community	
  more	
  closely	
  in	
  the	
  development	
  of	
  new	
  network	
  services.	
  
Although	
  the	
  first	
  five	
  WGs	
  were	
  the	
  result	
  of	
  invitations	
  to	
  selected	
  researchers,	
  from	
  2003	
  
onwards,	
  the	
  WGs	
  were	
  selected	
  by	
  a	
  competitive	
  process	
  including	
  a	
  public	
  call	
  for	
  proposals,	
  
with	
  participation	
  in	
  the	
  selection	
  committee	
  of	
  researchers	
  from	
  the	
  LARC-­‐SBC	
  community.	
  
Each	
  instance	
  of	
  a	
  WG	
  is	
  a	
  12-­‐month	
  development	
  project,	
  financed	
  by	
  RNP,	
  involving	
  a	
  small	
  
research	
  group	
  and	
  costing	
  about	
  US$	
  100,000.	
  If	
  progress	
  towards	
  the	
  prototype	
  after	
  one	
  year	
  
is	
  judged	
  promising,	
  renewal	
  for	
  a	
  second	
  year	
  is	
  usually	
  granted,	
  in	
  order	
  to	
  demonstrate	
  the	
  
feasibility	
  of	
  a	
  limited	
  service.	
  Since	
  2002,	
  RNP	
  has	
  supported	
  80	
  instances	
  of	
  WGs,	
  currently	
  at	
  
the	
  rate	
  of	
  eight	
  per	
  year.	
  The	
  successful	
  demonstration	
  of	
  a	
  limited	
  service	
  by	
  the	
  end	
  of	
  the	
  
second	
   year	
   means	
   the	
   resulting	
   product	
   becomes	
   a	
   candidate	
   to	
   become	
   an	
   experimental	
  
service	
  the	
  following	
  year,	
  and	
  the	
  final	
  decision	
  to	
  deploy	
  a	
  service	
  experimentally	
  will	
  be	
  taken	
  
by	
   the	
   board	
   of	
   directors	
   of	
   RNP.	
   Normally	
   a	
   successful	
   experimental	
   service	
   will	
   become	
   a	
  
production	
  service.	
  The	
  management	
  of	
  the	
  program,	
  including	
  the	
  monitoring	
  of	
  the	
  working	
  
groups,	
  has	
  been	
  carried	
  out	
  by	
  a	
  small	
  but	
  very	
  effective	
  team	
  at	
  RNP.	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  You	
  might	
  have	
  acquired	
  quite	
  a	
  lot	
  experience	
  of	
  building	
  networks!	
  	
  
Michael	
   Stanton:	
   Yes.	
   I	
   usually	
   would	
   also	
   study	
   how	
   other	
   academic	
   network	
   organizations	
  
built	
  their	
  networks.	
  Many	
  of	
  these	
  ideas	
  were	
  discussed	
  at	
  RNP,	
  and	
  included	
  in	
  our	
  plans	
  for	
  
  8	
  
the	
  way	
  we	
  should	
  go,	
  a	
  kind	
  of	
  roadmap	
  for	
  RNP.	
  And	
  we	
  managed,	
  fortunately,	
  to	
  adopt	
  and	
  
adapt	
   these	
   ideas	
   to	
   Brazil.	
   We	
   learned	
   of	
   the	
   importance	
   of	
   gaining	
   access	
   to	
   optical	
  
infrastructure.	
   With	
   lessons	
   learned	
   from	
   Project	
   GIGA,	
   we	
   began	
   tendering	
   for	
   optical	
  
wavelengths	
  for	
  the	
  fifth	
  version	
  of	
  our	
  national	
  network.	
  At	
  the	
  same	
  time	
  we	
  began	
  to	
  build	
  
our	
  own	
  metropolitan	
  optical	
  networks,	
  applying	
  lessons	
  learned	
  from	
  the	
  Canadian	
  CANARIE	
  
network,	
  and	
  the	
  Dutch	
  SURFNET.	
  Combining	
  these	
  two	
  innovations,	
  we	
  now	
  deliver	
  1	
  and	
  10	
  
Gbps	
  connectivity	
  to	
  over	
  300	
  sites	
  nationally,	
  and	
  our	
  national	
  backbone,	
  already	
  mostly	
  built	
  
with	
   10	
   Gbps	
   links,	
   should	
   include	
   some	
   100	
   Gbps	
   links	
   by	
   2015.	
   These	
   developments	
  
enormously	
   increase	
  capacity	
  for	
  communication	
  and	
  enable	
  development,	
  and	
  this	
  we	
  have	
  
been	
  doing	
  continuously	
  since	
  about	
  2003.	
  Our	
  network	
  and	
  the	
  services	
  provided	
  are	
  radically	
  
different	
  from	
  what	
  we	
  had	
  10	
  years	
  or	
  13	
  years	
  ago.	
  	
  
Another	
  thing	
  that	
  is	
  important	
  was	
  that,	
  with	
  my	
  roots	
  in	
  the	
  research	
  community,	
  we	
  had	
  
involved	
   our	
   research	
   community	
   in	
   the	
   development	
   of	
   services	
   and	
   network	
   technologies	
  
within	
  RNP.	
  We	
  also	
  had	
  the	
  money	
  to	
  be	
  able	
  to	
  support	
  this	
  kind	
  of	
  activity,	
  and	
  it	
  has	
  been	
  
very	
  fruitful.	
  It	
  enabled	
  a	
  lot	
  of	
  development	
  of	
  what	
  we	
  can	
  offer	
  our	
  users	
  just	
  to	
  be	
  able	
  to	
  
interact	
  and	
  collaborate	
  with	
  other	
  networks	
  in	
  other	
  countries,	
  to	
  be	
  able	
  to	
  collaborate	
  in	
  joint	
  
projects.	
  Through	
  RNP,	
  Brazil	
  is	
  now	
  recognized	
  as	
  an	
  international	
  actor	
  in	
  this	
  area.	
  	
  
The	
  other	
  important	
  development	
  is	
  that	
  our	
  base	
  within	
  the	
  government	
  has	
  widened.	
  We	
  now	
  
also	
  have	
  support	
  from	
  the	
  Ministries	
  of	
  Health	
  and	
  of	
  Culture.	
  Our	
  interaction	
  in	
  the	
  health	
  
sphere	
  is	
  mainly	
  concentrated	
  in	
  telehealth	
  and	
  telemedicine,	
  where	
  we	
  have	
  a	
  large	
  program	
  
of	
   support	
   for	
   communication	
   and	
   collaboration	
   with	
   educational	
   programs	
   in	
   teaching	
  
hospitals.	
  In	
  this	
  area	
  we	
  have	
  pioneered	
  the	
  use	
  of	
  ultra	
  high-­‐definition	
  (4K	
  =	
  8	
  Megapixels	
  per	
  
frame)	
  live	
  imaging	
  of	
  surgical	
  procedures	
  to	
  remote	
  audiences	
  of	
  medical	
  students.	
  We	
  have	
  a	
  
limited	
  amount	
  of	
  interaction	
  in	
  the	
  sphere	
  of	
  culture:	
  including	
  digital	
  cinema	
  (which	
  obviously	
  
requires	
  networks	
  for	
  transmitting	
  content),	
  providing	
  connectivity	
  to	
  libraries	
  and	
  museums,	
  
and	
  also	
  supporting	
  events	
  in	
  performing	
  arts.	
  We	
  would	
  like	
  that	
  to	
  improve	
  some	
  more.	
  An	
  
unforeseen	
  collaboration	
  in	
  a	
  related	
  field	
  was	
  with	
  the	
  Japanese	
  public	
  TV	
  company,	
  NHK,	
  and	
  
telco,	
  NTT.	
  We	
  recently	
  assisted	
  	
  them	
  in	
  transmitting	
  live	
  images	
  to	
  Japan	
  in	
  “Super	
  Hi-­‐Vision”	
  
(8K	
  =	
  33	
  Megapixels	
  per	
  frame)	
  of	
  football	
  matches	
  played	
  during	
  the	
  recent	
  FIFA	
  World	
  Cup.	
  
This	
  transmission	
  used	
  our	
  international	
  network	
  links	
  to	
  the	
  outside	
  world,	
  and	
  worked	
  without	
  
problems.	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  RNP	
  was	
  cooperating	
  with	
  different	
  countries	
  all	
  the	
  time,	
  through	
  all	
  the	
  time	
  
it	
   has	
   existed.	
   What	
   were	
   the	
   main	
   lines	
   of	
   cooperation	
   and	
   what	
   were	
   the	
   results	
   of	
   that	
  
cooperation?	
  
Michael	
  Stanton:	
  Well,	
  initially	
  the	
  main	
  objectives	
  were	
  merely	
  to	
  have	
  connectivity.	
  I	
  mean,	
  
the	
  Internet	
  would	
  not	
  exist	
  in	
  Brazil	
  without	
  international	
  connectivity.	
  Collaboration	
  with	
  their	
  
peers	
  in	
  other	
  countries	
  has	
  always	
  been	
  the	
  main	
  inspiration	
  for	
  researchers	
  in	
  the	
  academic	
  
community.	
  There	
  is	
  a	
  considerable	
  involvement	
  of	
  Brazil	
  in	
  the	
  international	
  projects	
  related	
  to	
  
high-­‐energy	
  physics,	
  astronomy	
  and	
  astrophysics,	
  climate	
  (because	
  of	
  the	
  size	
  of	
  Brazil	
  and	
  its	
  
geographical	
   position)	
   and	
   biodiversity	
   (because	
   of	
   the	
   richness	
   of	
   Brazil’s	
   fauna	
   and	
   flora).	
  
There	
  are	
  a	
  lot	
  of	
  areas	
  in	
  which	
  international	
  cooperation	
  had	
  already	
  existed	
  but	
  all	
  links	
  have	
  
strengthened	
  because	
  of	
  the	
  existence	
  of	
  international	
  communication	
  by	
  Internet.	
  It	
  seems	
  an	
  
obvious	
  thing	
  to	
  do,	
  but	
  we	
  have	
  extended	
  collaboration	
  with	
  other	
  Latin	
  American	
  countries	
  
over	
  the	
  past	
  ten	
  years.	
  In	
  2003	
  there	
  were	
  a	
  number	
  of	
  separate	
  academic	
  network	
  initiatives	
  
within	
  Latin	
  America,	
  which	
  communicated	
  with	
  each	
  other	
  via	
  the	
  US,	
  and	
  so	
  we	
  created	
  our	
  
regional	
   association,	
   with	
   the	
   support	
   of	
   the	
   European	
   Commission,	
   to	
   be	
   able	
   to	
   improve	
  
  9	
  
intraregional	
   connectivity	
   and	
   collaboration,	
   and	
   this	
   is	
   ongoing.	
   At	
   the	
   moment	
   we	
   are	
  
discussing	
  international	
  connections	
  to	
  Europe	
  by	
  a	
  future	
  submarine	
  cable,	
  which	
  should	
  be	
  
built	
  by	
  2016,	
  and	
  academic	
  capacity	
  in	
  this	
  cable	
  will	
  be	
  essentially	
  shared	
  with	
  other	
  countries	
  
in	
  Latin	
  America.	
  
We	
  have	
  started	
  collaborating	
  to	
  a	
  limited	
  extent	
  with	
  some	
  countries	
  in	
  East	
  Asia,	
  particularly	
  
Korea	
  and	
  Japan,	
  and	
  also	
  in	
  Africa.	
  Africa	
  is	
  still	
  starting	
  up.	
  We	
  have	
  made	
  some	
  contacts	
  with	
  
Africa	
   through	
   attending	
   networking	
   conferences	
   since	
   2012.	
   In	
   addition,	
   there	
   are	
   some	
  
cultural	
  relations	
  between	
  Brazil	
  and	
  several	
  African	
  countries,	
  because	
  they	
  use	
  Portuguese	
  like	
  
we	
  do.	
  Both	
  the	
  government	
  and	
  the	
  culture	
  sector	
  in	
  Brazil	
  have	
  a	
  major	
  interest	
  in	
  maintaining	
  
connections	
  with	
  other	
  countries	
  where	
  Portuguese	
  is	
  spoken.	
  These	
  include	
  countries	
  in	
  Africa,	
  
especially	
   Angola	
   and	
   Mozambique,	
   which	
   are	
   the	
   most	
   populous.	
   There’s	
   also	
   Portugal,	
   in	
  
Europe,	
  of	
  course.	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  What	
  about	
  Russia?	
  
Michael	
  Stanton:	
  There	
  are	
  some	
  areas	
  of	
  contact.	
  These	
  will	
  probably	
  grow	
  as	
  a	
  consequence	
  
of	
  one	
  of	
  the	
  joint	
  programs	
  agreed	
  in	
  a	
  meeting	
  between	
  our	
  governments	
  this	
  July,	
  where	
  the	
  
Brazilian	
  program	
  “Scientists	
  without	
  Frontiers”	
  was	
  extended	
  to	
  Russia.	
  This	
  program	
  provides	
  
scholarships	
  for	
  Brazilian	
  students	
  to	
  continue	
  their	
  studies	
  abroad,	
  and	
  also	
  includes	
  exchanges	
  
of	
   researchers	
   and	
   professors.	
   There	
   are	
   some	
   international	
   collaborative	
   initiatives,	
   like	
   the	
  
Gloriad	
  project	
  of	
  the	
  US	
  “International	
  Research	
  Network	
  Connections”	
  program,	
  which	
  involve	
  
some	
  groups	
  from	
  Russia	
  but	
  none	
  from	
  Brazil.	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  After	
  the	
  BRICS	
  summit	
  2014	
  which	
  took	
  place	
  recently	
  in	
  Brazil,	
  I	
  really	
  hope	
  
that	
  our	
  cooperation	
  will	
  receive	
  an	
  impetus.	
  
Michael	
  Stanton:	
  BRICS	
  involves	
  mainly	
  cooperation	
  in	
  the	
  economic	
  sphere.	
  We	
  read	
  about	
  
these	
  things.	
  These	
  are	
  big	
  countries,	
  very	
  populous,	
  and	
  big	
  economies.	
  It	
  is	
  very	
  important	
  but	
  
it’s	
  not	
  easy	
  to	
  collaborate	
  with	
  each	
  other	
  at	
  the	
  government	
  level	
  at	
  the	
  moment,	
  and	
  it	
  would	
  
be	
   nice	
   if	
   there	
   were	
   things	
   that	
   we	
   could	
   do.	
   I	
   have	
   heard	
   once	
   of	
   some	
   bright	
   idea	
   of	
  
constructing	
  a	
  super	
  cable	
  which	
  started	
  off	
  in	
  Vladivostok	
  and	
  was	
  going	
  to	
  pass	
  through	
  China,	
  
India	
  and	
  South	
  Africa	
  all	
  the	
  way	
  to	
  Brazil.	
  I	
  am	
  not	
  sure	
  if	
  it	
  is	
  economically	
  justified	
  but	
  it	
  
sounded	
  really	
  very	
  good	
  as	
  an	
  idea.	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  The	
  time	
  and	
  the	
  future	
  will	
  show	
  what	
  is	
  possible.	
  
