<<December 13, 2000>>
Archived distributions can be retrieved by clicking on the top lines of our home page at <http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/>.

Dr. Paul Lefrere <p.lefrere@open.ac.uk>

michel.brochard@cec.eu.int

P. Tapio Varis, Ph.D, Professor <tapio.varis@uta.fi>

Terry Grant <Terry.GRANT@DG22.cec.be>

Mr Paul Verhoef <PauI.Verhoef@cec.eu.int>

Juliette Boom <Juliette.Boom@cec.eu.int>

Mr Robert Verrue <Robert.Verrue@cec.eu.int>

Peter T. Knight, Ph.D. <ptknight@attglobal.net>

Dr. Joseph N. Pelton <ecjpelton@aol.com>

Dr. David A. Johnson, AICP <daj@utk.edu>

Francis J. Method <fmethod@erols.com>

Dear Paul:
==========

(1) Many thanks for your msg (ATTACHMENT I) about the Information Day
Conference (1/8th-9th) and mtgs with echelons of European Commission for
the fund raising of our Global University System (GUS) project (1/10th) in Luxembourg.

(2) As discussed in our previous msgs, Tapio and I will be there from 1/8th
to 1/10th with you. (Tapio will leave back late of 1/11th and I on 1/14th.)

(3) ATTACHMENT II is a brief outline on the current status of our various projects.

Pls feel free to use any part of it for your write-up for echelons of the European Commission.

In a separate email, I am sending you its file in WORD format.

This is also retrievable at
http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/Global_University/Global%20University%20System/Outline%20of%20GLOSAS%20Projects/12-13-00.html

Dear Tapio and Paul:
====================

(4) For your presentation (2 slides & 5 minutes presentation), pls feel free
to utilize any part of my PowerPoint slides at http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/Manila%20Workshop/AAOU_Manila_1-27-00_copy/GLOSAS+WS+USPNet_Folder/GLOSAS+WS+USPNet.htm

In a separate email, I am sending you its original file.

Slide #5 and #11 may be suitable.

Dear Ms. Grant, Mr. Verhoef, Ms. Boom, and Mr. Verrue:
======================================================

(5) We would be very happy if we can have a chance to meet with you during
our stay in Luxembourg. Pls let me know your availability.

Ms. Grant inquired to me about a virtual university -- when introduced by Tapio.

Mr. Verhoef, Ms. Boom, and Mr. Verrue inquired to me about our Global
Service Trust Fund (GSTF) project.

Dear Peter, Joe, David, Frank:
==============================

(6) Pls retrieve "Fund raising for GSTF and GUS projects - December 4, 2000" at
http://www.friends-partners.org/~utsumi/gu-l/mid-2000/12-4-b.html

Dear Peter:
===========

Pls feel free to utilize any part of ATTACHMENT II for your drafting a
grant application to the InfoDev on our GSTF project.

Dear Joe, David and Frank:
==========================

Peter and I wait for your write-ups for Peter's grant application.
Thanks in advance.

Best, Tak
****************************************
ATTACHMENT I

Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2000 20:56:23 +0000
Subject: Education & Training InfoDay - Luxembourg, 10 January 2001
To: tapio.varis@uta.fi
Cc: utsumi@friends-partners.org, vita@is.lviv.ua, utsumi@columbia.edu, ik@uar.net

Dear Tapio cc Tak, Ihor, Victoria

As you may know, I have been very successful in obtaining support from the
European Commission for R&D projects, under its IST framework. (In my
experience, it is often easier to obtain large funds, as for a major
project, than small funds, as for a workshop.)

On 15 January there will be a new call for proposals, and I think the GUS
could form the basis for an excellent proposal (I have begun to draft one
in the hope that you are interested). UNESCO could be a partner, as could
any institution based in the EU and in certain other geographic areas
(e.g., Ukraine might be eligible to receive funds; but the US would not be).

I therefore draw your attention to the forthcoming Open House "information
day", run by the Commission. This will be in Luxembourg on the 10th of
January 2001, following a concertation event for current projects, on the
8/9th January. I shall be there on the 8/9th, but may not be able to stay
until the 10th (although I shall try).

