Policy for a Networked Society: Policy Participation
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The Policy for a Networked Society initiative supported transparent, accountable, and globally inclusive policy making processes for the Internet and information technology. Its goal was to expand the pool of thinkers, advocates, and nonprofit experts to represent the public's interest in key policy discussions.
InterAction
In March 2002, Markle initiated a 2-year collaboration with
InterAction to expand nongovernmental organizations' (NGOs) use of information and communications technologies (ICT) to facilitate their humanitarian relief and development work. This effort built on InterAction's existing ICT Network, helping members to share best practices, create new models, and develop partnerships to address the needs of developing nations.
Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Clinic
In association with the
Internet Clinical Advocacy Project, Markle provided support that helped this center continue its
clinic, which focused primarily on intellectual property issues related to non-digital and other media.
Western Governors’ University
With Markle’s support, the Institute for State Studies at
Western Governors’ University conducted research in organizational development and project planning, principally in the area of governance in the 21st century.
National Consumer Law Center
Markle partnered with the
National Consumer Law Center in 2001 to help this organization continue its leadership role on the facilitation of e-commerce and consumer protection. The work involved analysis and advocacy support in the battles over consumer protections in e-commerce.
Uniform Dispute Resolution Process Tracking
The
Uniform Dispute Resolution Process (UDRP) Tracking project ensured the completion of a standardized public database that provided free access to an online compendium of archived decisions regarding domain name dispute cases. Markle contributed to the design and implementation of the UDRP Tracking system.
Markle Fellows at Oxford University, United Kingdom
In June 2001, Markle created the
Markle Fellowship at Oxford University, which was designed to encourage individuals and institutions to develop comparative approaches to communications law and policy issues. The goals of the program were to increase information sharing, maintenance of a global governance network, and the identification of new leading thinkers on policy from around the world.
Internet Standards Bodies
The Internet Standards Bodies initiative was conducted in collaboration with the
Center for Democracy and Technology. The project focused on emerging technical and policy decisions related to free expression, privacy, and access to information on the Internet.
The Development of the Internet in China
Since 2001, Professor Guo Liang from the Center for Social Development of the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has surveyed the development of the Internet in China and, with Markle's support,
four reports have been released. These reports provide the necessary baseline facts and figures to accurately understand the Internet’s effect on everyday life in China.
Internet Clinical Advocacy Project
Accountability Framework for the Internet
Markle Fellows at the New America Foundation
In November 1999, the Markle Foundation created the Markle Fellowship Program at the
New America Foundation. The program funded nine scholars who published original works about the ways in which information technology can benefit society. The program was designed to support the next generation of public intellectuals, to foster fresh ideas, and to contribute to the dialogue on these issues, both nationally and internationally.
Internet Governance Project
The Internet Governance Project was designed to promote the public interest in nontraditional, international venues where decisions are made and standards are set with respect to the Internet. The issues under consideration included e-commerce standards, intellectual property, consumer protection, privacy, content regulation, taxation, and online jurisdiction. In its initial year of activities, Markle focused on increasing public participation in the
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the Internet's first official governance body, and to make that body more accountable to all users of the Internet. The project sought to ensure that the election of ICANN's board of directors was representative, fair, and credible.
The Berkman Center for Internet and Society
Programme on Comparative Media Law and Policy at Oxford University
The
Programme on Comparative Media Law and Policy was created in September 1996 to address the need for detailed study of the policy and regulation strategies that nations follow in response to media globalization, and the implications of these strategies for democracy and human rights. This initiative enabled field experts to strengthen the monitoring of national and international approaches and policies, and facilitated regional, national, and local debate on the relationships among information flow, regulation, culture, and governance.