Corrective mechanism in broadband policy for the marginalised: an exploratory study

A fundamental argument to the study of broadband policy in a less developed nation like India is that it is much about socio-cultural issue than that of a techno-political issue, for instance in the lacking thrust on the internal mechanisms of framing policies. In the proliferation of New Media Communication and its utility for life’s comforts, the demand for increased band-width, space and signals is higher than ever. There is tremendous increase in the audio-visual inputs, the text or the sound due to the spree of sharing the happenings in the society electronically translated and requiring larger cyber space. There is an increasing complexity of the problem of framing policy and abidance to it. The grassroots awareness with large marginalised sections of society is missing as the standards of techno-disciplining are significantly low. Also there is the non-availability or access and reach of technology in a nation’s developing situations. Incomplete cyber-laws and very low cyber literacy are blockades to the efficient use of broadband facilities. Unregulated privatisation and extreme commercialisation make the problem more complex to resolve. In the above scenario, to assess the policy on broadband in developing situations including the specific issue of broadband programs for the historically unserved or underserved communities, many fundamental questions arise- What is the reach and access to these communities who form a majority? Are the awareness measures effective for the communities to use the broadband driven facilities? Is the will of the governance and other agencies able to ensure effective reach and usage of broadband facility in the communities? What schemes and mechanisms are put in place for the practice and sustenance of the use of technology by the communities? Why are the invented tools to overcome linguistic barriers unable to address the problem of meaningful utility of the broadband boon? With objectives to answer these questions, this exploratory study supported with case studies as methodology has the scope of providing avenues to refreshed initiatives among the stake holders. The significance of this study is in the micro level revelations of participatory approach that is necessary to address the hurdles in policy framing for broadband utilities