Michael	
  Stanton:	
  We	
  hope	
  there	
  will	
  be	
  a	
  lot	
  of	
  visitors	
  from	
  Russia	
  in	
  Brazil.	
  It	
  would	
  be	
  nice	
  if	
  
they	
  interact	
  with	
  our	
  academic	
  community.	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  Now	
  I	
  would	
  like	
  to	
  ask	
  you	
  not	
  as	
  a	
  professional	
  but	
  just	
  a	
  human,	
  a	
  citizen.	
  
How	
  do	
  you	
  use	
  the	
  Internet?	
  What	
  is	
  most	
  important	
  for	
  you?	
  What	
  is	
  impossible	
  to	
  imagine	
  
without	
  the	
  Internet	
  now	
  for	
  you?	
  
Michael	
  Stanton:	
  I	
  have	
  a	
  computer	
  on	
  my	
  desk	
  all	
  day.	
  I	
  take	
  it	
  home	
  with	
  me	
  at	
  night.	
  I	
  am	
  
using	
  it	
  just	
  now	
  while	
  talking	
  to	
  you.	
  I	
  mean,	
  it	
  is	
  sort	
  of	
  my	
  continual	
  companion,	
  and	
  I	
  cannot	
  
imagine	
  how	
  I	
  would	
  work	
  and	
  communicate	
  with	
  people	
  without	
  it.	
  For	
  instance,	
  when	
  I	
  was	
  a	
  
student	
  and	
  for	
  many	
  years	
  after	
  coming	
  to	
  Brazil,	
  I	
  used	
  to	
  seek	
  out	
  scientific	
  libraries	
  in	
  order	
  
to	
  learn	
  about	
  what	
  was	
  going	
  on,	
  both	
  in	
  my	
  own	
  area	
  and	
  in	
  others.	
  Today,	
  I	
  cannot	
  recall	
  
when	
  I	
  last	
  stepped	
  into	
  a	
  library,	
  because	
  I	
  have	
  access	
  to	
  almost	
  everything	
  I	
  need	
  to	
  read	
  
online.	
  This	
  is	
  greatly	
  facilitated	
  by	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  government	
  which	
  provides	
  online	
  access	
  to	
  an	
  
enormous	
   collection	
   of	
   scientific	
   journals	
   and	
   other	
   important	
   documents	
   for	
   students	
   and	
  
researchers	
  .	
  There	
  are	
  other	
  things	
  I	
  need	
  to	
  read,	
  of	
  course,	
  and	
  I	
  now	
  buy	
  rather	
  than	
  borrow	
  
  10	
  
the	
  books	
  I	
  might	
  need,	
  although	
  these	
  are	
  mostly	
  not	
  technical.	
  I	
  could	
  of	
  course	
  read	
  e-­‐books,	
  
but	
  I	
  haven’t	
  gone	
  so	
  far	
  yet.	
  
The	
  Internet	
  also	
  mediates	
  personal	
  communication,	
  and	
  at	
  RNP	
  we	
  spend	
  much	
  of	
  our	
  time	
  in	
  
virtual	
  meetings,	
  where	
  we	
  can	
  see	
  each	
  other	
  and	
  share	
  documents,	
  even	
  internationally.	
  This	
  
interview	
   is	
   being	
   conducted	
   using	
   Skype.	
   At	
   RNP,	
   we	
   have	
   developed	
   our	
   own	
   low-­‐cost	
  
conferencing	
   system	
   that	
   can	
   integrate	
   professional	
   videoconferencing	
   stations	
   and	
  
smartphones.	
  
Good	
   communication	
   is	
   particularly	
   important	
   not	
   only	
   professionally	
   but	
   also	
   personally,	
  
because	
  my	
  family	
  is	
  scattered.	
  I	
  come	
  from	
  Britain,	
  I	
  have	
  relatives	
  there.	
  I	
  have	
  three	
  children,	
  
who	
  are	
  all	
  in	
  Europe	
  –	
  two	
  in	
  Germany,	
  one	
  in	
  England.	
  And	
  without	
  the	
  Internet	
  it	
  would	
  be	
  
extremely	
   difficult	
   to	
   maintain	
   relations.	
   My	
   parents	
   were	
   not	
   Internet	
   users,	
   so	
   I	
   could	
   not	
  
make	
   use	
   of	
   the	
   Internet	
   to	
   communicate	
   with	
   my	
   parents	
   even	
   after	
   we	
   actually	
   had	
  
connectivity,	
  because	
  they	
  did	
  not.	
  The	
  only	
  thing	
  I	
  managed	
  to	
  do	
  with	
  them	
  was	
  to	
  start	
  using	
  
fax	
  to	
  send	
  messages	
  after	
  a	
  certain	
  time,	
  but	
  nowadays,	
  especially	
  with	
  the	
  use	
  of	
  Internet	
  
telephony,	
   like	
   Skype	
   and	
   Viber,	
   the	
   way	
   which	
   everybody	
   has	
   smartphones	
   and	
   so	
   on,	
   the	
  
Internet	
  has	
  become	
  open	
  for	
  all	
  ways	
  of	
  communications.	
  This	
  morning	
  I	
  got	
  a	
  “WhatsApp?”	
  
message	
  with	
  a	
  photograph	
  of	
  one	
  of	
  my	
  family	
  members	
  showing	
  what	
  he	
  saw	
  this	
  morning	
  on	
  
his	
  way	
  to	
  work.	
  It	
  was	
  very	
  nice!	
  I	
  would	
  not	
  like	
  to	
  live	
  without	
  it,	
  I	
  am	
  now	
  used	
  to	
  knowing	
  
what	
   is	
   going	
   on.	
   I	
   mean,	
   it	
   is	
   so	
   easy	
   to	
   do	
   so	
   because	
   of	
   the	
   Internet	
   that	
   created	
   a	
   new	
  
communication	
  environment.	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  Thank	
  you	
  very	
  much,	
  Michael!	
  
	
  
  11	
  
	
  
We	
  need	
  to	
  preserve	
  what	
  the	
  Internet	
  has	
  brought	
  us.	
  Exclusive	
  interview	
  with	
  
Demi	
  Getschko	
  by	
  Tatiana	
  Ershova,	
  ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ	
  ОБЩЕСТВО,	
  5-­‐6:2014,	
  4-­‐7	
  
	
  
Demi	
  Getschko,	
  Chairman	
  of	
  the	
  Executive	
  Committee	
  of	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  Network	
  Information	
  
Center	
  (NIC.br)	
  	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  Demi,	
  you	
  are	
  known	
  as	
  a	
  key	
  player	
  on	
  the	
  team	
  that	
  established	
  the	
  first	
  
Internet	
  connection	
  to	
  Brazil.	
  Please	
  tell	
  us	
  about	
  that	
  team.	
  What	
  had	
  you	
  all	
  done	
  at	
  that	
  time	
  
and	
  where	
  did	
  it	
  lead	
  Brazil?	
  
Demi	
  Getschko:	
  Brazilian	
  academic	
  networks’	
  interconnection	
  was	
  prior	
  to	
  their	
  connection	
  to	
  
the	
  Internet	
  itself.	
  In	
  September	
  1988	
  the	
  National	
  Laboratory	
  for	
  Scientific	
  Computing	
  (LNCC)	
  
established	
  the	
  first	
  Bitnet	
  connection	
  via	
  the	
  University	
  of	
  Maryland	
  in	
  the	
  United	
  States.	
  In	
  
October	
  of	
  that	
  year	
  the	
  São	
  Paulo	
  State	
  Research	
  Foundation	
  (FAPESP)	
  also	
  connected	
  to	
  Bitnet	
  
via	
   FermiLan	
   in	
   Batavia,	
   Illinois	
   with	
   five	
   nodes	
   –	
   the	
   University	
   of	
   São	
   Paulo,	
   University	
   of	
  
Campinas,	
   State	
   University	
   of	
   São	
   Paulo,	
   and	
   the	
   Institute	
   of	
   Technological	
   Research	
   at	
   the	
  
University	
  of	
  São	
  Paulo.	
  This	
  was	
  accomplished	
  through	
  establishing	
  a	
  network	
  associated	
  with	
  
Bitnet,	
  the	
  São	
  Paulo	
  Academic	
  Network	
  (ANSP).	
  	
  
At	
  the	
  same	
  time	
  ANSP	
  was	
  connected	
  to	
  the	
  High	
  Energy	
  Physics	
  Network	
  (HEPNet)	
  of	
  which	
  
FermiLan	
   was	
   the	
   hub.	
   On	
   18	
   April	
   1989	
   the	
   domain	
   .br	
   was	
   obtained	
   by	
   the	
   group	
   that	
  
operated	
  FAPESP.	
  Then	
  in	
  September	
  1989	
  the	
  National	
  Research	
  Network	
  (RNP,	
  now	
  National	
  
Education	
  and	
  Research	
  Network)	
  was	
  officially	
  constituted.	
  In	
  January	
  1991,	
  when	
  FermiLan	
  
was	
   already	
   part	
   of	
   the	
   Energy	
   Sciences	
   Network	
   (ESNet),	
   a	
   backbone	
   using	
   TCP/IP,	
   the	
   first	
  
Internet	
  packets	
  began	
  to	
  flow.	
  	
  
Consolidation	
  was	
  achieved	
  through	
  RNP.	
  RNP	
  began	
  to	
  spread	
  TCP/IP	
  throughout	
  Brazil	
  and	
  
enjoyed	
   important	
   support	
   during	
   the	
   United	
   Nations	
   Conference	
   on	
   the	
   Environment	
   and	
  
Development	
  (UNCED	
  or	
  Eco-­‐92).	
  During	
  that	
  conference	
  in	
  Rio	
  de	
  Janeiro	
  it	
  was	
  possible	
  to	
  use	
  
international	
  links	
  to	
  keep	
  the	
  participants	
  connected	
  to	
  the	
  Internet.	
  The	
  network	
  grew	
  rapidly	
  
and	
  in	
  1994	
  the	
  main	
  Brazilian	
  telecommunications	
  company	
  at	
  that	
  time,	
  Embratel,	
  announced	
  
that	
  it	
  would	
  give	
  access	
  to	
  the	
  Internet.	
  Note	
  that	
  at	
  that	
  time	
  Brazil	
  was	
  committed	
  to	
  ISO/OSI	
  
and	
  not	
  TCP/IP.	
  In	
  May	
  1995	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  Internet	
  Steering	
  Committee	
  (CGI.br)	
  was	
  established,	
  
  12	
  
formalizing	
  academic	
  initiatives	
  and	
  with	
  a	
  view	
  to	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  Internet’s	
  expansion	
  into	
  the	
  
private	
  sector.	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  You	
  have	
  been	
  a	
  member	
  of	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  Internet	
  Steering	
  Committee	
  (CGI.br)	
  
almost	
  20	
  years.	
  You	
  could	
  observe	
  the	
  evolution	
  of	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  Internet	
  governance	
  policies	
  for	
  
quite	
  a	
  while.	
  What	
  were	
  the	
  key	
  elements	
  of	
  these	
  policies?	
  What	
  were	
  the	
  main	
  achievements	
  
in	
  different	
  periods?	
  
Demi	
  Getschko:	
  I	
  believe	
  the	
  most	
  important	
  point	
  is	
  the	
  establishment	
  of	
  a	
  multistakeholder	
  
institution	
   that,	
   together	
   with	
   the	
   General	
   Telecommunications	
   Law	
   that	
   recognized	
   the	
  
Internet	
  as	
  a	
  “value	
  added”	
  service	
  not	
  to	
  be	
  confused	
  with	
  telecommunications	
  (and	
  therefore	
  
not	
   subject	
   to	
   the	
   Telecommunations	
   Regulatory	
   Agency	
   –	
   Anatel).	
   This	
   led	
   to	
   a	
   broad	
   and	
  
healthy	
  dissemination	
  of	
  the	
  network.	
  With	
  the	
  reorganization	
  of	
  CGI.br	
  in	
  2003,	
  including	
  direct	
  
elections	
  of	
  representatives	
  of	
  academia,	
  civil	
  society	
  organizations	
  (known	
  as	
  the	
  “third	
  sector”	
  
in	
  Brazil),	
  and	
  the	
  private	
  sector,	
  but	
  maintaining	
  an	
  important,	
  but	
  not	
  majority,	
  participation	
  of	
  
the	
   government,	
   the	
   model	
   was	
  further	
   reinforced.	
   Then,	
   in	
   2009,	
   after	
   almost	
   two	
   years	
   of	
  
debate,	
   CGI.br	
   approved	
   ten	
   principles	
   safeguarding	
   the	
   concept	
   of	
   the	
   Internet.	
   These	
  
principles	
   were	
   eventually	
   incorporated	
   into	
   the	
   “Bill	
   of	
   Internet	
   Rights”	
   (Marco	
   Civil	
   da	
  
Internet)	
   signed	
   into	
   law	
   by	
   President	
   Dilma	
   Rousseff	
   during	
   the	
   opening	
   ceremony	
   of	
  
NETmundial	
  in	
  São	
  Paulo	
  on	
  23	
  April	
  2014.	
  	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  Your	
  name	
  is	
  closely	
  associated	
  with	
  the	
  ICANN	
  Board.	
  As	
  I	
  recall,	
  you	
  served	
  
two	
   terms	
   there.	
   What	
   was	
   your	
   mission	
   and	
   how	
   did	
   it	
   help	
   Brazil	
   and	
   other	
   developing	
  
countries?	
  
Demi	
  Getschko:	
  Yes,	
  I	
  had	
  two	
  terms	
  on	
  the	
  ICANN	
  Board,	
  elected	
  by	
  the	
  Country	
  Code	
  Names	
  
Support	
  Organization	
  (ccNSO).	
  I	
  was	
  not	
  officially	
  a	
  representative	
  of	
  Brazil,	
  but	
  elected	
  by	
  the	
  
country	
   Top	
   Level	
   Domains	
   (TLD)	
   community	
   and	
   continued	
   to	
   defend	
   the	
   principles	
   that	
   I	
  
thought	
  were	
  proper	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  You	
  played	
  a	
  critical	
  role	
  defining	
  the	
  rules	
  that	
  govern	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  registry.	
  
