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First Digital Democracy Conference Bangkok

Center for Ethics of Science and Technology, Chulalongkorn University,
Siam Intelligence Unit (support by Thai Health Promotion),
Thai Netizen Network and Noviscape Consulting Group

20 November 2012, 9:00 – 16:00
Room 310 and Room 815, Maha Chakri Building,

Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok

The Internet has revolutionized the way of communication and has become a global connection network for everyone. The new level of connectivity and computer-mediated social interaction has slowly changed not only digital awareness of citizens, in terms of access to communication and privacy, but has also increased political awareness and public participation in political issues. Furthermore, the Internet has become a channel for the voices of citizens enabling all kinds of new political forces. And soon the Internet itself could be a major political cause.
This conference aims to explore a wide field of digital democracy from different points of view. We would like to initiate a new multidisciplinary research field to explore the arising issues related to digital democracy, especially in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, we would like to reach policy makers and IT-professionals, in order to cross communicate between both groups, especially in the issues concerning the use of information and communication technologies and strategies in political and governance processes.
This one day conference consists of public and invited sessions. The morning session is open for the public with six 20-minutes talks on different topics concerning digital democracy. The afternoon session will be a discussion round in a closed group with invited guests. We would like to brainstorm new ideas for further field building in digital democracy and research tracks. Engaging trans-disciplinary ideas to formulate a cluster of knowledge excellence in digital technology and democratization.

Objectives:

1.    To build-up digital democracy as a new research and knowledge field in both higher educational institutes and other research-oriented organizations.
2.    To establish a group of researchers and practitioners from various disciplines in order to generate and disseminate knowledge and issues regarding to cyberspace participation, digital politics, rights and ethics, technological and social changes, and other forthcoming agendas relating to digital democracy in Thailand and other Asian countries.
3.    To create a high quality and dynamic space for ideas, openness, dignity, embracement, and inclusion for cyber-citizens and other bodies.

We would like to examine digital democracy from a number of perspectives throughout the conference. The topics are as following.

1. Socialization of digital technologies
Accessibility is the most important requirement of digital democracy (e.g. Internet accessibility in Thailand is still around 20-25%). The digital divide is not only an issue of physical accessibility e.g. lack of digital facilities, but also an issue for disabled people and senior citizens. The use of social and digital media for each institution needs to be inclusive, otherwise the prevailing digital divide – between the haves and have-nots – will prevent certain groups of citizens to actively take part in this so-called participatory governance. This raises the issue of fairness – fair and equal involvement of all citizens, otherwise it will lead to the segregation of the citizens and create second-class citizens – those who are disconnected.

2. Technological innovation and political space
Open government is a governance approach, which encompasses the principles of “information transparency, public engagement, and accountability”. Open government, however, requires a holistic approach on policies, the legal and regulatory framework, institutional structure, and process. An overall strategy or direction, at both the national and agency-level, on the use of social media should be in place. Without this, it might lead to confusion for both officers and citizens. For example, what kind of information should be released or communicated on official channels and what should be done via social media and who should be in charge.

3. Digital space & communication style
New media and hate speech: Political discussions seem to be more heated online. How can we respond to hate speech or even identify any content as such? How can we establish a constructive discussion culture?
Digital censorship and self censorship: The extent of Internet Censorship varies on a country-to-country basis. Moreover, some countries have little Internet Censorship, while other countries go as far as to limit the access of information to such matters as the news and suppress discussion among the internet population. Internet Censorship also occurs in response to or in keenness of events such as elections, protests, and riots. Governments across Southeast Asia share different degrees of authoritarian style digital censorship. Governmental monitoring of internet usage and blocking of international sites can be seen in Burma, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam (Doherty, 2010). It is likely that censorship will be increased due to the events of the Arab Spring, Thailand’s Political Turmoil, and Myanmar political unrests.