Best wishes

Paul
----
PS Here is what the organisers of the event say:

========================================

This event will allow the presentation of the actions in Education and
Training sector for 2001 as well as face-to-face meetings with EC
representatives and potential partners.

What?
The Information Day will address the three next future calls under the
WorkProgramme 2001 for Education & Training. These three Calls for Proposals
are the following:
Key Action III.2.1: Self-Learning (Launched 15 January 2001)
Key Action III.2.2: eLearning futures (Launched 15 January 2001) Cross
Programme Action 8: eLearning for European youth in the digital age. (Launched 15 June 2001)

How?
The first objective of this InfoDay is to present these three calls, their
context, their expectations, their meanings. This day aims also to allow
questions from new comers as well as from experienced proposers to be
answered, either by face-to-face meetings with EC representatives, or during
specific session or even at a dedicated help-desk (more dedicated to all the
administrative issues).

It will also be a unique opportunity to meet potential partners coming from
other 1activity domains. Possibilities to present shortly your activities (2
slides & 5 minutes presentation) will be offered.

Why?
This InfoDay will offer the opportunity at all participants: to clearly
understand the objectives and expectations of the three new Calls For
Proposals, to get a global idea of the state-of-the-art in the field as well
as the current issues and existing problems, to meet potential partners, to
exchange ideas and experiences, to have questions answered by EC staff about
calls, procedures, administrative issues, etc. even to present ideas, current
projects and developments.

Who?
University organisations;
Technology & infrastructure companies:
Satellites and learning infrastructures providers, Technology providers,
including 3rd generation mobile, TELCO;
Broadcaster;
Schools and associations thereof;
Etc.

The lists mentioned here above are non exhaustive and aim to give the flavour
of the expected participants.

Where?
Room M2
Jean Monnet Building
Rue Alcide de Gasperi
Kirchberg, Luxembourg

Contact
E-mail: michel.brochard@cec.eu.int

Further Details:
URL: http://www.proacte.com/meetings/
****************************************
ATTACHMENT II

Outline of GLOSAS Projects

December 13, 2000

Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., P.E.,
Chairman, GLOSAS/USA
(GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.)
Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education
President Emeritus and V.P. for Technology and Coordination of Global University System (GUS)
43-23 Colden Street, Flushing, NY 11355-3998, U.S.A.
Tel: 718-939-0928; Fax: 718-939-0656 (day time only--prefer email)
Email: utsumi@columbia.edu; http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/
========================================
Outline of GLOSAS Projects

I. Introduction

The dawn of the twenty-first century comes with a digital revolution and
economic globalization with a New Economy. We are moving towards a global
knowledge society where information skills and competence become the driving
forces of social and economic development. Effective learning requires
upgraded multimedia educational materials, preferably distributed using
broadband Internet applications. The use of these applications for global
distance learning and telehealth/telemedicine must be efficient and
cost-effective, enabling educational institutions to foster global citizenship
and achieve "education and healthcare for all" at anytime and anywhere. The
Internet will be the main telecommunication media of tomorrow. Broadband
Internet holds great promise for improving multimedia distance learning and
healthcare capabilities in global scale, especially in rural and isolated
areas that are not well served by commercial network providers.

II. GLOSAS/USA

The GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.
(GLOSAS/USA) is a publicly supported, non-profit, educational service
organization and is a consortium of organizations dedicated to the use of
evolving telecommunications and information technologies to further advance
world peace through global communications. GLOSAS fosters science and
technology based economic development to improve the quality of life.

Over the past two decades GLOSAS/USA played a major pioneering role in
extending U.S. data communication networks to other countries and deregulating
Japanese telecommunication policies for the use of e-mail (thanks to help from
the Late Commerce Secretary Malcolm Baldridge). This triggered the
de-monopolization and privatization of Japanese telecommunications industries.
This movement has later been emulated in many other countries. This effort
helped in extending American and other countries' university courses to
under-served developing countries and the conduct of innovative distance teaching
trials with "Global Lecture Hall (GLH)" (TM) videoconferences using hybrid delivery technologies.