What	
  distinguishes	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  rules	
  from	
  those	
  of	
  other	
  countries?	
  
Demi	
  Getschko:	
  The	
  Brazilian	
  registry,	
  within	
  NIC.br	
  (the	
  executive	
  arm	
  of	
  CGI.br)	
  has	
  always	
  
remained	
   a	
   private	
   non-­‐profit	
   organization.	
   The	
   success	
   of	
   the	
   .br	
   Top	
   Level	
   Domain	
   (TLD)	
  
permitted	
   that	
   in	
   short	
   order	
   we	
   were	
   able	
   to	
   achieve	
   financial	
   independence	
   and,	
  
subsequently,	
  a	
  surplus.	
  With	
  these	
  resources,	
  CGI.br	
  could	
  take	
  actions	
  in	
  favor	
  of	
  the	
  Internet	
  
in	
  Brazil.	
  I	
  can	
  cite	
  the	
  creation	
  and	
  maintenance	
  of	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  Natonal	
  Computer	
  Emergency	
  
Response	
   Team	
   (CERT.br),	
   and	
   of	
   the	
   Center	
   of	
   Studies	
   on	
   Information	
   and	
   Communication	
  
Technologies	
   (CETIC.br).	
   CETIC.br	
   has	
   now	
   produced	
   ten	
   years	
   of	
   detailed	
   statistics	
   on	
   the	
  
Internet,	
   available	
   free	
   of	
   charge	
   on	
   the	
   Internet,	
   courses	
   in	
   IPv6,	
   the	
   official	
   Brazilian	
   time	
  
(NPT.br),	
   etc.	
   and	
   established	
   Traffic	
   Exchange	
   Points	
   (IXPs)	
   around	
   the	
   country,	
   with	
   an	
  
aggregate	
   traffic	
   exceeding	
   600	
   Bbits/s.	
   This	
   places	
   Brazil	
   among	
   those	
   countries	
   with	
   the	
  
greatest	
   exchange	
   of	
   local	
   traffic.	
   We	
   also	
   implemented	
   Domain	
   Name	
   System	
   Security	
  
Extensions	
  (NNSSEC)	
  and	
  we	
  make	
  them	
  available	
  free	
  of	
  charge.	
  We	
  are	
  also	
  the	
  country	
  with	
  
the	
  second	
  most	
  installed	
  copies	
  of	
  Internet	
  root	
  servers.	
  	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  What	
  is	
  your	
  impression	
  on	
  the	
  Internet	
  Governance	
  Forum	
  (IGF)	
  that	
  has	
  met	
  
since	
   2006.	
   Do	
   you	
   think	
   it	
   is	
   embodying	
   the	
   precept	
   of	
   the	
   Tunis	
   Commitment	
   and	
   Tunis	
  
Agenda?	
  Are	
  its	
  deliberations	
  productive?	
  What	
  are	
  the	
  most	
  useful	
  outcomes	
  of	
  the	
  Forum?	
  
Demi	
  Getschko:	
  I	
  think	
  that	
  the	
  Tunis	
  agenda	
  was	
  important.	
  Since	
  the	
  Tunis	
  conference	
  of	
  the	
  
World	
  Summit	
  on	
  the	
  Information	
  Society	
  (WSIS),	
  ten	
  years	
  have	
  passed,	
  and	
  the	
  Internet	
  has	
  
  13	
  
evolved	
   rapidly.	
   The	
   IGF	
   is	
   an	
   excellent	
   forum	
   for	
   discussion	
   of	
   general	
   topics	
   regarding	
   the	
  
Internet	
  and	
  has	
  become	
  a	
  generator	
  of	
  topics	
  to	
  discuss	
  and	
  debate.	
  It	
  is	
  not	
  a	
  decision-­‐making	
  
forum,	
  but	
  one	
  for	
  dialogue	
  and	
  exchange	
  of	
  ideas.	
  I	
  think	
  it	
  should	
  continue	
  to	
  be	
  respected	
  
and	
  supported	
  because	
  of	
  its	
  importance	
  for	
  the	
  Internet.	
  	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  Brazil	
  hosted	
  the	
  NETmundial	
  conference	
  in	
  April	
  this	
  year.	
  You	
  were	
  Co-­‐Chair	
  
of	
  the	
  Executive	
  Multistakeholder	
  Committee	
  organizing	
  the	
  event.	
  	
  What	
  were	
  the	
  objectives	
  of	
  
this	
   gathering	
   and	
   how	
   did	
   they	
   differ	
   from	
   those	
   of	
   IGF?	
   What	
   were	
   the	
   key	
   points	
   of	
  
discussion?	
  What	
  is	
  Brazil’s	
  vision	
  for	
  the	
  Future	
  of	
  Internet	
  Governance	
  in	
  national	
  and	
  global	
  
perspective?	
  
Demi	
   Getschko:	
   I	
   think	
   the	
   most	
   important	
   result	
   of	
   NETmundial,	
   perhaps	
   the	
   first	
   really	
  
multistakeholder	
  international	
  conference,	
  was	
  to	
  have	
  generated	
  two	
  documents	
  that	
  can	
  be	
  
the	
  basis	
  for	
  the	
  Internet’s	
  evolution:	
  a	
  Declaration	
  of	
  Principles	
  (more	
  or	
  less	
  following	
  the	
  line	
  
of	
   the	
   Brazilian	
   Internet	
   Bill	
   of	
   Rights)	
   and	
   a	
   Road	
   Map	
   for	
   making	
   aspects	
   of	
   Internet	
  
governance	
   more	
   cooperative	
   and	
   multistakeholder-­‐oriented.	
   	
   The	
   Internet,	
   because	
   of	
   its	
  
geographic	
  expansion	
  and	
  independence	
  of	
  national	
  borders,	
  and	
  on	
  the	
  other	
  hand,	
  the	
  need	
  
to	
   respect	
   the	
   national	
   legislation	
   of	
   each	
   country,	
   has	
   characteristics	
   that	
   are	
   not	
   easy	
   to	
  
understand	
  and	
  that	
  go	
  beyond	
  earlier	
  paradigms.	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  My	
  traditional	
  question:	
  what	
  would	
  you	
  most	
  wish	
  our	
  readers	
  –	
  those	
  people	
  
who	
  have	
  been	
  attentively	
  following	
  the	
  ICT	
  development	
  for	
  over	
  25	
  years	
  	
  –	
  	
  to	
  learn	
  from	
  this	
  
interview?	
  
Demi	
  Getschko:	
  I	
  think	
  that	
  the	
  fundamental	
  point	
  is	
  to	
  preserve	
  what	
  the	
  Internet	
  has	
  brought	
  
us	
   at	
   the	
   same	
   time	
   we	
   create	
   structures	
   to	
   defend	
   it.	
   All	
   the	
   stakeholder	
   groups	
   should	
  
participate	
  –	
  governments,	
  academia,	
  technical	
  experts,	
  the	
  third	
  sector,	
  and	
  the	
  private	
  sector	
  
–	
  because	
  the	
  Internet	
  is	
  and	
  has	
  always	
  been	
  a	
  collective	
  construction.	
  Of	
  course	
  there	
  are	
  
some	
   topics,	
   like	
   the	
   protection	
   of	
   privacy,	
   that	
   require	
   agreements	
   within	
   and	
   among	
  
countries.	
  The	
  fact	
  is	
  that	
  the	
  current	
  environment	
  is	
  difficult	
  and	
  complicated.	
  The	
  future	
  of	
  the	
  
Internet,	
   like	
   its	
   success,	
   should	
   support	
   its	
   “disappearance”	
   in	
   the	
   sense	
   that	
   it	
   will	
   be	
   a	
  
ubiquitous	
  tool,	
  reliable	
  and	
  invisible.	
  Let	
  us	
  hope	
  that	
  we	
  can	
  assume	
  its	
  continuity	
  and	
  support	
  
its	
  further	
  development.	
  	
  
	
  	
  
	
  
  14	
  
	
  
It	
  is	
  important	
  to	
  preserve	
  what	
  the	
  Internet	
  has	
  brought	
  to	
  our	
  lives.	
  Exclusive	
  
Interview	
  with	
  Hartmut	
  Glaeser	
  by	
  Tatiana	
  Ershova,	
  ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ	
  
ОБЩЕСТВО,	
  1:2015,	
  4-­‐6	
  
	
  
	
  
Hartmut	
  Glaser,	
  Executive	
  Secretary	
  of	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  Internet	
  Steering	
  Committee	
  (CGI.br)	
  	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  Hartmut,	
  in	
  the	
  Internet	
  Hall	
  of	
  the	
  Internet	
  Society	
  you	
  are	
  said	
  to	
  be	
  among	
  
people	
  «who	
  bring	
  the	
  Internet	
  to	
  life».	
  What	
  does	
  it	
  mean	
  for	
  you?	
  What	
  is	
  the	
  main	
  thing	
  that	
  
Internet	
  has	
  given	
  to	
  people	
  to	
  make	
  a	
  quantum	
  change	
  in	
  their	
  life?	
  
Hartmut	
   Glaser:	
   To	
   be	
   clear,	
   I	
   am	
   not	
  an	
   inductee	
   of	
   the	
   Hall	
   of	
   Fame	
   established	
   by	
   the	
  
Internet	
  Society,	
  but	
  I	
  am	
  a	
  member	
  of	
  the	
  Internet	
  Hall	
  of	
  Fame	
  Advisory	
  Board	
  and	
  a	
  select	
  
group	
   of	
   past	
   inductees	
   are	
   responsible	
   for	
   the	
   final	
   selection	
   of	
   inductees.	
   (See	
   more	
  
at:	
  http://www.internethalloffame.org/about	
   and	
  
http://www.internethalloffame.org/about/advisory-­‐board).	
  	
  But	
  it's	
  a	
  great	
  honor	
  to	
  be	
  among	
  
the	
  people	
  who	
  worked	
  on	
  connecting	
  Brazil	
  to	
  the	
  Internet.	
  Some	
  say	
  "building	
  the	
  Brazilian	
  
Internet".	
  That	
  is	
  conceptually	
  wrong.	
  There	
  is	
  only	
  one	
  Internet,	
  a	
  global	
  network	
  of	
  networks.	
  
Our	
  task	
  in	
  the	
  past	
  was	
  to	
  connect	
  Brazil	
  to	
  the	
  rest	
  of	
  the	
  World.	
  I	
  think	
  that	
  is	
  exactly	
  the	
  
main	
  thing	
  that	
  the	
  Internet	
  has	
  given	
  people:	
  the	
  chance	
  of	
  being	
  in	
  touch	
  with	
  the	
  rest	
  of	
  the	
  
connected	
  world.	
  Our	
  main	
  challenge	
  these	
  days	
  is	
  to	
  get	
  more	
  and	
  more	
  people	
  connected.	
  
Tatiana	
   Ershova:	
   Along	
   with	
   other	
   members	
   of	
   the	
   board	
   of	
   CGI.br,	
   you	
   signed	
   the	
   Public	
  
Declaration	
  on	
  the	
  NETmundial	
  Initiative.	
  What	
  is	
  the	
  main	
  idea	
  of	
  this	
  declaration,	
  what	
  is	
  its	
  
purpose?	
  	
  
Hartmut	
   Glaser:	
   The	
   NETmundial	
   Statement	
   is	
   a	
   normative	
   document	
   that	
   adopts	
   a	
  
foundational	
  framework	
  for	
  the	
  future	
  evolution	
  of	
  the	
  Internet	
  –	
  in	
  technical,	
  social,	
  political,	
  
economic,	
  and	
  cultural	
  terms.	
  It	
  comprises	
  a	
  set	
  of	
  principles	
  (that	
  resembles	
  CGI.br's	
  Decalogue	
  
of	
  Principles)	
  and	
  a	
  roadmap	
  to	
  guide	
  all	
  stakeholders	
  in	
  the	
  field	
  of	
  Internet	
  governance.	
  	
  
Tatiana	
   Ershova:	
   Brazil	
   is	
   to	
   host	
   the	
   IGF	
   for	
   the	
   second	
   time	
   in	
   2015.	
   How	
   has	
   Internet	
  
governance	
   in	
   your	
   country	
   changed	
   since	
   2007	
   when	
  you	
  gathered	
   the	
   global	
   Internet	
  
community	
  in	
  Rio?	
  
  15	
  
Hartmut	
   Glaser:	
   The	
   Brazilian	
   multistakeholder	
   model	
   got	
   much	
   more	
   institutionalized	
   and	
  
achieved	
  a	
  central	
  role	
  for	
  Internet-­‐related	
  public	
  policies	
  in	
  the	
  country.	
  From	
  the	
  IGF	
  2007,	
  the	
  
members	
   of	
   the	
   board	
   of	
   CGI.br	
   put	
   together	
   through	
   rough	
   consensus	
   –	
   after	
   two	
   years	
   of	
  
intense	
  consultations	
  –	
  a	
  model	
  Decalogue	
  of	
  principles.	
  CGI.br	
  led	
  the	
  creation	
  and	
  adoption	
  of	
  
the	
  Marco	
  Civil	
  (Internet	
  Bill	
  of	
  Rights).	
  The	
  executive	
  branch	
  of	
  CGI.br,	
  the	
  Network	
  Information	
  
Center	
  for	
  .br	
  (NIC.br),	
  a	
  not-­‐for-­‐profit	
  legal	
  entity,	
  conducted	
  several	
  projects	
  in	
  the	
  fields	
  of	
  
infrastructure	
  development,	
  capacity	
  building,	
  ICT	
  research,	
  network	
  security	
  and	
  stability,	
  etc.	
  
The	
   Marco	
   Civil	
   finally	
   was	
   signed	
   into	
   law	
   during	
   the	
   NETmundial	
  event	
   (April2014),	
   which	
  
represented	
  a	
  milestone	
  for	
  Internet	
  governance	
  at	
  the	
  global	
  level	
  and	
  put	
  CGI.br	
  under	
  the	
  
spotlight,	
  not	
  only	
  as	
  one	
  of	
  the	
  most	
  active	
  stakeholders	
  involved	
  with	
  the	
  Internet,	
  but	
  also	
  as	
  
a	
  model	
  of	
  bottom-­‐up,	
  consensus-­‐driven,	
  inclusive,	
  transparent	
  and	
  democratic	
  governance	
  of	
  
the	
  network.	
  	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  What	
  are	
  the	
  milestones	
  for	
  global	
  Internet	
  governance	
  since	
  2006	
  when	
  IGF	
  
was	
  announced	
  and	
  launched?	
  
