CODESI

The Commission for the Development of the Information Society (CODESI) was established in June 2003 and is in charge of elaborating a Plan and activities to develop the Information Society in Peru. This Commission is composed by representatives from government, civil society, academic institutions and private sector.

CODESI has created the following working boards:

Board 1: Infrastructure necessary for development of Information Society

Board 2: Development of Human Capacities

Board 3: Development and application of ICT’s in social programs

Board 4: Development of Production sectors and services

Board 5: E-Government.

Board 6: Processes of World Summit on Information Society

Nowadays, each Board is working following an Action Plan approved for each one, and results will help to develop a National Development Information Society Plan.

FITEL - Fund of Investment in Telecommunications

The government organization principally responsible for promoting the growth of telecommunications services in Peru is the Organismo de la Inversión Privada en Telecomunicaciones (OSIPTEL).

Regarding Universal Access, OSIPTEL, which manages the Fund of Investment in Telecommunications - FITEL (which gathers 1% of gross annual incomes of final and carrier service operators), started several projects in 1998, in order to provide fixed telephony for rural villages. FITEL awards funds for rural operators under the rule of less-bid subsidy. In this way, the firm that asks for the lowest bid for a government subsidy, after fulfilling technical specifications, is the one that wins the concession to operate in a given rural area. By definition, these areas are not profitable and firms are not interested in investing in infrastructure unless they can get some government subsidy. The firm that wins has a monopoly in these areas.

Last Mile Initiative

The Last Mile Initiative (LMI) is a project sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that is being implemented in several countries worldwide. Its aim is to expand telecommunications connectivity to isolated rural areas, emphasizing the development of financially sustainable business models. In Peru, the project is being implemented by Voxiva, the local subsidiary of Voxiva International.

The first site chosen for the implementation of the LMI project in Peru is Jauja, a province in the department of Junin located just east of Lima. Nine districts in Jauja have been selected to receive telecom services by a newly established micro-telco, Televias Puyhuan. Most of the areas (85%) selected for project implementation are considered urban settlements, though very small ones (typically around 2,000 inhabitants). All but one (Huancas) are district capitals, and all of them are well connected to both Jauja, the province capital, Huancayo, the department capital, and Lima. The main economic activity in the project area is agriculture.

Digital Freedom Initiative

The goal of the Digital Freedom Initiative worldwide is to help entrepreneurs and small businesses make better use of information and communications technology (ICT) so that they can create jobs and improve the standards of living of the families of workers. The United States, in both public and private sectors, is uniquely positioned as a world leader in the development of innovative ICTs.

The strategy for Peru, as elsewhere under DFI, is therefore one that includes close partnership with the local business community as well as with Peruvian Government policy makers. This partnership will adapt ICTs to address the special problems of MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) in Peru, and will seek to transform and enhance national policies and infrastructure to make these ICTs more readily accessible.

Over three years, DFI in Peru will:

Clarify and enhance the policy and regulatory environment to promote ICT access and application. This critical assistance will help both to ensure that public investment in ICT is effective and sustainable, and to stimulate essential private investment and innovation. The private sector must have the freedom and the market based incentives to develop new ICT business models and practices. Assistance will be provided through direct provision of services to Peruvian Government policy makers, through the facilitation of public and private partnerships, and the support of consultative mechanisms and business associations. Expand the market for ICT products and services by assisting MSMEs to use these products and services to exploit opportunities to improve productivity, expand sales, and further integrate into the formal economy. MSMEs will be provided with the tools and training which they require to create and exploit opportunities in improved governance and liberalized trade. Commercial BDS providers and BDS organizations will be complemented by volunteers from both the Peruvian and United States private sector and national service organizations.

INDECOPI

The National Institute for the Defense of Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (Indecopi). Created in 1992, as an autonomous administrative body. Responsible for defending and promoting competition and intelectual property. Applies and supervises compliance with legislation in the fields of consumer protection, competition law, advertising, unfair competition, market entry and exit, technical standards, dumping and subsidies, along with issues of intelectual property (brands, copyright law and inventions).

Freedom of Information

Access to information is constitutionally protected under the right of habeas data. The law requires government departments to create web sites and publish information on their organization, activities, regulations, budget, salaries, costs of the acquisition of goods and services, and official activities of high-ranking officials. Detailed information on public finances is also required to be published every four months on the Ministry of Economic and Finance's web site. A new law on Intelligence services was approved by the Parliament in June 2005. It creates new categories of classified information and allows for greater withholding on information by intelligence services.

Ombudsman - Defensoria del Pueblo

Its mission is to protect the constitutional and fundamental rights of the individual and of the community, and to supervise the fulfillment of duties by the public administration to citizens.

E-Government

Portal del Estado Peruano: http://www.peru.gob.pe/

Portal de Servicios al Ciudadano y Empresas: http://www.serviciosalciudadano.gob.pe/

Oficina Nacional de Gobierno Electronico e Informatica: http://www.ongei.gob.pe/

Sistema Electronico de Adquisiciones y Contrataciones: http://www.ongei.gob.pe/

Portal de Transparencia Municipal: http://www.ventanapublica.org.pe/

Archivo Digital de la Legislación del Perú: http://www.congreso.gob.pe/ntley/default.asp

Empleos Peru: http://www.empleosperu.gob.pe/