To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu.

    -----------------------------------------------

     This story was printed from CdrInfo.com,

     located at http://www.cdrinfo.com.

    -----------------------------------------------

Google and Facebook are joining more than 30 members to launch the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), a new coalition to lead policy and regulatory reform and spur action to drive down artificially high internet prices in developing countries.

By advocating for open and competitive broadband markets, A4AI aims to help access prices fall to below 5% of monthly income worldwide, a target set by the UN Broadband Commission. Reaching this goal can help to connect the two-thirds of the world that is presently not connected to the internet (ITU) and make universal access a reality.

Initiated by the World Wide Web Foundation, A4AI includes members from the technology, government, and nonprofit worlds, from developed and developing countries.

The members are working with A4AI on several initial projects, including:

- Publishing a set of policy and regulatory best practices
- Working directly with governments, with plans to engage with 10+ countries by the end of 2015
- Releasing the first edition of an annual affordability report

Besides Google and Facebook, other members of the A4AI include Intel, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Alacate-Lucent and Cisco.

Tweet