Hartmut	
  Glaser:	
  I	
  believe	
  it	
  is	
  better	
  to	
  understand	
  the	
  process	
  inaugurated	
  with	
  the	
  IGF	
  as	
  an	
  
incremental	
  one.	
  Since	
  the	
  IGF	
  track	
  was	
  opened,	
  the	
  notion	
  of	
  multistakeholderism	
  has	
  grown	
  
stronger.	
   Multistakeholderism	
   is	
   not	
   new	
   (think	
   of	
   the	
   labor	
   rights	
   regime,	
   the	
  
environmental	
  protection,	
  regime,	
  the	
  United	
  Nations’	
  Economic	
  and	
  Social	
  Council	
  -­‐	
  ECOSOC	
  
models	
  of	
  governance).	
  But	
  Internet	
  governance	
  contributed	
  to	
  the	
  need	
  of	
  having	
  this	
  model	
  
for	
  public	
   deliberation	
   as	
   the	
   default.	
   The	
   notion	
   that	
   the	
   Internet	
   governance	
   cannot	
   be	
  
understood	
  as	
  a	
  synonym	
  of	
  ICT	
  governance	
  is	
  another	
  accomplishment	
  worth	
  of	
  highlighting.	
  
But	
  most	
  importantly,	
  the	
  IGF	
  has	
  been	
  year	
  after	
  year	
  creating	
  awareness	
  about	
  the	
  notion	
  of	
  
equal	
   footing	
   among	
   different	
   stakeholders.	
   Not	
   just	
   in	
   formal	
   terms,	
   but	
   also	
   in	
   substantial	
  
ones.	
  	
  
Tatiana	
   Ershova:	
   Brazil	
   has	
   proved	
   to	
   be	
   a	
   protagonist	
   of	
   multistakeholderism	
   in	
   Internet	
  
governance.	
   What	
   are	
   the	
   main	
   reasons	
   for	
   that?	
   What	
  are	
   the	
  advantages	
   of	
   the	
  
multistakeholder	
  approach	
  versus	
  top-­‐down	
  decision-­‐making	
  processes?	
  	
  
Hartmut	
  Glaser:	
  Part	
  of	
  that	
  results	
  from	
  the	
  practices	
  and	
  projects	
  developed	
  by	
  CGI.br	
  in	
  the	
  
last	
  20	
  years,	
  which	
  I	
  described	
  above.	
  But	
  I	
  have	
  to	
  be	
  honest:	
  CGI.br	
  is	
  just	
  an	
  overarching	
  
arena	
   for	
   the	
   engagement	
   of	
   all	
   stakeholders	
   in	
   Brazil	
   (government,	
   businesses,	
   civil	
  
society,	
  technical	
   communities	
   and	
   academia).	
   Brazil	
   is	
   a	
   protagonist	
   due	
   to	
   the	
   maturity	
  
reached	
  by	
  all	
  those	
  stakeholders	
  in	
  relation	
  to	
  the	
  importance	
  of	
  bottom-­‐up	
  decision-­‐making	
  
processes	
   and	
   the	
   importance	
   of	
   their	
   participation	
   in	
   all	
   tracks	
   that	
   are	
   part	
   of	
   the	
  
larger	
  Internet	
   governance	
   ecosystem.	
   Bottom-­‐up,	
   dialogic	
   decision-­‐making	
   processes	
   are	
  
lengthier,	
  but	
  they	
  yield	
  long-­‐term	
  and	
  solid	
  results.	
  Top-­‐down	
  decision-­‐making	
  processes	
  are	
  
faster	
  to	
  yield	
  results,	
  but	
  they	
  generally	
  lack	
  legitimacy	
  and	
  are	
  doomed	
  to	
  be	
  overturned	
  as	
  
fast	
  as	
  they	
  are	
  adopted.	
  That's	
  why	
  multi-­‐stakeholder	
  approach	
  yield	
  better	
  fruits.	
  
Tatiana	
  Ershova:	
  What	
  countries,	
  do	
  you	
  think,	
  are	
  the	
  most	
  mature	
  from	
  the	
  point	
  of	
  view	
  of	
  
modern,	
  rational	
  Internet	
  governance?	
  
Hartmut	
  Glaser:	
  I	
  am	
  not	
  in	
  a	
  position	
  to	
  make	
  explicit	
  reference	
  to	
  any	
  country.	
  I	
  would	
  just	
  
reiterate	
  the	
  importance	
  of	
  the	
  NETmundial	
  Statement	
  as	
  a	
  pointer	
  for	
  answering	
  that	
  question.	
  
The	
   Statement	
   is	
   a	
   benchmark.	
   Countries	
   that	
   abide	
   by	
   the	
   NETmundial	
   Principles	
   and	
  
are	
  committed	
  to	
  the	
  roadmap	
  therein	
  can	
  certainly	
  be	
  placed	
  at	
  the	
  top	
  of	
  the	
  ranking.	
  	
  
  16	
  
Tatiana	
   Ershova:.	
   The	
   Internet	
   has	
   brought	
   more	
   sharing	
   in	
   our	
   life	
   –	
   the	
   strict	
   copyright	
  
paradigm	
   is	
   being	
   challenged	
   quite	
   seriously.	
   What	
   do	
   you	
  personally	
   think	
  about	
   sharing	
   vs	
  
copyrighting	
  in	
  cyberspace?	
  Where	
  is	
  the	
  world	
  moving	
  at	
  this	
  point?	
  	
  
Hartmut	
  Glaser:	
  Nobody	
  ever	
  said	
  that	
  Internet	
  governance	
  does	
  not	
  involve	
  tough	
  trade-­‐offs.	
  
No	
   matter	
   the	
   final	
   result	
   of	
   the	
   equation	
   sharing	
   vs	
   copyrighting,	
   it	
   is	
   important	
   that	
   the	
  
calculus	
   be	
   made	
   through	
   open,	
   bottom-­‐up,	
   and	
   multistakeholder	
   practices	
   that	
   level	
   the	
  
playing	
  field	
  for	
  all	
  stakeholders,	
  not	
  behind	
  closed	
  doors	
  and	
  in	
  small	
  clubs.	
  	
  
	
  

More Related Content

Similar to Tatiana_Intro+interviews_english

Foreign Affairs Review Spring Issue, 2014. Russia Special
Foreign Affairs Review Spring Issue, 2014. Russia Special Foreign Affairs Review Spring Issue, 2014. Russia Special
Foreign Affairs Review Spring Issue, 2014. Russia Special Nic Carter
 
Essay On Determination.pdf
Essay On Determination.pdfEssay On Determination.pdf
Essay On Determination.pdfEmily Parrish
 
Essay On Determination. Determination and persistence - kye to success: Essay...
Essay On Determination. Determination and persistence - kye to success: Essay...Essay On Determination. Determination and persistence - kye to success: Essay...
Essay On Determination. Determination and persistence - kye to success: Essay...Melissa Otero
 
6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template
6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template
6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper TemplateTiffany Barber
 
6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template ...
6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template ...6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template ...
6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template ...Lissette Hartman
 
Learn How To Write Essays For University
Learn How To Write Essays For UniversityLearn How To Write Essays For University
Learn How To Write Essays For UniversityKayleigh Fournier
 
Same Sex Marriage Argumentative Essay. Same Sex Marriage Essay Essay on Same...
Same Sex Marriage Argumentative Essay. Same Sex Marriage Essay  Essay on Same...Same Sex Marriage Argumentative Essay. Same Sex Marriage Essay  Essay on Same...
Same Sex Marriage Argumentative Essay. Same Sex Marriage Essay Essay on Same...Jessica Turner
 
Pro Capital Punishment Essays
Pro Capital Punishment EssaysPro Capital Punishment Essays
Pro Capital Punishment EssaysDiana Cochran
 
Essay Graduate School Admission Essay Samples
Essay Graduate School Admission Essay SamplesEssay Graduate School Admission Essay Samples
Essay Graduate School Admission Essay SamplesPam Fenno
 
Essay Unity In Diversity. Online assignment writing service.
Essay Unity In Diversity. Online assignment writing service.Essay Unity In Diversity. Online assignment writing service.
Essay Unity In Diversity. Online assignment writing service.Diana Hole
 
How Long Should A High School Essay Be. How Lon
How Long Should A High School Essay Be. How LonHow Long Should A High School Essay Be. How Lon
How Long Should A High School Essay Be. How LonTina Gabel
 
Argumentative Essay Outline Template Middle School
Argumentative Essay Outline Template Middle SchoolArgumentative Essay Outline Template Middle School
Argumentative Essay Outline Template Middle SchoolAlison Parker
 
Cause And Effect Structure. Lesson Why Did That Hap
Cause And Effect Structure. Lesson Why Did That HapCause And Effect Structure. Lesson Why Did That Hap
Cause And Effect Structure. Lesson Why Did That HapTonya Carter
 
Should Drugs Be Legalized Essay
Should Drugs Be Legalized EssayShould Drugs Be Legalized Essay
Should Drugs Be Legalized EssayEvelin Santos
 
Mla Formatting For An Essay
Mla Formatting For An EssayMla Formatting For An Essay
Mla Formatting For An EssayAnna May
 
Persuasive Essay On Drugs And Alcohol Abuse
Persuasive Essay On Drugs And Alcohol AbusePersuasive Essay On Drugs And Alcohol Abuse
Persuasive Essay On Drugs And Alcohol AbuseKaty Langley
 
Illinois Bar Exam Essay Frequency
Illinois Bar Exam Essay FrequencyIllinois Bar Exam Essay Frequency
Illinois Bar Exam Essay FrequencyVictoria Coleman
 
Opinion And For Against Essay Cool English Ti
Opinion And For Against Essay Cool English TiOpinion And For Against Essay Cool English Ti
Opinion And For Against Essay Cool English TiJessica Myers
 
Model Essay English O Level
Model Essay English O LevelModel Essay English O Level
Model Essay English O LevelLynn Bennett
 
Essay On Helping Others In English 10 Lines Essay O
Essay On Helping Others In English 10 Lines Essay OEssay On Helping Others In English 10 Lines Essay O
Essay On Helping Others In English 10 Lines Essay OCarrie Romero
 

Similar to Tatiana_Intro+interviews_english (20)

Foreign Affairs Review Spring Issue, 2014. Russia Special
Foreign Affairs Review Spring Issue, 2014. Russia Special Foreign Affairs Review Spring Issue, 2014. Russia Special
Foreign Affairs Review Spring Issue, 2014. Russia Special
 
Essay On Determination.pdf
Essay On Determination.pdfEssay On Determination.pdf
Essay On Determination.pdf
 
Essay On Determination. Determination and persistence - kye to success: Essay...
Essay On Determination. Determination and persistence - kye to success: Essay...Essay On Determination. Determination and persistence - kye to success: Essay...
Essay On Determination. Determination and persistence - kye to success: Essay...
 
6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template
6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template
6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template
 
6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template ...
6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template ...6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template ...
6 Best Images Of Free Printable Lined Writing Paper Template ...
 
Learn How To Write Essays For University
Learn How To Write Essays For UniversityLearn How To Write Essays For University
Learn How To Write Essays For University
 
Same Sex Marriage Argumentative Essay. Same Sex Marriage Essay Essay on Same...
Same Sex Marriage Argumentative Essay. Same Sex Marriage Essay  Essay on Same...Same Sex Marriage Argumentative Essay. Same Sex Marriage Essay  Essay on Same...
Same Sex Marriage Argumentative Essay. Same Sex Marriage Essay Essay on Same...
 
Pro Capital Punishment Essays
Pro Capital Punishment EssaysPro Capital Punishment Essays
Pro Capital Punishment Essays
 
Essay Graduate School Admission Essay Samples
Essay Graduate School Admission Essay SamplesEssay Graduate School Admission Essay Samples
Essay Graduate School Admission Essay Samples
 
Essay Unity In Diversity. Online assignment writing service.
Essay Unity In Diversity. Online assignment writing service.Essay Unity In Diversity. Online assignment writing service.
Essay Unity In Diversity. Online assignment writing service.
 
How Long Should A High School Essay Be. How Lon
How Long Should A High School Essay Be. How LonHow Long Should A High School Essay Be. How Lon
How Long Should A High School Essay Be. How Lon
 
Argumentative Essay Outline Template Middle School
Argumentative Essay Outline Template Middle SchoolArgumentative Essay Outline Template Middle School
Argumentative Essay Outline Template Middle School
 
Cause And Effect Structure. Lesson Why Did That Hap
Cause And Effect Structure. Lesson Why Did That HapCause And Effect Structure. Lesson Why Did That Hap
Cause And Effect Structure. Lesson Why Did That Hap
 
Should Drugs Be Legalized Essay
Should Drugs Be Legalized EssayShould Drugs Be Legalized Essay
Should Drugs Be Legalized Essay
 
Mla Formatting For An Essay
Mla Formatting For An EssayMla Formatting For An Essay
Mla Formatting For An Essay
 
Persuasive Essay On Drugs And Alcohol Abuse
Persuasive Essay On Drugs And Alcohol AbusePersuasive Essay On Drugs And Alcohol Abuse
Persuasive Essay On Drugs And Alcohol Abuse
 
Illinois Bar Exam Essay Frequency
Illinois Bar Exam Essay FrequencyIllinois Bar Exam Essay Frequency
Illinois Bar Exam Essay Frequency
 
Opinion And For Against Essay Cool English Ti
Opinion And For Against Essay Cool English TiOpinion And For Against Essay Cool English Ti
Opinion And For Against Essay Cool English Ti
 
Model Essay English O Level
Model Essay English O LevelModel Essay English O Level
Model Essay English O Level
 
Essay On Helping Others In English 10 Lines Essay O
Essay On Helping Others In English 10 Lines Essay OEssay On Helping Others In English 10 Lines Essay O
Essay On Helping Others In English 10 Lines Essay O
 

More from Peter Knight

Andrew yang campaign ptk bien 19 2019 08-08
Andrew yang campaign ptk bien 19 2019 08-08Andrew yang campaign ptk bien 19 2019 08-08
Andrew yang campaign ptk bien 19 2019 08-08Peter Knight
 