III. Tampere Workshop

Thanks to generous funds from the InfoDev of the World Bank, the US National
Science Foundation, Finnish Ministry of Education, the British Council and
many others, a highly successful International Workshop and Conference on
"Emerging Global Electronic Distance Learning (EGEDL)" was held in August,
1999 at the University of Tampere in Finland -- see <http://www.uta.fi/EGEDL>
for the compilation of the conference materials.

The event brought together about 60 decision-makers and leaders in distance
learning and telemedicine from 14 underserved countries who discussed
practical solutions for the implementation of affordable global electronic
distance learning across national boundaries. They brainstormed on the
formation of the following three;

A. Global University System (GUS) (TM),
B. Global Broadband Internet (GBI),
C. Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF) (TM).

The group formulated specific pilot projects focussed on major regions of the
world to reduce the growing digital divide between information rich and
information poor populations, as realizing "education and healthcare for all,"
at anytime and anywhere.

IV. Global University System (GUS)

The goal of the GUS is to improve the global learning and wellness environment
for people in the global knowledge society where the global responsibility is
shared by all. A central theme is the sharing and exchange of knowledge among
educational, research, industry and trade sectors. The GUS will (1) seek
open, egalitarian and culturally transparent methods to achieve improved
learning and healthcare worldwide, cooperating closely with people around the
world, (2) harness the emerging technologies of broadband Internet
connectivity among institutions of higher learning in developing countries to
provide learners of all ages with global distance learning across national and
cultural boundaries, (3) foster youngsters around the world with creative
competition for excellence through affordable and accessible broadband
Internet, (4) coordinate and facilitate national and international regional
systems which will support and complement the traditional institutions of
learning and healthcare, by using conventional methods in tandem with advanced
electronic media.

The GUS has group activities in the major regions of the globe. They are
developing their pilot projects in;
(1) the Asia-Pacific region (with Manila in the Philippines as its first
target, and then with Japan, China, Pakistan, Western and South Pacific),
(2) North America (for indigenous peoples in the states of Arizona and
Montana and in Calgary in Canada),
(3) Central America (e.g., Costa Rica and the Caribbean),
(4) South America (mainly with UNAMAZ consortium in Amazon basin in initial
stage, Argentina, etc.),
(5) Europe (firstly with Ukraine), and
(6) Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, etc.).

Each of those regional groups with partnerships of higher learning and
healthcare institutions will foster the establishment of GUS in their
respective regions with the use of advanced global broadband Internet private
virtual network which is to be financed by the Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF).

Each of these regional groups are now preparing to hold a mini-workshop;
1. to learn by the North American and European counterparts the current
status of distance learning and telemedicine (including the delivery
infrastructure) of the regional groups in the developing countries,
2. to learn the need of the regional groups in the future,
3. to present what can be (or will be) available from North America and Europe,
a. via narrow-band Internet and ISDN, etc., i.e., through currently
available telecom infrastructure,
b. via broadband Internet when it is available,
4. to configure administrative and business schemes,
5. to make an action plan,
6. to plan, program and construct a joint fund raising proposal for a
workshop / conference (as to follow-up to our Tampere event) with the
people of the region. This event is to produce a concrete feasibility
study, design of infrastructure and administrative structure, selection
of courseware, etc.

The officers of the GUS are:
P. Tapio Varis, Ph.D., Acting President,
(University of Tampere, former rector of the United Nations University of Peace in Costa Rica);
Marco Antonio Dias, Ph.D., Vice President for Administration,
(former director of Higher Education of UNESCO);
Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., Vice President for Technology and Coordination, (Chairman of GLOSAS/USA);
Dr. Pekka Tarjanne, Trustee member,
(former Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU));
Fredric Litto, Ph.D., Special Advisor,
(University of Sao Paulo and President of Brazilian Association of Distance Education);
David A. Johnson, Ph.D., Special Advisor,
(University of Tennessee, Former President of Fulbright Association).

Some of major regional activities are as follows.

