Telecom regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is seeking for the inputs and contributions of industry stakeholders, as well as the general public in the development of an open internet code of practice.
In a statement signed by the management of the NCC, stakeholders are expected to submit their input (comments, concerns, feedback, and suggestions for scope and content) via our Online Public Consultation Portal.
“A draft of the Internet Industry Code of Practice will be made available to stakeholders for feedback and change requests when ready. Stakeholders will be invited to a presentation of the draft at a special Stakeholder Consultation Workshop where they will be expected to critique and suggest improvements to the draft.
“Extensive consultation of stakeholders is crucial to the success of developing a code of practice in support of an open internet,” the Commission said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Internet Service Providers in Nigeria, relevant associations (ISPAN, CPN, ATCON, ALTON, GSMA, Nigerian Computer Society, Nigerian Internet Governance Forum and several Government Ministries, Agencies, and Departments (NCC, NITDA, NiRA, NBC, CBN, Ministry of Communication are some of the major key stakeholders identified by the Commission.
Others are security agencies (NPF, EFCC, ICPC, NSA; interested multinationals (Facebook, Microsoft, Oracle; academia and the general public.
Stakeholders are expected to submit their input (comments, concerns, feedback, and suggestions for scope and content) via an Online Public Consultation Portal provided by the commission, as input submitted will be taken into consideration in the drafting of the Internet Industry Code of Conduct.
According to NCC, the proposed Code of Practice seeks, among other things, The proposed Code of Practice seeks, among other things, to: protect the rights and interests of Internet Service Providers and consumers; provide jointly agreed and effective solutions to the issues of discriminatory traffic management practices; ensure adequate safeguards are put in place by service providers against abuses such as unsolicited messages;
The proposed Code of Practice will also outline the obligations of Service Providers in relation to offensive and potentially harmful content for minors and vulnerable audiences; promote the safe, secure and responsible use of Internet Services with due regard to provisions in existing legal instruments; establish best practices for Internet Governance in Nigeria, in line with emerging issues and global trends; provide transparent rules for the assessment and classification of Internet content; as well as increase stakeholder satisfaction through improved consumer experience online.