Cablegate: France Considering Human Right to Broadband

VZCZCXRO6258
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHFR #1822 2751716
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011716Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4412
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2954
RUCNDT/USUN NEW YORK
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC

UNCLAS PARIS 001822

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL, IO AND EEB, OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
AND INFORMATION POLICY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PHUM ETRD KIPR FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE CONSIDERING HUMAN RIGHT TO BROADBAND

1. (SBU) In a speech set for October 13, President Sarkozy will
announce a major policy initiative on the future of the digital
economy that may include support for a human right to internet
broadband access.

2. (SBU) In discussions September 30 - October 1 with Ambassador
David A. Gross, U.S. Coordinator for International Communications
and Information Policy, French officials said that final
preparations are underway for a major announcement by President
Sarkozy planned for October 13 that will lay out France's vision for
the next generation of the information society.

3. (SBU) The President's initiative represents the first major
policy input by France's State Secretary for the Digital Economy,
Eric Besson, and this package of proposals will seek to underscore
France's leading role in Europe on internet and digital issues.
Sarkozy's text is being drafted by the Elysee and none of our
contacts would guess as to its final content. However, one concept
they said was likely to be included was that broadband internet
access be deemed a human right.

4. (SBU) We provide this heads-up and will report additional details
as we learn them, cognizant of the potential impact any new
developments, such as the call for the creation of a human right to
broadband internet access, may have for the U.S. and global economy.

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