A. GUS/Ukraine

Ukraine was chosen as the first targeted country for the operation of the
European Regional Group of the GUS to establish a global distance learning
system with global broadband Internet. The Open University/UK, the GUS and
Ukrainian Distance Learning System (UDL) (a consortium of 27 Ukrainian
organizations) <http://www.udl.org.ua/en/> is now planning to hold a workshop
at the Open University. The UDL has been offering a dozen distance learning
courses, mainly in business administration field. In close co-operation with
the Open University, a Memorandum of Understanding was developed
<http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/Global_University/Global%20University%20System/Memo_of_Understanding/Cover_Sheet.html>.

The main purpose of this workshop are;
(a) to configure the extension of distance learning courses available from
the Open University/U.K. to Ukraine through the currently available Internet,
(b) to plan a grant application for a workshop in Ukraine and for
feasibility study/market survey of implementing a broadband Internet to
Ukraine which application will be submitted to the InfoDev of the World
Bank and other funding sources in Europe.

At this workshop, the Ukrainian delegation will establish new institutional
partnerships in order to expand the market of educational services, to create
market for distance education in Ukraine, professional development of local
tutors for teaching in Ukraine and course content adaptation, quality and
international quality standards, managing for quality in distance learning to
receive professional recognition or accreditation (assessment of college's
administrative and tutorial methods, educational materials, and publicity),
and cross-cultural approach and joint research work.

B. GUS/Manaus, Amazon, Brazil

South America is the home of one of the world's unique environment, the Amazon
Rainforest. The region was considered as an empty area in terms of human
population density, particularly in the Brazilian side. Recently, the media
called the world's attention to the deforestation and biodiversity loss
problems that were happening in the region. The world was also concerned
about the increasing problems associated with drugs. Those problems were
clear indication that the empty area was starting to suffer the consequences
of human activities.

These problems can be substantially minimized if the isolation problem is
addressed. Isolation makes people unaware of their importance as citizens and
promotes impoverishing and degradation of the environment and economic system.
In these situations, people will not understand the importance to conserve the
environment or how to benefit from it without compromise their own future as
well as the future of future generations. Ultimately, such unawareness can
perpetuate a cycle of economic and social poverty and environmental degradation.

The implementation of modern low-cost communication technology can drastically
reduce the risks threatening the region. A broadband communication network
connecting major universities in Amazona will promote the exchange of
scientific information through universities of UNAMAZ (a consortium of 77
universities in 8 Amazonian countries), access to non-traditional education
format, development of pharmaceutical and other industries associated to
biodiversity, development of entrepreneurial activities related to distance
learning and opportunities to cultural integration and understanding among the
countries in the region. In addition, such a strong network will develop
means and opportunities to establish a broadband connection with the rest of
the world and to reduce or eliminate the current intercontinental connection constraints.

As the first step, colleagues in Manaus is now preparing a grant application
which is to be submitted to the InfoDev of the World Bank and other funding sources,
(a) to configure the availability of distance learning courses locally
through the currently available Internet,
(b) to hold a workshop in Manaus for feasibility study/market survey of
implementing a broadband Internet in Manaus.

This project is a community development approach, firstly connecting non-profit
organizations (elementary, secondary and higher education institutions,
libraries, hospitals, local governmental agencies, etc.) and secondly with
for-profit organizations, thus all applicable groups are inclusive. This
activity is to be a model replicable to other localities and regions, as
leading the use of the advanced Internet in various sectors of societies. The
higher educational institution selected in the locality will have the
broadband Internet satellite earth-station, and will become the major Internet
Service Provider (ISP) to the local community of non-profit organizations.
The higher education institution will then provide teacher training to
secondary and elementary schools, and also act as facilitators and technical
supporters to other non-profit organizations.

It is expected that interaction among the main universities of the
international Amazona will contribute to disseminate information about
alternatives to promote sustainable development in Amazona. At the same time,
the region's population will have better access to healthcare information,
which will contribute for a better quality of life. In addition, a number of
distance learning courses will be developed what will decrease isolation and
offer better opportunities for those living in the region. More information
can be retrieved at
http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/Tampere_Conference/Final_Report/Pilot_Project_Proposals/South_America/infoDev_Proposal_Form.html
and
http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/Manaus%20Workshop/Alex_slides_6-2-00/index.htm

C. GUS/Philippines

The GUS/Philippines has been formed as a consortium of the St. Luke College of
Medicine, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of Santo
Thomas (UST), the University of the Philippines/Open University and STI
Network of Colleges and Education Centers. They will establish distance
learning demonstration projects in cooperation with the US counterparts. The
consortium will explore technical capabilities and options, as well as match
educational needs and resources, for the delivery of affordable, needs based
distance learning in the Philippines and between the Philippines and the US,
thus realizing global collaboration and partnership to ensure students' learnability.