P knight smart rio silicon beach - encontro-asbea_2018-06-21_rev
P knight smart rio  silicon beach - encontro-asbea_2018-06-21_revP knight smart rio  silicon beach - encontro-asbea_2018-06-21_rev
P knight smart rio silicon beach - encontro-asbea_2018-06-21_revPeter Knight
 
P knight smart rio silicon beach? final-_port_rev
P knight smart rio  silicon beach? final-_port_revP knight smart rio  silicon beach? final-_port_rev
P knight smart rio silicon beach? final-_port_revPeter Knight
 
P knight rio inteligente silicon beach? final-eng
P knight rio inteligente silicon beach? final-engP knight rio inteligente silicon beach? final-eng
P knight rio inteligente silicon beach? final-engPeter Knight
 
P knight workshop tic:d 2017
P knight workshop tic:d 2017P knight workshop tic:d 2017
P knight workshop tic:d 2017Peter Knight
 
Apresentacao p knight_3_workshop_amazônia_conectada_rev1
Apresentacao p knight_3_workshop_amazônia_conectada_rev1Apresentacao p knight_3_workshop_amazônia_conectada_rev1
Apresentacao p knight_3_workshop_amazônia_conectada_rev1Peter Knight
 
Apresentando um novo livro: Banda Larga no Brasil
Apresentando um novo livro: Banda Larga no BrasilApresentando um novo livro: Banda Larga no Brasil
Apresentando um novo livro: Banda Larga no BrasilPeter Knight
 
Apresentacao p knight_wrnp_2015_ver_17-05-2015
Apresentacao p knight_wrnp_2015_ver_17-05-2015Apresentacao p knight_wrnp_2015_ver_17-05-2015
Apresentacao p knight_wrnp_2015_ver_17-05-2015Peter Knight
 
IO4-Russian Chapter 1
IO4-Russian Chapter 1IO4-Russian Chapter 1
IO4-Russian Chapter 1Peter Knight
 
Internet in Brazil PTKnight-2014-11-27.compressed
Internet in Brazil PTKnight-2014-11-27.compressedInternet in Brazil PTKnight-2014-11-27.compressed
Internet in Brazil PTKnight-2014-11-27.compressedPeter Knight
 

More from Peter Knight (14)

Andrew yang campaign ptk bien 19 2019 08-08
Andrew yang campaign ptk bien 19 2019 08-08Andrew yang campaign ptk bien 19 2019 08-08
Andrew yang campaign ptk bien 19 2019 08-08
 
P knight smart rio silicon beach - encontro-asbea_2018-06-21_rev
P knight smart rio  silicon beach - encontro-asbea_2018-06-21_revP knight smart rio  silicon beach - encontro-asbea_2018-06-21_rev
P knight smart rio silicon beach - encontro-asbea_2018-06-21_rev
 
P knight smart rio silicon beach? final-_port_rev
P knight smart rio  silicon beach? final-_port_revP knight smart rio  silicon beach? final-_port_rev
P knight smart rio silicon beach? final-_port_rev
 
P knight rio inteligente silicon beach? final-eng
P knight rio inteligente silicon beach? final-engP knight rio inteligente silicon beach? final-eng
P knight rio inteligente silicon beach? final-eng
 
P knight workshop tic:d 2017
P knight workshop tic:d 2017P knight workshop tic:d 2017
P knight workshop tic:d 2017
 
Apresentacao p knight_3_workshop_amazônia_conectada_rev1
Apresentacao p knight_3_workshop_amazônia_conectada_rev1Apresentacao p knight_3_workshop_amazônia_conectada_rev1
Apresentacao p knight_3_workshop_amazônia_conectada_rev1
 
Apresentando um novo livro: Banda Larga no Brasil
Apresentando um novo livro: Banda Larga no BrasilApresentando um novo livro: Banda Larga no Brasil
Apresentando um novo livro: Banda Larga no Brasil
 
Apresentacao p knight_wrnp_2015_ver_17-05-2015
Apresentacao p knight_wrnp_2015_ver_17-05-2015Apresentacao p knight_wrnp_2015_ver_17-05-2015
Apresentacao p knight_wrnp_2015_ver_17-05-2015
 
IO4-Russian Chapter 1
IO4-Russian Chapter 1IO4-Russian Chapter 1
IO4-Russian Chapter 1
 
IO5-6_2014
IO5-6_2014IO5-6_2014
IO5-6_2014
 
IO1_2015_04_01
IO1_2015_04_01IO1_2015_04_01
IO1_2015_04_01
 
Internet in Brazil PTKnight-2014-11-27.compressed
Internet in Brazil PTKnight-2014-11-27.compressedInternet in Brazil PTKnight-2014-11-27.compressed
Internet in Brazil PTKnight-2014-11-27.compressed
 
