Government and industry initiatives to stimulate the diffusion of high-performance broadband telecommunications links have given a fresh impetus to debates over the social and economic implications of the growing use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs). This paper analyses how outcomes tied to ICT innovation are shaped by choices about whether and how to use, or not use, the technology to reconfigure access to people, services, information and technologies in ways that significantly change the communicative power of individuals, communities, organisations, nations and regions. It explains why these outcomes are not predetermined by the technology, but unfold over time through the complex interplay among many actors, in many arenas. A framework is presented to assist in addressing the issue of digital divides and other areas of research, policy and practice affected by the design and use of broadband Internet and related ICTs.

The report highlights key Internet governance issues raised in relation to the authors' three-tier typology. The distinctive design and governance characteristics that underpin the global Internet phenomenon are then outlined, to indicate valuable governance lessons that can be built on. The crucial need for balance in inherently political multi-stakeholder processes is then addressed. This is assisted by an analytical framework for understanding the dynamics underlying such processes, which involve outcomes from decisions taken by many actors within overlapping and interacting policy arenas. The conclusion recommends an approach to improving international coordination of Internet governance activities.

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