They are now preparing a workshop at the St. Luke College of Medicine and at
the Polytechnic University of the Philippines next spring with funds from the
US National Science Foundation, Citicorp, etc. This is to collectively
brainstorm on the formalization and solidification of the pilot project on
international distance learning between the Philippines and the U.S.

The purposes of the workshop are to:
1. Introduce the aforementioned pilot project to Filipino,
2. Learn from Filipinos about,
a. current status of distance learning and telemedicine (including the delivery infrastructure),
b. their need in the future, particularly when a broadband Internet will be available,
3. Present what can be (or will be) available from North America,
a. via narrow-band Internet and ISDN, etc., i.e., through currently available telecom infrastructure,
b. via broad-band Internet when it is available,
4. Discuss and plan the theme and program of the larger workshop/conference
(as to the follow-up to our Tampere event -- for 3 to 4 or 5 days);
a. to formalize the draft of the pilot project proposal,
b. to make the feasibility study, action plan, etc. to realize the
project of establishing domestic and international distance learning and telemedicine,
i. firstly, via the currently available narrow-band Internet,
ii. in the near future, via the proposed global broadband wireless and satellite Internet,
iii. to configure administrative and business schemes,
5. Plan joint fund raising for the larger workshop/conference.

The telepresence demonstration with echocardiography will be performed at the
conference by the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. The
echocardiograph signal of a patient on a tread mill in Manila will be sent to
Michigan for diagnosis, as we have done during our Tampere event in Finland in
August, 1999. However, this time, the 3D image of his heart will also be
constructed as an upgraded feature. Both will be disseminated to the
participants around the world via ISDN and Internet. This is a follow-up to
our similar demonstration during our Manaus, Amazon, Brazil event on May 31 to
June 2, 2000 -- see <http://lab-tiama.pop-am.rnp.br/cca/workshop/English/wksp_E.htm> and
<http://www.teched.org/hist/yr00/brazil/>.

This demonstration is also to open the eyes of decision-makers for the value
of broadband Internet so that they will install it in remote/rural areas of
developing countries at their earliest possible time.

The global broadband Internet infrastructure also provides exciting
opportunities for distance/distributed learning. Workshop presentations will
explore applications, as well as technical strengths and weaknesses for
sharing education, information, and resources throughout the world.
Discussions are well underway among conference participants regarding the
development and dissemination of education for engineers, healthcare
providers, emergency medical professionals, and primary and secondary teachers.

The expected outcome of the workshop are:
Formation of project/partnership teams
Direction for collaboratively furthering global electronic distance education
Assessment of the technical capacity and infrastructure setup in the Philippines
Needs assessment and content for pilot projects
Enhancement of human and infrastructure capacity (whenever required)
Organization and implementation of distance learning (DL) courses
Assessment of the effectiveness and sustainability of the approach established
Development of a wider program to broaden the utilization of DL to other sectors and specialties
Strategy of joint fund raising for the projects of implementing selected DL courses
Outline of the larger workshop
Fund raising strategies for the larger workshop
Conference report for public dissemination

D. GUSs in Other Regions

Colleagues in other regions mentioned above are at various stages of preparing
similar workshop in their localities.

V. Global Broadband Internet (GBI)

GUS will foster the development of distance learning and telemedicine pilot
projects using broadband Internet technology in order to enhance their
teaching/learning capabilities. The GUS will also facilitate connectivity
among current distance learning efforts around the world and will provide
support and guidance to selected pilot projects intended to serve as models
for adoption around the world.