bp48_pt
bp48_ptbp48_pt
bp48_pt
 
bp48_en
bp48_enbp48_en
bp48_en
 

Tatiana_Intro+interviews_english

  • 1. Editorial  by  Information  Society    (ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ  ОБЩЕСТВО)   Editor  in  Chief  and  Interviews  with  Three  Brazilian  Internet  Leaders       Table  of  Contents         Translation  to  English  of  Tatiana  Ershova’s  Editorial,  “A  Brazilian  Serial”  Information  Society   (ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ  ОБЩЕСТВО),  1:2015,  first  page. ..........................................................................2       You  Have  to  Take  Advantage  of  Opportunities.  Exclusive  interview  with  Dr.  Michael  Stanton   by  Tatiana  Ershova,  ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ  ОБЩЕСТВО,  4:2014,  pp  4-­‐13  (original  english   version)..........................................................................................................................................................................3       We  need  to  preserve  what  the  Internet  has  brought  us.  Exclusive  interview  with  Demi   Getschko  by  Tatiana  Ershova,  ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ  ОБЩЕСТВО,  5-­‐6:2014,  4-­‐7  (original   englsh  version) ........................................................................................................................................................ 11       It  is  important  to  preserve  what  the  Internet  has  brought  to  our  lives.  Exclusive  Interview   with  Hartmut  Glaeser  by  Tatiana  Ershova,  ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ  ОБЩЕСТВО,  1:2015,  4-­‐6   (original  english  version).................................................................................................................................... 14    
  • 2.   2   Translation  to  English  of  Tatiana  Ershova’s  Editorial,  “A  Brazilian  Serial”   Information  Society  (ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ  ОБЩЕСТВО),  1:2015,  first  page.     For  a  long  time  no  Brazilian  dramatic  serials  have  appeared  on  our  television  screens.  So  we   decided  to  fill  this  gap  and  in  three  issues  of  our  journal  by  publishing  parts  of  the  new  book  by   Peter  Knight,  The  Internet  in  Brazil:  Origins,  strategy,  development  and  governance."  We  did  so   for   several   reasons.   Firstly,   he   is   one   of   the   world's   leading   experts   on   the   use   of   ICTs   for   development;  secondly,  Brazil  is  now  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  active  and  influential  players   in   the   field   of   Internet   governance   at   the   international   level;   and   thirdly,   the   country   is   a   member  of  the  BRICS,  which  is  important  given  the  current  difficult  political  situation  in  Russia.   Complementing   the   articles   by   P.   Knight   are   exclusive   interviews   with   founders   and   very   influential   figures   of   the   Brazilian   segment   of   the   global   Internet   –   Michael   Stanton,   now   Director  of  Research  and  Development  of  the  Brazil’s  National  Education  and  Research  Network   (RNP);   Demi   Getschko,   Chairman   of   the   Brazilian   Network   Information   Center   (NIC.br),   and   Hartmut  Glaser,  Executive  Secretary  of  the  Brazilian  Internet  Steering  Committee  (CGI.br).  We   hope   that   this   Brazilian   serial   we   have   presented   to   our   dear   readers   will   be   evaluated   as   a   detailed  and  comprehensive  analysis  of  the  development  of  a  very  important  information  and   communication  technology,  the  Internet,  in  a  friendly  country.   Concluding  the  Brazilian  theme,  a  contribution  to  the  journal  that  has  acquainted  we  Russians   with   foreign   names,   I   cannot   but   remember   famous   Brazilian   writer   and   philosopher,   Paulo   Coelho.  In  his  book  Zaire  he  wrote:  "I  knew  news  from  that  country  from  childhood:  one  country   threatens  another,  someone  is  betrayed,  the  economy  is  in  decline...."  Indeed,  we  live  in  a  world   that  changes  little.  But  now  such  problems  are  affecting  us  directly,  so  we  felt  these  words  more   strongly.  Let's  hope  that  the  crisis  will  end  and  then,  so  like  a  nightmare,  fade  away.   In  the  meantime,  we  continue  to  do  our  job,  publishing  scientific  articles  and  research.  As  for   the   Russian   authors   in   this   issue   of   the   journal,   we   include   the   work   of   Doctor   of   Science,   Moscow  philosopher,  George  Smolyan,  on  key  concepts  of  computerization;  PhD  from  Kazan,   Rima   Elizarovi,   of   the   National   Library   of   Tatarstan;   two   PhDs   from   Ekaterinburg,   Helena   Dyakova   and   Anna   Trachtenberg,   on   the   problem   of   organizational   resistance   in   the   field   of   information   health;   as   well   as   specialists   from   Ufa   –   Tagira   Yakubov,   Almaza     Iskhakova,   and   Alberta  Mannapova  –  about  trusted  networks.  Thus,  opening  our  editorial  portfolio  in  2015,  we   have  tried,  as  promised,  to  provide  thematic  and  geographic  diversity  in  our  articles.   EDITOR  IN  CHIEF,  Tatiana  Ershova  
  • 3.   3   You  Have  to  Take  Advantage  of  Opportunities.  Exclusive  interview  with  Dr.   Michael  Stanton  by  Tatiana  Ershova,  ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ  ОБЩЕСТВО,  4:2014,  pp  4-­‐ 13     Michael  Stanton,  Director  for  Research  and  Development,  (Brazilian)  National  Education  and   Research  Network  (RNP)     Tatiana   Ershova:   Michael,   I   know   that   you   participated   in   the   introduction   of   the   Internet   in   Brazil.  But  at  the  same  time  your  name  is  not  at  all  Brazilian.  How  did  you  come  to  this  country   and  what  was  your  mission  at  that  time?  And  how  did  it  relate  to  what  we  now  call  the  Internet?   What  was  going  on  in  those  early  years  in  Brazil?   Michael  Stanton:  I’m  originally  from  Britain,  and  came  to  Brazil  in  1971.  There  was  no  Internet   at  that  time.  It  was  only  invented  about  ten  years  later.  So,  I  came  for  a  completely  different   reason.  I  studied  mathematics  at  the  university.  I  had  just  finished  my  Ph.D.  and  I  had  spent  two   years  living  in  the  US  while  I  was  finishing  my  thesis.  I  needed  a  job,  and  I  thought  to  see  some   other  parts  of  the  world.  Brazil  was  on  my  list,  and  I  decided  to  look  for  a  job  here.  I  was  hired  to   teach   mathematics   at   a   place   called   ITA   (Instituto   Tecnológico   de   Aeronáutica,   or   the   Aeronautical  Engineering  Institute)  run  by  the  air  force  here,  in  a  town  an  hour  away  from  the   city  of  São  Paulo.   It   was   a   strange   time   to   arrive   in   Brazil   because   the   country   was   in   the   middle   of   a   military   dictatorship.  The  military  had  taken  over  the  government  seven  years  previously,  and  stayed  in   power  for  21  years.  It  was  part  of  a  series  of  similar  political  changes  that  took  place  at  that   time.  You  are  probably  well  aware  about  them:  there  was  considerable  tension  in  the  period   during  the  so-­‐called  Cold  War,  and  Latin  America  was  a  region  where  United  States  wanted  to   make  sure  that  the  Soviet  Union  did  not  develop  many  friendships,  and  encouraged  the  military   overthrow  of  many  governments  in  the  region,  including  Brazil.  I  knew  about  that  before  I  came   to  Brazil,  but  I’d  never  lived  in  such  a  situation,  so  it  was  an  unusual  experience  for  me.  I  think  it   is  fair  to  say  that  the  militarism  here  was  not  so  extensive  as  maybe  in  some  other  neighboring   countries.     So  I  got  to  know  a  lot  of  people,  and  to  learn  about  the  culture  of  Brazil.  At  that  time,  Brazil  was   considered  a  developing  country.  Today  it  is  developing,  too,  but  it  has  progressed  a  lot  since  I   came   here,   forty-­‐odd   years   ago.   Lots   of   energy,   lots   of   hopes….   People   were   mostly   very   enthusiastic  about  life  and  the  future.  However,  communications  were  very  bad  –  that  is  to  say,   communications   in   terms   of   anything   other   than   the   postal   service.   Long-­‐distance   and  
  • 4.   4   international   phone   calls   were   made   by   operators.   Telephones   were   difficult   to   come   by   –   I   waited  five  years  to  have  one  installed.  International  telephony  was  extremely  expensive,  so  I   was   rather   cut   off   from   where   I   had   come   from.   This   particular   problem   was   solved   spectacularly  more  than  twenty  years  later,  with  the  development  here  of  the  Internet.   Tatiana  Ershova:  What  was  the  first  large-­‐scale  component  of  the  Brazilian  Internet?  What  was   most  special  in  its  development?   Michael   Stanton:   The   telecommunications   network   in   Brazil   was   completely   rebuilt   in   the   1970s,  with  the  adoption  of  digital  technology,  which  meant  that  you  could  do  things  like  direct   long-­‐distance  dialing.  Communications  were  improved,  but  it  was  still  very  expensive.  There  was   very  little  in  the  way  of  support  for  data  communication,  except  for  remote  terminals  connected   to   mainframe   computers.   Machine-­‐to-­‐machine   communication   came   slowly,   based   on   old   telecommunications  standards  like  X.25  (from  CCITT,  now  known  as  ITU-­‐T).  And  they  tried  to   introduce   e-­‐mail   using   X.400,   and   so   on,   but   it   never   did   really   catch   on.   By   this   time   I   had   changed  jobs  and  moved  to  live  in  Rio  de  Janeiro,  got  married  to  my  Brazilian  wife,  Virgilia,  and   started  a  family.  It  seemed  my  future  would  be  in  Brazil.     In  the  new  job  I  was  working  from  the  beginning  in  the  computer  science  department,  and  we   had  a  period  when  there  was  government  control  of  imports  of  computers.  They  tried  to  create   a  local  minicomputer  industry  here.  So,  there  was  a  lot  of  involvement  of  universities  like  one  I   was  at,  which  was  the  Catholic  University  of  Rio  de  Janeiro,  and  things  progressed,  but  slowly.     In  1985  the  military  government  came  to  an  end,  and  things  began  to  open  up,  in  particular,  the   policy  of  a  “market  reserve”  for  small  computers  was  abandoned,  and  began  to  import  different   technologies  like  small  computers  and  local  area  networks.  In  particular,  this  was  the  period  of   the  adoption  of  networked  personal  computers.  Then,  suddenly  in  1986,  some  of  us,  who  were   attentive  to  what  was  going  on  in  the  United  States,  learned  about  developments  in  large-­‐scale   networking,   in   particular,   the   introduction   by   NSF   (the   National   Science   Foundation)   of   the   NSFNET  in  1985.  This  served  as  a  great  example  for  us  of  the  things  that  we  didn’t  have  and  that   could  be  of  use,  particularly  for  the  universities.     As   I   mentioned,   the   postal   service   was   our   main   means   of   communication,   and   when   you   learned   that   you   could   do   instantaneous   communication   of   information   using   computer   networks,  then  it  became  very  clear  that  it  would  be  a  very  revolutionary  change  for  Brazil,  to   bring  this  kind  of  technology  here  and  to  aid  in  establishing  much  closer  collaboration,  not  only   within  the  country,  but  also  between  Brazil  and  rest  of  the  world,  which,  as  we  have  seen,  was   very   limited   at   that   time.   So   we   started   discussing   within   the   scientific   community   how   this   could  be  done,  and  some  government  bodies  also  became  involved.  Three  years  later  we  had  a   national   academic   network   project   underway,   financed   by   the   federal   government.   It   took   another   three   years   before   it   delivered   its   first   network,   but   by   then   we   already   had   gained   something  like  four  years  of  experience  with  the  BITNET  network,  which  was  essentially  an  e-­‐ mail  network.     In   1992   we   launched   our   own   national   academic   network,   connected   to   the   global   Internet,   delivered  by  a  project  called  National  Research  Network  (Rede  Nacional  de  Pesquisa  –  RNP)  that   later  became  the  organization  I  currently  work  for.  Now  it  is  called  the  National  Education  and   Research  Network,  with  great  emphasis  on  higher  education.  It  is  usual  here,  and  most  likely   elsewhere  too,  that  you  have  to  take  advantage  of  opportunities,  and  we  did  so.  A  global  United   Nations  conference  on  ecology  and  development  was  to  be  held  in  in  Rio  de  Janeiro  in  1992,  and   this  was  chosen  as  the  opportunity  for  the  introduction  of  Internet  connectivity  to  Brazil.  This  
  • 5.   5   connectivity   did   not   go   away   after   the   conference:   1992   was   year   zero   for   our   life   on   the   Internet.     You  asked  what  was  special  about  the  development  of  the  first  large-­‐scale  component  of  the   Brazilian  Internet.  Well,  it  was  designed  after  studying  the  experiences  of  other  countries.  The   other  thing  was  that  planning  was  very  important.  There  was  a  very  effective  team  planning  the   development  of  this  network,  seeking  widespread  support  from  government  entities  all  over  the   country.  We  have  a  federal  structure  of  government  in  Brazil.  There  are  26  state  governments,   as  well  as  the  federal  government.  Considerable  effort  was  made  to  involve  all  of  these  different   governments  in  providing  support  for  our  network  project.  This  led  to  the  adoption  of  a  specific   architecture  for  the  national  network  with  just  one  point  of  presence  in  each  state  capital,  and  a   second-­‐tier  network  to  be  built  in  each  state.  Unfortunately,  it  did  not  always  work  out  this  way   –   fewer   than   half   the   states   implemented   a   state   network.   Nevertheless,   this   architectural   model  has  been  maintained  till  today.  Obviously,  we  also  had  to  teach  people  what  they  could   do  with  the  network,  and  that  has  been  going  ever  since.   Tatiana  Ershova:  For  a  certain  period  of  time  you  had  little  involvement  in  RNP.  Why  did  this   happen  and  what  was  the  motivation  for  you  to  come  back  in  2001?   During  my  first  involvement  in  RNP,  I  helped  to  set  up  RNP  through  advocating  the  benefits  of   large-­‐scale  networking  in  the  late  1980s.  In  1990  I  was  invited  to  become  part  of  the  national   coordination  group  of  three  people,  led  by  Tadao  Takahashi,  the  coordinator  of  the  RNP  project,   and  also  including  Demi  Getschko,  coordinator  of  network  operations,  who  was  then  employed   as  IT  manager  at  FAPESP  (the  São  Paulo  state  research  agency)  and  had  been  heavily  involved  in   bringing  BITNET  to  Brazil  starting  in  1988.  Demi  is  still  very  active  in  Internet  governance  both   nationally  and  internationally.  I  was  given  the  title  of  coordinator  of  research  and  development,   and  my  main  job  was  related  to  the  university  community  in  my  area  of  computer  science.  I   stayed  on  in  this  unpaid  role  until  1993,  one  year  after  the  network  was  launched,  when  Tadao   decided  to  make  it  more  professional.  He  invited  me  to  leave  the  university  and  work  full-­‐time   for  RNP,  but  I  said  I  did  not  want  to  do  that.  So  we  parted,  I  stayed  with  the  university  and  I  left   RNP.  Obviously,  I  could  not  abandon  RNP  completely,  because  my  university  was  connected  and   used  RNP  for  communications.  That  was  why  I  participated  in  some  of  the  later  developments,   but  at  a  much  more  distant  level  than  before.     In  1995,  the  Brazilian  Internet  was  opened  up  to  the  whole  society,  with  the  introduction  of   commercial   services.   Between   1995   and   1999   the   RNP   network   was   also   used   to   provide   backbone  services  for  commercial  ISPs.  Tadao  left  RNP  at  the  end  of  1995  and  he  was  succeeded   as  coordinator  by  José  Luíz  Ribeiro  Filho.     This   was   a   period   of   significant   changes   in   public   policies,   with   large-­‐scale   privatization   of   existing  state-­‐run  activities,  particularly  telecommunications  in  1998.  This  led  to  the  emergence   of  a  small  number  of  large  commercial  telecommunications  providers,  which  since  then  have   dominated  the  sector.  This  had  strong  repercussions  for  the  growing  commercial  Internet,  which   no   longer   needed   support   from   RNP.   Thus   in   1999,   RNP   returned   to   its   original   role   as   an   academic  Internet  provider.   By  1999,  RNP’s  situation  had  changed  considerably.  Instead  of  being  merely  a  project  of  Ministry   of  Science  and  Technology  (MCT),  with  consequent  instability  and  insecurity  for  RNP  staff  and   objectives,  a  non-­‐profit  private  company,  AsRNP  (Associação  Rede  Nacional  de  Ensino  e  Pesquisa   or  National  Education  and  Research  Network  Association),  was  formed  and  was  contracted  by   MCT  to  manage  the  national  network.  From  the  time  of  its  formation,  the  governing  body  of  
