Abstract
This paper presents an overview of the national policies related to public access to information and communication technologies (ICT) in Colombia. Public access to ICT, through venues such as libraries, telecenters and cybercafés, can be a powerful driver to bridge the digital divide and to contribute to social and political equality and change. While the country was one of the region’s pioneers in regard to ICT policy, and has exhibited an unusual degree of public consultation, citizens’ participation, and emphasis on social issues beyond basic infrastructure and connectivity, many challenges remain to ensure equitable access and effective social appropriation of ICT to contribute to human development in the country. The government’s interest in public access to ICT is unique in the Americas, and it complements the telecenter initiatives sponsored by non-profit organizations; furthermore, public libraries play an increasingly strong role in offering public access to ICT. By bringing together the trajectory and contributions of government policies and social organizations in the country, this paper presents a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the public policy environment in Colombia, and how it is enabling (or hindering) the use of ICT for human development and social change.
Recommended Citation
Baron, Luis and Gomez, Ricardo, "FROM INFRASTRUCTURE TO SOCIAL APPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTING: AN ASSESSMENT OF ICT POLICY IN COLOMBIA" (2012). AMCIS 2012 Proceedings. 1.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2012/proceedings/AdoptionDiffusionIT/1
FROM INFRASTRUCTURE TO SOCIAL APPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTING: AN ASSESSMENT OF ICT POLICY IN COLOMBIA
This paper presents an overview of the national policies related to public access to information and communication technologies (ICT) in Colombia. Public access to ICT, through venues such as libraries, telecenters and cybercafés, can be a powerful driver to bridge the digital divide and to contribute to social and political equality and change. While the country was one of the region’s pioneers in regard to ICT policy, and has exhibited an unusual degree of public consultation, citizens’ participation, and emphasis on social issues beyond basic infrastructure and connectivity, many challenges remain to ensure equitable access and effective social appropriation of ICT to contribute to human development in the country. The government’s interest in public access to ICT is unique in the Americas, and it complements the telecenter initiatives sponsored by non-profit organizations; furthermore, public libraries play an increasingly strong role in offering public access to ICT. By bringing together the trajectory and contributions of government policies and social organizations in the country, this paper presents a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the public policy environment in Colombia, and how it is enabling (or hindering) the use of ICT for human development and social change.