Each regional satellite hub of the GUS will be connected with their
counterparts in developed countries with the use of digital satellites across
continents and oceans. However, if possible, it is desirable to use optical
fiber terrestrial line to avoid time delay for the round trip to/from
geostationary satellite. This is because such a time delay prohibits
effective audio conversation which is absolute necessity of videoconferencing.

The each regional satellite hub will then be connected to regional constituent
member organizations (elementary and secondary schools, higher education,
libraries, hospitals, local governmental agencies, etc.) in mid-range (50 to
200 miles) apart from each other with the use of microwave broadband (1.5 to
45 Mbps) Internet networks.

Those organizations will then emanate the broadband Internet service further
to similar nearby (up to 25 miles) organizations with wireless spread spectrum
broadband (3 to 10 Mbps) Internet networks, which use does not require license
in most of countries.

These are the so-called fixed wireless" approach with the requirement of the
line-of-sight," and hence, this technology can be used only among buildings.
The users have to belong to the organizations of the buildings, hence
prohibiting the use of the broadband Internet by individual outreach students
at their homes. The buildings with broadband Internet connection will then
also become relay points for the so-called third generation mobil wireless"
units which are now rapidly appearing in the market, e.g., 96 Kbps or 164 Kbps
Internet access in Japan and Europe. This advanced mobil wireless unit with
laptop/notebook will realize distance learning for anyone, anywhere, and
anytime with capabilities of Internet telephony, fax, voice mail, e-mail, web
access, videoconferencing, etc.

This is not only to help local community development, but also assure close
cooperation among higher, middle and lower levels of education, e.g., for
teacher training, and courseware development, etc. In a sense, the regional
satellite hub is to be the major Internet Service Provider (ISP) of the global
private (exclusive) virtual network (PVN) for not-for-profit organizations in
the region, and the gateway to the outside world.

VI. Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF)

Deployment of this high-speed Internet for education and health applications
in developing countries would be financed with a Global Service Trust Fund
(GSTF) which will use all available satellite and optical-fiber facilities to
further the cause of worldwide distance learning, telehealth/telemedicine and
other social services such as emergency warning and rescue.

Objective steps must be taken to:
Reduce the cost of broadband connectivity to a level poor countries can afford.
Create policy and regulatory frameworks conducive to the development of
sustainable distance learning and telemedicine programs.
Establish high-quality applications in sufficient developing country
sites to demonstrate technical feasibility, increase demand, and build
support for more extensive use of such technologies in developing country contexts.
The GSTF especially aims to ease the congestion of the international Internet
lines across continents and oceans, for which no organizations have currently
being taken care of.

Two separate contribution "funds" or "sources" would be established, an
in-kind bandwidth transmission source and a financial assistance source. The
Coalition for this GSTF ideally would include a broad coalition of commercial
and governmental sources. These might include key international organizations
such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations
Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (UNESCO), the World Health
Organization (WHO), and International Labor Organization (ILO) plus commercial
satellite system providers, equipment manufacturers and providers of
tele-education and tele-health providers. The Coalition would also include
international development banks, bilateral aid agencies, foundations, and
various types of companies contributing to the GSTF as well as organizations
contributing education and healthcare knowledge.

The proposed GSTF would be financed from a variety of public and private
sources, which could include:
Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) funds of countries belonging to
the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) with
multi-lateral collaboration,
Cash contributions from the profits of international financial
institutions such as the World Bank and the regional development banks.
Cash contributions from foundations and companies.
Contributions in kind from companies owning under-used satellite
transponders and/or fiber optic cable -- for these companies, the
marginal cost of making available under-used existing bandwidth is near
zero, but providing it may build future markets for sale at (declining) commercial prices.
The GSTF's bandwidth source might be allocated through a variety of means that
might even include an auction process to organizers of distance learning and
telemedicine projects in qualifying countries. Providers of services, might
be required to make some commitments of resources and in-kind participation to
qualify to use the GSTF's assets. The cash source might be used for grants to
such projects, with rules favoring poorer countries and end beneficiaries,
assuring a certain geographical distribution of benefits between regions, and
so forth. Grants might also favor international knowledge sharing. All
grants would be made through open competitive process.