  • 6.   6   AsRNP   included   representatives   of   the   government,   LARC   (the   National   Laboratory   for   Computer  Networks)  and  SBC  (the  Brazilian  Computing  Society).     In  August  2000,  José  Luíz  Ribeiro  Filho,  after  having  supervised  the  long  process  of  the  creation   of  AsRNP  and  of  securing  its  financial  stability,  resigned  from  the  post  of  its  Director  General.  So   there  was  a  vacancy,  and  somebody  suggested  my  name  as  a  candidate  to  fill  it.  I  went  along   with  this  to  see  where  it  would  lead.  I  did  not  get  the  job  –  that  went  to  Nelson  Simões  da  Silva,   who  had  worked  closely  with  his  predecessor  –  and  Nelson  invited  me  to  come  back  to  RNP  to   work   with   him.   Since   by   that   time,   I   had   changed   universities   again,   and   since   I   could   now   combine  this  new  activity  at  RNP  with  my  new  university  job,  I  was  quite  happy  with  this,  and  I   have  been  at  RNP  in  the  new  role  of  Director  for  Research  and  Development  since  2001.   Tatiana  Ershova:  How  has  RNP  been  working  since  that?     Michael   Stanton:   The   relationship   between   the   computing   and   communications   research   communities   has   broadened   and   deepened,   while   the   network   has   grown   and   its   uses   multiplied.   By   2002,   AsRNP   had   been   formally   recognized   as   a   Social   Organization   by   MCT,   which  legally  permitted  the  ministry  to  sign  long-­‐term  contracts  without  a  tender  process,  and   to  administer  its  relations  with  AsRNP  in  a  similar  way  to  those  with  other  specialized  service-­‐ providing  institutions  (in  scientific  computing,  astrophysics,  synchrotron  light,  and  so  on)  which   fell  in  the  general  category  of  national  laboratories.     Of  equal  importance  was  the  cofinancing  of  AsRNP  activities  by  Ministry  of  Education  (MEC),   which  provided  by  far  the  largest  contingent  of  clients  of  the  national  network.  In  addition,  the   national  network  had  been  restructured,  using  the  recently  introduced  ATM  and  Frame  Relay   technologies,  that  permitted  incremental  adjustment  of  available  bandwidth.  This  new  network,   launched  in  2000,  was  known  as  RNP2,  even  though  it  was  much  more  limited  than  the  Abilene   network  of  Internet2.  However,  it  did  represent  a  significant  improvement  over  the  network  it   replaced,  and  was  what  was  economically  feasible  at  that  time.   Between  September  2000  and  September  2001,  when  he  was  confirmed  as  director  general  of   AsRNP,   Nelson   Simões   exercised   this   post   in   an   interim   capacity.   At   the   request   of   MCT,   a   workshop  was  held  at  RNP  headquarters  in  Rio  de  Janeiro  on  April  18th ,  2001,  to  discuss  the   future  directions  that  RNP  should  follow.  The  participants  included  14  invitees  from  the  research   community,  with  ten  from  networks  and  communications  and  four  from  different  network  user   domains,  as  well  as  a  representative  from  MCT,  and  the  remaining  four  directors  of  AsRNP.  All   the   user   domains   represented   (high-­‐energy   physics,   health,   bioinformatics,   climate/space   studies,   distance   education,   and   high-­‐performance   computing)   explained   their   network   requirements   for   the   foreseeable   future.   The   network   specialists   from   RNP   and   the   research   community  presented  some  of  the  technological  alternatives  that  could  be  considered.   After   the   workshop,   a   partnership   was   formed   between   RNP   and   CPqD   (the   former   state   telecommunications  monopoly’s  R&D  centre  in  Campinas,  that  had  been  privatized  as  a  non-­‐ profit  foundation)  to  build  an  optical  testbed  network  in  the  states  of  Rio  de  Janeiro  and  São   Paulo,  and  to  carry  out  and  promote  experimental  research  in  network  and  related  application   technologies  using  the  testbed  as  a  laboratory.  Project  GIGA,  as  the  initiative  became  known,   obtained   about   US$20M   in   funding   from   FUNTTEL   (Fund   for   the   Development   of   Telecommunications  Technology),  of  which  two  thirds  were  used  for  R&D  activities.  Using  dark   fibers  freely  lent  by  four  telcos,  the  project  lit  up  about  750  km  of  fiber,  including  the  use  of   DWDM  between  the  cities  of  Campinas,  São  Paulo,  São  José  dos  Campos,  in  São  Paulo  state,  and   the   city   of   Rio   de   Janeiro,   further   extensions   to   Cachoeira   Paulista,   in   São   Paulo   state,   and  
  • 7.   7   Niterói  and  Petrópolis,  in  Rio  de  Janeiro  state,  and  metro  networks  in  Campinas,  São  Paulo  and   Rio   de   Janeiro.   Including   laboratories   belonging   to   the   collaborating   telcos,   around   25   institutions  were  directly  served  by  the  resulting  testbed  network,  that  used  1  and  10  Gigabit   Ethernet  technology  to  provide  network  transport  between  collaborating  institutions.     GIGA  received  funding  between  2003  and  2007,  and  involved  a  great  many  research  institutions   throughout  Brazil.  RNP  coordinated  its  own  research  program,  with  its  own  scientific  committee   of  four  well-­‐known  researchers.  This  committee  received  and  evaluated  39  proposals,  with  the   assistance  of  19  ad-­‐hoc  referees  from  the  LARC-­‐SBC  community,  and  approved  33  for  support.   Due   to   continuity   problems   with   FUNTTEL   funding   in   2005   and   part   of   2006,   which   caused   interruptions  in  funding  of  all  supported  projects,  only  27  projects  were  effectively  concluded   after  funding  was  restored  in  2006.  These  included  five  in  advanced  network  technologies,  and   22  in  distributed  applications.     Tatiana  Ershova:  How  did  it  affect  the  scientific  community?   RNP’s  GIGA  research  program  effectively  involved  more  than  500  participants  from  35  Brazilian   and,  six  foreign  research  centers,  and  13  companies.  Academic  production  amounted  to  more   than  700  documents,  including  110  master’s  and  28  doctoral  theses,  180  articles  in  periodicals,   240  in  conferences,  two  books  and  16  book  chapters.  Technical  production  included  around  90   technical  reports  and  manuals,  54  products  (conceptual,  functional  and  product  prototypes)  and   10  services  (prototypes),  of  which  27  were  in  use  at  the  end  of  2008.  Twelve  technologies  were   effectively  transferred  to  companies,  and  transfer  of  technology  has  been  agreed  in  two  further   cases.   Apart   from   conducting   its   own   research   program,   RNP   also   participated   in   the   design   and   management  of  the  GIGA  testbed,  together  with  CPqD.  This  testbed  began  operation  in  May   2004,  and  is  still  active.  The  benefits  which  resulted  for  RNP  from  this  first  experience  in  Gbps   and  optical  networking  were  manifold,  and  were  later  put  to  good  use  in  the  design  of  the  next   generation  backbone  network,  and  the  metro  access  networks  begun  in  2005.   Going  back  to  2002,  RNP  launched  its  Working  Groups  (WGs)  initiative,  which  came  to  involve   the  academic  research  community  more  closely  in  the  development  of  new  network  services.   Although  the  first  five  WGs  were  the  result  of  invitations  to  selected  researchers,  from  2003   onwards,  the  WGs  were  selected  by  a  competitive  process  including  a  public  call  for  proposals,   with  participation  in  the  selection  committee  of  researchers  from  the  LARC-­‐SBC  community.   Each  instance  of  a  WG  is  a  12-­‐month  development  project,  financed  by  RNP,  involving  a  small   research  group  and  costing  about  US$  100,000.  If  progress  towards  the  prototype  after  one  year   is  judged  promising,  renewal  for  a  second  year  is  usually  granted,  in  order  to  demonstrate  the   feasibility  of  a  limited  service.  Since  2002,  RNP  has  supported  80  instances  of  WGs,  currently  at   the  rate  of  eight  per  year.  The  successful  demonstration  of  a  limited  service  by  the  end  of  the   second   year   means   the   resulting   product   becomes   a   candidate   to   become   an   experimental   service  the  following  year,  and  the  final  decision  to  deploy  a  service  experimentally  will  be  taken   by   the   board   of   directors   of   RNP.   Normally   a   successful   experimental   service   will   become   a   production  service.  The  management  of  the  program,  including  the  monitoring  of  the  working   groups,  has  been  carried  out  by  a  small  but  very  effective  team  at  RNP.   Tatiana  Ershova:  You  might  have  acquired  quite  a  lot  experience  of  building  networks!     Michael   Stanton:   Yes.   I   usually   would   also   study   how   other   academic   network   organizations   built  their  networks.  Many  of  these  ideas  were  discussed  at  RNP,  and  included  in  our  plans  for  
  • 8.   8   the  way  we  should  go,  a  kind  of  roadmap  for  RNP.  And  we  managed,  fortunately,  to  adopt  and   adapt   these   ideas   to   Brazil.   We   learned   of   the   importance   of   gaining   access   to   optical   infrastructure.   With   lessons   learned   from   Project   GIGA,   we   began   tendering   for   optical   wavelengths  for  the  fifth  version  of  our  national  network.  At  the  same  time  we  began  to  build   our  own  metropolitan  optical  networks,  applying  lessons  learned  from  the  Canadian  CANARIE   network,  and  the  Dutch  SURFNET.  Combining  these  two  innovations,  we  now  deliver  1  and  10   Gbps  connectivity  to  over  300  sites  nationally,  and  our  national  backbone,  already  mostly  built   with   10   Gbps   links,   should   include   some   100   Gbps   links   by   2015.   These   developments   enormously   increase  capacity  for  communication  and  enable  development,  and  this  we  have   been  doing  continuously  since  about  2003.  Our  network  and  the  services  provided  are  radically   different  from  what  we  had  10  years  or  13  years  ago.     Another  thing  that  is  important  was  that,  with  my  roots  in  the  research  community,  we  had   involved   our   research   community   in   the   development   of   services   and   network   technologies   within  RNP.  We  also  had  the  money  to  be  able  to  support  this  kind  of  activity,  and  it  has  been   very  fruitful.  It  enabled  a  lot  of  development  of  what  we  can  offer  our  users  just  to  be  able  to   interact  and  collaborate  with  other  networks  in  other  countries,  to  be  able  to  collaborate  in  joint   projects.  Through  RNP,  Brazil  is  now  recognized  as  an  international  actor  in  this  area.     The  other  important  development  is  that  our  base  within  the  government  has  widened.  We  now   also  have  support  from  the  Ministries  of  Health  and  of  Culture.  Our  interaction  in  the  health   sphere  is  mainly  concentrated  in  telehealth  and  telemedicine,  where  we  have  a  large  program   of   support   for   communication   and   collaboration   with   educational   programs   in   teaching   hospitals.  In  this  area  we  have  pioneered  the  use  of  ultra  high-­‐definition  (4K  =  8  Megapixels  per   frame)  live  imaging  of  surgical  procedures  to  remote  audiences  of  medical  students.  We  have  a   limited  amount  of  interaction  in  the  sphere  of  culture:  including  digital  cinema  (which  obviously   requires  networks  for  transmitting  content),  providing  connectivity  to  libraries  and  museums,   and  also  supporting  events  in  performing  arts.  We  would  like  that  to  improve  some  more.  An   unforeseen  collaboration  in  a  related  field  was  with  the  Japanese  public  TV  company,  NHK,  and   telco,  NTT.  We  recently  assisted    them  in  transmitting  live  images  to  Japan  in  “Super  Hi-­‐Vision”   (8K  =  33  Megapixels  per  frame)  of  football  matches  played  during  the  recent  FIFA  World  Cup.   This  transmission  used  our  international  network  links  to  the  outside  world,  and  worked  without   problems.   Tatiana  Ershova:  RNP  was  cooperating  with  different  countries  all  the  time,  through  all  the  time   it   has   existed.   What   were   the   main   lines   of   cooperation   and   what   were   the   results   of   that   cooperation?   Michael  Stanton:  Well,  initially  the  main  objectives  were  merely  to  have  connectivity.  I  mean,   the  Internet  would  not  exist  in  Brazil  without  international  connectivity.  Collaboration  with  their   peers  in  other  countries  has  always  been  the  main  inspiration  for  researchers  in  the  academic   community.  There  is  a  considerable  involvement  of  Brazil  in  the  international  projects  related  to   high-­‐energy  physics,  astronomy  and  astrophysics,  climate  (because  of  the  size  of  Brazil  and  its   geographical   position)   and   biodiversity   (because   of   the   richness   of   Brazil’s   fauna   and   flora).   There  are  a  lot  of  areas  in  which  international  cooperation  had  already  existed  but  all  links  have   strengthened  because  of  the  existence  of  international  communication  by  Internet.  It  seems  an   obvious  thing  to  do,  but  we  have  extended  collaboration  with  other  Latin  American  countries   over  the  past  ten  years.  In  2003  there  were  a  number  of  separate  academic  network  initiatives   within  Latin  America,  which  communicated  with  each  other  via  the  US,  and  so  we  created  our   regional   association,   with   the   support   of   the   European   Commission,   to   be   able   to   improve  
  • 9.   9   intraregional   connectivity   and   collaboration,   and   this   is   ongoing.   At   the   moment   we   are   discussing  international  connections  to  Europe  by  a  future  submarine  cable,  which  should  be   built  by  2016,  and  academic  capacity  in  this  cable  will  be  essentially  shared  with  other  countries   in  Latin  America.   We  have  started  collaborating  to  a  limited  extent  with  some  countries  in  East  Asia,  particularly   Korea  and  Japan,  and  also  in  Africa.  Africa  is  still  starting  up.  We  have  made  some  contacts  with   Africa   through   attending   networking   conferences   since   2012.   In   addition,   there   are   some   cultural  relations  between  Brazil  and  several  African  countries,  because  they  use  Portuguese  like   we  do.  Both  the  government  and  the  culture  sector  in  Brazil  have  a  major  interest  in  maintaining   connections  with  other  countries  where  Portuguese  is  spoken.  These  include  countries  in  Africa,   especially   Angola   and   Mozambique,   which   are   the   most   populous.   There’s   also   Portugal,   in   Europe,  of  course.   Tatiana  Ershova:  What  about  Russia?   Michael  Stanton:  There  are  some  areas  of  contact.  These  will  probably  grow  as  a  consequence   of  one  of  the  joint  programs  agreed  in  a  meeting  between  our  governments  this  July,  where  the   Brazilian  program  “Scientists  without  Frontiers”  was  extended  to  Russia.  This  program  provides   scholarships  for  Brazilian  students  to  continue  their  studies  abroad,  and  also  includes  exchanges   of   researchers   and   professors.   There   are   some   international   collaborative   initiatives,   like   the   Gloriad  project  of  the  US  “International  Research  Network  Connections”  program,  which  involve   some  groups  from  Russia  but  none  from  Brazil.   Tatiana  Ershova:  After  the  BRICS  summit  2014  which  took  place  recently  in  Brazil,  I  really  hope   that  our  cooperation  will  receive  an  impetus.   Michael  Stanton:  BRICS  involves  mainly  cooperation  in  the  economic  sphere.  We  read  about   these  things.  These  are  big  countries,  very  populous,  and  big  economies.  It  is  very  important  but   it’s  not  easy  to  collaborate  with  each  other  at  the  government  level  at  the  moment,  and  it  would   be   nice   if   there   were   things   that   we   could   do.   I   have   heard   once   of   some   bright   idea   of   constructing  a  super  cable  which  started  off  in  Vladivostok  and  was  going  to  pass  through  China,   India  and  South  Africa  all  the  way  to  Brazil.  I  am  not  sure  if  it  is  economically  justified  but  it   sounded  really  very  good  as  an  idea.   Tatiana  Ershova:  The  time  and  the  future  will  show  what  is  possible.   Michael  Stanton:  We  hope  there  will  be  a  lot  of  visitors  from  Russia  in  Brazil.  It  would  be  nice  if   they  interact  with  our  academic  community.   Tatiana  Ershova:  Now  I  would  like  to  ask  you  not  as  a  professional  but  just  a  human,  a  citizen.   How  do  you  use  the  Internet?  What  is  most  important  for  you?  What  is  impossible  to  imagine   without  the  Internet  now  for  you?   Michael  Stanton:  I  have  a  computer  on  my  desk  all  day.  I  take  it  home  with  me  at  night.  I  am   using  it  just  now  while  talking  to  you.  I  mean,  it  is  sort  of  my  continual  companion,  and  I  cannot   imagine  how  I  would  work  and  communicate  with  people  without  it.  For  instance,  when  I  was  a   student  and  for  many  years  after  coming  to  Brazil,  I  used  to  seek  out  scientific  libraries  in  order   to  learn  about  what  was  going  on,  both  in  my  own  area  and  in  others.  Today,  I  cannot  recall   when  I  last  stepped  into  a  library,  because  I  have  access  to  almost  everything  I  need  to  read   online.  This  is  greatly  facilitated  by  the  Brazilian  government  which  provides  online  access  to  an   enormous   collection   of   scientific   journals   and   other   important   documents   for   students   and   researchers  .  There  are  other  things  I  need  to  read,  of  course,  and  I  now  buy  rather  than  borrow  
  • 10.   10   the  books  I  might  need,  although  these  are  mostly  not  technical.  I  could  of  course  read  e-­‐books,   but  I  haven’t  gone  so  far  yet.   The  Internet  also  mediates  personal  communication,  and  at  RNP  we  spend  much  of  our  time  in   virtual  meetings,  where  we  can  see  each  other  and  share  documents,  even  internationally.  This   interview   is   being   conducted   using   Skype.   At   RNP,   we   have   developed   our   own   low-­‐cost   conferencing   system   that   can   integrate   professional   videoconferencing   stations   and   smartphones.   Good   communication   is   particularly   important   not   only   professionally   but   also   personally,   because  my  family  is  scattered.  I  come  from  Britain,  I  have  relatives  there.  I  have  three  children,   who  are  all  in  Europe  –  two  in  Germany,  one  in  England.  And  without  the  Internet  it  would  be   extremely   difficult   to   maintain   relations.   My   parents   were   not   Internet   users,   so   I   could   not   make   use   of   the   Internet   to   communicate   with   my   parents   even   after   we   actually   had   connectivity,  because  they  did  not.  The  only  thing  I  managed  to  do  with  them  was  to  start  using   fax  to  send  messages  after  a  certain  time,  but  nowadays,  especially  with  the  use  of  Internet   telephony,   like   Skype   and   Viber,   the   way   which   everybody   has   smartphones   and   so   on,   the   Internet  has  become  open  for  all  ways  of  communications.  This  morning  I  got  a  “WhatsApp?”   message  with  a  photograph  of  one  of  my  family  members  showing  what  he  saw  this  morning  on   his  way  to  work.  It  was  very  nice!  I  would  not  like  to  live  without  it,  I  am  now  used  to  knowing   what   is   going   on.   I   mean,   it   is   so   easy   to   do   so   because   of   the   Internet   that   created   a   new   communication  environment.   Tatiana  Ershova:  Thank  you  very  much,  Michael!    