This activity is now being adopted by the newly established [Arthur C.] Clarke
Institute of Telecommunications and Information (CITI)
<http://www.clarkeinstitute.com/> and coordinated through GLOSAS/USA and the
GUS. A credible, reliable, and competent structure will be established to
administer the allocation of both the financial resources (which can be used
to purchase bandwidth), as well as the in-kind donations of under-used
bandwidth which would be solicited from its owners.

The GSTF will, however, eventually be an independent entity and be
operationalized under the auspices of international organizations including
INTELSAT, UNESCO, ITU, WHO, ILO, and the World Bank Group, with active
participation by working groups to be convened by these organizations. These
working groups would include representatives of other interested
organizations, such as foundations, other NGOs, private companies involved in
telecommunications, other private companies interested in distance learning
and telehealth/telemedicine, bilateral aid agencies, regional development
banks, and the like.

International institutions with the relevant mandates (ITU, UNESCO, WHO, and
ILO, etc.) are being asked to convene the working groups on policy
conditionality for a country to qualify for GSTF resources, and global
institutions such as INTELSAT and the World Bank Group are proposed as
conveners of the working group on operational questions.

Establishing the GSTF requires a critical mass of global support for these new
organizations. The ability to mobilize financial and in-kind resources for
the GSTF depends on the credibility of the membership of the coalition. That
credibility would be furthered by early support from such key international
entities as commercial satellite and fiber optic service providers,
multi-national businesses, national governmental aid agencies, foundations,
and agencies of the United Nations such as the ITU, UNESCO, WHO, ILO, the World
Bank Group (including the International Finance Corporation), and the regional
development banks (African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Inter-American Development
Bank). No legitimate agency of standing would be excluded from participating.
Creation of a preliminary coalition of participants to support the "source for
bandwidth and key equipment" as well as the "financial aid source" would be
critical to the initial testing of this concept.

To that end, the working group recommends that:
1. A more polished and developed draft of the proposal be put before major
international conferences in 2001. Further it would be highly desirable
for the Clarke Institute for Telecommunications and Information to
undertake in partnership with others around the world to organize a
Global Summit of World Leaders Concerning the Establishment of the GSTF.
2. An intensive effort be made to enlist the support of the leadership of
the key international institutions mentioned above, facilitating the
mobilization of bilateral aid agencies, foundations, and multinational
corporations and to bring them together at a Global Summit in
Washington, D.C. in June 2001.
3. Working groups on telecommunications policy conditionality, education
policy conditionality, healthcare policy conditionality, and operational
aspects of the Fund and the Coalition be convened respectively by ITU,
UNESCO, WHO, and the World Bank. These working groups would include
representatives of other interested international organizations,
bilateral aid agencies, companies, foundations, and other NGOs, as well
as of relevant information and telecommunications industry
organizations, e.g., the Global Information Infrastructure Commission.

It is further hoped that providers of satellite or fiber optic system capacity
would be willing to join in further working group discussions to shape the
framework for the "pilot version" of the GSTF for distance learning and
telehealth/telemedicine.

VII. Conclusions

The Tampere meeting was a study in contrasts, and clearly showed the enormous
gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots". On the one hand, some of the
players have tremendous resources with which to deploy broadband wireless
technology; on the other hand, some must operate on a shoestring budget, and
even lack adequate basic wireline services as a starting point. A major
challenge will be to identify technology which will be appropriate (in terms
of start-up and operating costs, maintainability by local people, etc.) in the
"have not" situations.

Thanks to our highly successful event with extraordinary supports and
cooperations of many funding sources, such as the World Bank, the US National
Science Foundation, and colleagues around the world, substantial momentum for
our Global Initiative is now building up to have follow-up workshops and
conferences to forge ahead the establishment of the GUS with global broadband
Internet and Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF) by multilateral collaborations.