  • 11.   11     We  need  to  preserve  what  the  Internet  has  brought  us.  Exclusive  interview  with   Demi  Getschko  by  Tatiana  Ershova,  ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ  ОБЩЕСТВО,  5-­‐6:2014,  4-­‐7     Demi  Getschko,  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Brazilian  Network  Information   Center  (NIC.br)     Tatiana  Ershova:  Demi,  you  are  known  as  a  key  player  on  the  team  that  established  the  first   Internet  connection  to  Brazil.  Please  tell  us  about  that  team.  What  had  you  all  done  at  that  time   and  where  did  it  lead  Brazil?   Demi  Getschko:  Brazilian  academic  networks’  interconnection  was  prior  to  their  connection  to   the  Internet  itself.  In  September  1988  the  National  Laboratory  for  Scientific  Computing  (LNCC)   established  the  first  Bitnet  connection  via  the  University  of  Maryland  in  the  United  States.  In   October  of  that  year  the  São  Paulo  State  Research  Foundation  (FAPESP)  also  connected  to  Bitnet   via   FermiLan   in   Batavia,   Illinois   with   five   nodes   –   the   University   of   São   Paulo,   University   of   Campinas,   State   University   of   São   Paulo,   and   the   Institute   of   Technological   Research   at   the   University  of  São  Paulo.  This  was  accomplished  through  establishing  a  network  associated  with   Bitnet,  the  São  Paulo  Academic  Network  (ANSP).     At  the  same  time  ANSP  was  connected  to  the  High  Energy  Physics  Network  (HEPNet)  of  which   FermiLan   was   the   hub.   On   18   April   1989   the   domain   .br   was   obtained   by   the   group   that   operated  FAPESP.  Then  in  September  1989  the  National  Research  Network  (RNP,  now  National   Education  and  Research  Network)  was  officially  constituted.  In  January  1991,  when  FermiLan   was   already   part   of   the   Energy   Sciences   Network   (ESNet),   a   backbone   using   TCP/IP,   the   first   Internet  packets  began  to  flow.     Consolidation  was  achieved  through  RNP.  RNP  began  to  spread  TCP/IP  throughout  Brazil  and   enjoyed   important   support   during   the   United   Nations   Conference   on   the   Environment   and   Development  (UNCED  or  Eco-­‐92).  During  that  conference  in  Rio  de  Janeiro  it  was  possible  to  use   international  links  to  keep  the  participants  connected  to  the  Internet.  The  network  grew  rapidly   and  in  1994  the  main  Brazilian  telecommunications  company  at  that  time,  Embratel,  announced   that  it  would  give  access  to  the  Internet.  Note  that  at  that  time  Brazil  was  committed  to  ISO/OSI   and  not  TCP/IP.  In  May  1995  the  Brazilian  Internet  Steering  Committee  (CGI.br)  was  established,  
  • 12.   12   formalizing  academic  initiatives  and  with  a  view  to  the  Brazilian  Internet’s  expansion  into  the   private  sector.   Tatiana  Ershova:  You  have  been  a  member  of  the  Brazilian  Internet  Steering  Committee  (CGI.br)   almost  20  years.  You  could  observe  the  evolution  of  the  Brazilian  Internet  governance  policies  for   quite  a  while.  What  were  the  key  elements  of  these  policies?  What  were  the  main  achievements   in  different  periods?   Demi  Getschko:  I  believe  the  most  important  point  is  the  establishment  of  a  multistakeholder   institution   that,   together   with   the   General   Telecommunications   Law   that   recognized   the   Internet  as  a  “value  added”  service  not  to  be  confused  with  telecommunications  (and  therefore   not   subject   to   the   Telecommunations   Regulatory   Agency   –   Anatel).   This   led   to   a   broad   and   healthy  dissemination  of  the  network.  With  the  reorganization  of  CGI.br  in  2003,  including  direct   elections  of  representatives  of  academia,  civil  society  organizations  (known  as  the  “third  sector”   in  Brazil),  and  the  private  sector,  but  maintaining  an  important,  but  not  majority,  participation  of   the   government,   the   model   was  further   reinforced.   Then,   in   2009,   after   almost   two   years   of   debate,   CGI.br   approved   ten   principles   safeguarding   the   concept   of   the   Internet.   These   principles   were   eventually   incorporated   into   the   “Bill   of   Internet   Rights”   (Marco   Civil   da   Internet)   signed   into   law   by   President   Dilma   Rousseff   during   the   opening   ceremony   of   NETmundial  in  São  Paulo  on  23  April  2014.     Tatiana  Ershova:  Your  name  is  closely  associated  with  the  ICANN  Board.  As  I  recall,  you  served   two   terms   there.   What   was   your   mission   and   how   did   it   help   Brazil   and   other   developing   countries?   Demi  Getschko:  Yes,  I  had  two  terms  on  the  ICANN  Board,  elected  by  the  Country  Code  Names   Support  Organization  (ccNSO).  I  was  not  officially  a  representative  of  Brazil,  but  elected  by  the   country   Top   Level   Domains   (TLD)   community   and   continued   to   defend   the   principles   that   I   thought  were  proper   Tatiana  Ershova:  You  played  a  critical  role  defining  the  rules  that  govern  the  Brazilian  registry.   What  distinguishes  the  Brazilian  rules  from  those  of  other  countries?   Demi  Getschko:  The  Brazilian  registry,  within  NIC.br  (the  executive  arm  of  CGI.br)  has  always   remained   a   private   non-­‐profit   organization.   The   success   of   the   .br   Top   Level   Domain   (TLD)   permitted   that   in   short   order   we   were   able   to   achieve   financial   independence   and,   subsequently,  a  surplus.  With  these  resources,  CGI.br  could  take  actions  in  favor  of  the  Internet   in  Brazil.  I  can  cite  the  creation  and  maintenance  of  the  Brazilian  Natonal  Computer  Emergency   Response   Team   (CERT.br),   and   of   the   Center   of   Studies   on   Information   and   Communication   Technologies   (CETIC.br).   CETIC.br   has   now   produced   ten   years   of   detailed   statistics   on   the   Internet,   available   free   of   charge   on   the   Internet,   courses   in   IPv6,   the   official   Brazilian   time   (NPT.br),   etc.   and   established   Traffic   Exchange   Points   (IXPs)   around   the   country,   with   an   aggregate   traffic   exceeding   600   Bbits/s.   This   places   Brazil   among   those   countries   with   the   greatest   exchange   of   local   traffic.   We   also   implemented   Domain   Name   System   Security   Extensions  (NNSSEC)  and  we  make  them  available  free  of  charge.  We  are  also  the  country  with   the  second  most  installed  copies  of  Internet  root  servers.     Tatiana  Ershova:  What  is  your  impression  on  the  Internet  Governance  Forum  (IGF)  that  has  met   since   2006.   Do   you   think   it   is   embodying   the   precept   of   the   Tunis   Commitment   and   Tunis   Agenda?  Are  its  deliberations  productive?  What  are  the  most  useful  outcomes  of  the  Forum?   Demi  Getschko:  I  think  that  the  Tunis  agenda  was  important.  Since  the  Tunis  conference  of  the   World  Summit  on  the  Information  Society  (WSIS),  ten  years  have  passed,  and  the  Internet  has  
  • 13.   13   evolved   rapidly.   The   IGF   is   an   excellent   forum   for   discussion   of   general   topics   regarding   the   Internet  and  has  become  a  generator  of  topics  to  discuss  and  debate.  It  is  not  a  decision-­‐making   forum,  but  one  for  dialogue  and  exchange  of  ideas.  I  think  it  should  continue  to  be  respected   and  supported  because  of  its  importance  for  the  Internet.     Tatiana  Ershova:  Brazil  hosted  the  NETmundial  conference  in  April  this  year.  You  were  Co-­‐Chair   of  the  Executive  Multistakeholder  Committee  organizing  the  event.    What  were  the  objectives  of   this   gathering   and   how   did   they   differ   from   those   of   IGF?   What   were   the   key   points   of   discussion?  What  is  Brazil’s  vision  for  the  Future  of  Internet  Governance  in  national  and  global   perspective?   Demi   Getschko:   I   think   the   most   important   result   of   NETmundial,   perhaps   the   first   really   multistakeholder  international  conference,  was  to  have  generated  two  documents  that  can  be   the  basis  for  the  Internet’s  evolution:  a  Declaration  of  Principles  (more  or  less  following  the  line   of   the   Brazilian   Internet   Bill   of   Rights)   and   a   Road   Map   for   making   aspects   of   Internet   governance   more   cooperative   and   multistakeholder-­‐oriented.     The   Internet,   because   of   its   geographic  expansion  and  independence  of  national  borders,  and  on  the  other  hand,  the  need   to   respect   the   national   legislation   of   each   country,   has   characteristics   that   are   not   easy   to   understand  and  that  go  beyond  earlier  paradigms.   Tatiana  Ershova:  My  traditional  question:  what  would  you  most  wish  our  readers  –  those  people   who  have  been  attentively  following  the  ICT  development  for  over  25  years    –    to  learn  from  this   interview?   Demi  Getschko:  I  think  that  the  fundamental  point  is  to  preserve  what  the  Internet  has  brought   us   at   the   same   time   we   create   structures   to   defend   it.   All   the   stakeholder   groups   should   participate  –  governments,  academia,  technical  experts,  the  third  sector,  and  the  private  sector   –  because  the  Internet  is  and  has  always  been  a  collective  construction.  Of  course  there  are   some   topics,   like   the   protection   of   privacy,   that   require   agreements   within   and   among   countries.  The  fact  is  that  the  current  environment  is  difficult  and  complicated.  The  future  of  the   Internet,   like   its   success,   should   support   its   “disappearance”   in   the   sense   that   it   will   be   a   ubiquitous  tool,  reliable  and  invisible.  Let  us  hope  that  we  can  assume  its  continuity  and  support   its  further  development.          
  • 14.   14     It  is  important  to  preserve  what  the  Internet  has  brought  to  our  lives.  Exclusive   Interview  with  Hartmut  Glaeser  by  Tatiana  Ershova,  ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ   ОБЩЕСТВО,  1:2015,  4-­‐6       Hartmut  Glaser,  Executive  Secretary  of  the  Brazilian  Internet  Steering  Committee  (CGI.br)     Tatiana  Ershova:  Hartmut,  in  the  Internet  Hall  of  the  Internet  Society  you  are  said  to  be  among   people  «who  bring  the  Internet  to  life».  What  does  it  mean  for  you?  What  is  the  main  thing  that   Internet  has  given  to  people  to  make  a  quantum  change  in  their  life?   Hartmut   Glaser:   To   be   clear,   I   am   not  an   inductee   of   the   Hall   of   Fame   established   by   the   Internet  Society,  but  I  am  a  member  of  the  Internet  Hall  of  Fame  Advisory  Board  and  a  select   group   of   past   inductees   are   responsible   for   the   final   selection   of   inductees.   (See   more   at:  http://www.internethalloffame.org/about   and   http://www.internethalloffame.org/about/advisory-­‐board).    But  it's  a  great  honor  to  be  among   the  people  who  worked  on  connecting  Brazil  to  the  Internet.  Some  say  "building  the  Brazilian   Internet".  That  is  conceptually  wrong.  There  is  only  one  Internet,  a  global  network  of  networks.   Our  task  in  the  past  was  to  connect  Brazil  to  the  rest  of  the  World.  I  think  that  is  exactly  the   main  thing  that  the  Internet  has  given  people:  the  chance  of  being  in  touch  with  the  rest  of  the   connected  world.  Our  main  challenge  these  days  is  to  get  more  and  more  people  connected.   Tatiana   Ershova:   Along   with   other   members   of   the   board   of   CGI.br,   you   signed   the   Public   Declaration  on  the  NETmundial  Initiative.  What  is  the  main  idea  of  this  declaration,  what  is  its   purpose?     Hartmut   Glaser:   The   NETmundial   Statement   is   a   normative   document   that   adopts   a   foundational  framework  for  the  future  evolution  of  the  Internet  –  in  technical,  social,  political,   economic,  and  cultural  terms.  It  comprises  a  set  of  principles  (that  resembles  CGI.br's  Decalogue   of  Principles)  and  a  roadmap  to  guide  all  stakeholders  in  the  field  of  Internet  governance.     Tatiana   Ershova:   Brazil   is   to   host   the   IGF   for   the   second   time   in   2015.   How   has   Internet   governance   in   your   country   changed   since   2007   when  you  gathered   the   global   Internet   community  in  Rio?  
  • 15.   15   Hartmut   Glaser:   The   Brazilian   multistakeholder   model   got   much   more   institutionalized   and   achieved  a  central  role  for  Internet-­‐related  public  policies  in  the  country.  From  the  IGF  2007,  the   members   of   the   board   of   CGI.br   put   together   through   rough   consensus   –   after   two   years   of   intense  consultations  –  a  model  Decalogue  of  principles.  CGI.br  led  the  creation  and  adoption  of   the  Marco  Civil  (Internet  Bill  of  Rights).  The  executive  branch  of  CGI.br,  the  Network  Information   Center  for  .br  (NIC.br),  a  not-­‐for-­‐profit  legal  entity,  conducted  several  projects  in  the  fields  of   infrastructure  development,  capacity  building,  ICT  research,  network  security  and  stability,  etc.   The   Marco   Civil   finally   was   signed   into   law   during   the   NETmundial  event   (April2014),   which   represented  a  milestone  for  Internet  governance  at  the  global  level  and  put  CGI.br  under  the   spotlight,  not  only  as  one  of  the  most  active  stakeholders  involved  with  the  Internet,  but  also  as   a  model  of  bottom-­‐up,  consensus-­‐driven,  inclusive,  transparent  and  democratic  governance  of   the  network.     Tatiana  Ershova:  What  are  the  milestones  for  global  Internet  governance  since  2006  when  IGF   was  announced  and  launched?   Hartmut  Glaser:  I  believe  it  is  better  to  understand  the  process  inaugurated  with  the  IGF  as  an   incremental  one.  Since  the  IGF  track  was  opened,  the  notion  of  multistakeholderism  has  grown   stronger.   Multistakeholderism   is   not   new   (think   of   the   labor   rights   regime,   the   environmental  protection,  regime,  the  United  Nations’  Economic  and  Social  Council  -­‐  ECOSOC   models  of  governance).  But  Internet  governance  contributed  to  the  need  of  having  this  model   for  public   deliberation   as   the   default.   The   notion   that   the   Internet   governance   cannot   be   understood  as  a  synonym  of  ICT  governance  is  another  accomplishment  worth  of  highlighting.   But  most  importantly,  the  IGF  has  been  year  after  year  creating  awareness  about  the  notion  of   equal   footing   among   different   stakeholders.   Not   just   in   formal   terms,   but   also   in   substantial   ones.     Tatiana   Ershova:   Brazil   has   proved   to   be   a   protagonist   of   multistakeholderism   in   Internet   governance.   What   are   the   main   reasons   for   that?   What  are   the  advantages   of   the   multistakeholder  approach  versus  top-­‐down  decision-­‐making  processes?     Hartmut  Glaser:  Part  of  that  results  from  the  practices  and  projects  developed  by  CGI.br  in  the   last  20  years,  which  I  described  above.  But  I  have  to  be  honest:  CGI.br  is  just  an  overarching   arena   for   the   engagement   of   all   stakeholders   in   Brazil   (government,   businesses,   civil   society,  technical   communities   and   academia).   Brazil   is   a   protagonist   due   to   the   maturity   reached  by  all  those  stakeholders  in  relation  to  the  importance  of  bottom-­‐up  decision-­‐making   processes   and   the   importance   of   their   participation   in   all   tracks   that   are   part   of   the   larger  Internet   governance   ecosystem.   Bottom-­‐up,   dialogic   decision-­‐making   processes   are   lengthier,  but  they  yield  long-­‐term  and  solid  results.  Top-­‐down  decision-­‐making  processes  are   faster  to  yield  results,  but  they  generally  lack  legitimacy  and  are  doomed  to  be  overturned  as   fast  as  they  are  adopted.  That's  why  multi-­‐stakeholder  approach  yield  better  fruits.   Tatiana  Ershova:  What  countries,  do  you  think,  are  the  most  mature  from  the  point  of  view  of   modern,  rational  Internet  governance?   Hartmut  Glaser:  I  am  not  in  a  position  to  make  explicit  reference  to  any  country.  I  would  just   reiterate  the  importance  of  the  NETmundial  Statement  as  a  pointer  for  answering  that  question.   The   Statement   is   a   benchmark.   Countries   that   abide   by   the   NETmundial   Principles   and   are  committed  to  the  roadmap  therein  can  certainly  be  placed  at  the  top  of  the  ranking.    
  • 16.   16   Tatiana   Ershova:.   The   Internet   has   brought   more   sharing   in   our   life   –   the   strict   copyright   paradigm   is   being   challenged   quite   seriously.   What   do   you  personally   think  about   sharing   vs   copyrighting  in  cyberspace?  Where  is  the  world  moving  at  this  point?     Hartmut  Glaser:  Nobody  ever  said  that  Internet  governance  does  not  involve  tough  trade-­‐offs.   No   matter   the   final   result   of   the   equation   sharing   vs   copyrighting,   it   is   important   that   the   calculus   be   made   through   open,   bottom-­‐up,   and   multistakeholder   practices   that   level   the   playing  field  for  all  stakeholders,  not  behind  closed  doors  and  in  small  clubs.