VIII. Current Reference Websites:

http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/Global_University/Global%20University%20System/Reference_web_sites.html

****************************************

Return to Global University System Mid-2000 Correspondence

List of Distribution

Dr. Paul Lefrere
Senior Lecturer
Institute of Educational Technology
Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes MK7 6AA
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +44-1-908 65 33 88
Fax: +44-1-908 67 28 02
p.lefrere@open.ac.uk
http://www-iet.open.ac.uk/

P. Tapio Varis, Ph.D, Professor
Acting President, Global University System
Chairman, GLOSAS/Finland
Professor and Chair
Media Culture and Communication Education
Hypermedia laboratory
University of Tampere
P.O.Box 607
FIN-33101 Tampere
FINLAND
Tel: +358-3-215 6110
Tel: +358-3-614-5247--office in Hameenlinna
Tel: +358-3-215 6243--mass media lab in Tampere
GSM: +358-50-567-9833
Fax: +358-3-215 7503
tapio.varis@uta.fi
http://www.uta.fi/~titava

Terry Grant
DGXXII
European Commission
Terry.GRANT@DG22.cec.be

Mr Paul Verhoef
Head of Unit
European Commission
200 Rue de la Loi
BU33 5/25
Brussels B-1 049
BELGIUM
Tel No. +32 2 296 8609
Fax No. +32 2 296 8970
E-Mail: PauI.Verhoef@cec.eu.int

Juliette Boom
Secretary to Paul Verhoef
Juliette.Boom@cec.eu.int

Mr Robert Verrue
Director General, Telecommunications
Information Market and Exploitation of Research
European Commission
200 rue de la Loi BU24 3/3
Brussels B-1049
BELGIUM
Tel No. +32 2295 4376
Fax No. +32 2296 8880
E-Mail: Robert.Verrue@cec.eu.int

Peter T. Knight, Ph.D.
Board member of GLOSAS/USA
Knight, Moore - Telematics for Education and Development
Communications Development Incorporated (CDI)
Strategy, Policy, Design, Implementation, Evaluation
1808 I Street, NW, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20006, USA
Tel: 1-202-775-2132 (secretary), 1-202-721-0348 (direct)
Fax: 1-202-775-2135 (office), 1-202-362-8482 (home)
Cel: 1-202-255-7215
IP for CU-SeeMe: 198.77.80.46
ptknight@attglobal.net
peter@knight-moore.com
webmail: ptknight@netscape.net
http://www.knight-moore.com
http://www.cdinet.com
http://www.knight-moore.com/partners/partnerindex.htm -- bio
http://www.knight-moore.com/projects/GSTF.html -- about GSTF

Dr. Joseph N. Pelton
Board member of GLOSAS/USA
Senior Research Scientist
Institute for Applied Space Research, Rm 340
George Washington University
2033 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20052
202-994-5507
Fax: 202-994-5505
ecjpelton@aol.com
jpelton@seas.gwu.edu
Or,
Acting Executive Director of CITI
Vice-Chair of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation of the U.S. (ACCFUS)
Arthur C. Clark Institute for Telecommunication and Information (CITI)
4025 40th Street North
Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 536-6985
ecjpelton@aol.com
http://clarkeinstitute.com/
http://www.clarkeinstitute.com/

Dr. David A. Johnson, AICP
Board member of GLOSAS/USA
Former President of Fulbright Association
Professor Emeritus, School of Planning
College of Arts and Sciences
University of Tennessee
108-I Hoskins Library
Knoxville, TN 37996-4015
USA
Tel: +1-865-974 5227
Fax: +1-865-974 5229
daj@utk.edu
davidj@buncombe.main.nc.us
http://web.utk.edu/~djohnutk/

Francis J. Method
Director, UNESCO-Washington
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
1775 K St. N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (1) 202-331-3755
Fax: (1) 202-331-9121
fmethod@erols.com
**********************************************************************
* Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., P.E., Chairman, GLOSAS/USA *
* (GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.) *
* Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education *
* Founder of CAADE *
* (Consortium for Affordable and Accessible Distance Education) *
* President Emeritus and V.P. for Technology and Coordination of *
* Global University System (GUS) *
* 43-23 Colden Street, Flushing, NY 11355-3998, U.S.A. *
* Tel: 718-939-0928; Fax: 718-939-0656 (day time only--prefer email) *
* Email: utsumi@columbia.edu; Tax Exempt ID: 11-2999676 *
* http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/ *
**********************************************************************

Return to Global University System Mid-2000 Correspondence