4. Institutionalization of digital politics
ON-OFF line: The line between online and offline participation in politics is disappearing. How can we channel online enthusiasm into real-world action? What can we learn from online petitions or online recruitments for political purpose in Thailand? What can we learn from Malaysia with its strongest digital politics movement in Southeast Asia?
Political Party & Cyberspace: What could we do for more digital democracy? Does it have to be a political party? Is it enough to establish a movement? (e.g. BIG Trees project and Bangkok Bicycle Campaign). What does an initiative need to become a movement? (e.g. mainstreaming, sharing bite-size information that people can feel connected).

5. Digital security:
Security is a timely issue among governmental agencies. Apart from traditional security that has been associated with national defense and international diplomacy, a non-traditional security issue emerges from “grand challenges” like natural disasters, change of technological regime, emerging diseases or climate change, and other new threats, become a new normal of daily life. Digital technology accelerates social change and the way national security being conform. New key players have more involvement with both security domains. In this aspect, digital security is a bridge between traditional and non-traditional security and will ultimately blur the existing paradigm on categorization of social and security institutions.

6. Strategy and internationalization of digital politics
Digital Democracy in SEA context: Considering the ASEAN members, e-Participation in the region, with the exception of Singapore, does not seem to be progressing satisfactorily. In 2012, for example, Malaysia and Brunei are in the top twenty rankings, while Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam have managed to be ranked within the top thirty, whereas data prohibits meaningful rankings for Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. The utilization of digital and social media by government agencies in those countries to reach out to their citizens is not a common practice. ASEAN governments in general, and Thailand in particular, have not yet been able to capitalize on the popularity and tremendous growth of social media despite the obvious growth of social media use among their citizens. How is the use of digital media in political issues in other countries in Southeast asia? What can we learn from their situation?

Program (Tentative)

Public session: Room 310, Maha Chakri Building

9:00 – 9:30
Registration

9:30 – 9:45
Introduction and opening remarks, Dr. Jittiporn Chaisaingmongkol
Speaker session hosted by Dr. Pun-Arj Chairatana

9:50 – 10:10
Socialization of digital technologies: Digital divide, Dr.Kasititorn Pooparadai, NECTEC

10:10 – 10:30
Net Neutrality, Dr. Soraj Hongladarom, Chulalongkorn University

10:30 – 10:50
Digital security, Dr. Teeranan Nandhakwang

10:50 – 11:10
Digital space & communication style: New media and hate speech, Dr. Pirongrong Ramasoota Rananand, Chulalongkorn University

11:10 – 11:30
Countering Hate Speech: Wikipedia as a Socio-technical Solution?, Dr. Chanchai Chaisukkosol

11:30 – 11:50
Institutionalization of digital politics: ON-OFF line, Sombat Boonngamanong

11:50 – 12:00
Closing remarks for public session

12:00 -13:00
Lunch

Invited session:  Room 815, Maha Chakri Building

13:00 – 14:30
Roundtable discussion I hosted by Pichate Yingkiattikun

14:30 – 14:45
Coffee break

14:45 – 15:45
Roundtable discussion II

15:45 – 16:00
Closing and concluding remark by Dr. Soraj Hongladarom

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conference

First Digital Democracy Conference Bangkok

This conference aims to explore a wide field of digital democracy from different points of view. We would like to initiate a new multidisciplinary research field to explore the arising issues related to digital democracy, especially in Southeast Asia.

Furthermore, we would like to reach policy makers and IT-professionals, in order to cross communicate between both groups, especially in the issues concerning the use of information and communication technologies and strategies in political and governance processes.

This one day conference consists of public and invited sessions. The morning session is open for the public with six 20-minutes talks on different topics concerning digital democracy. The afternoon session will be a discussion round in a closed group with invited guests. We would like to brainstorm new ideas for further field building in digital democracy and research tracks. Engaging trans-disciplinary ideas to formulate a cluster of knowledge excellence in digital technology and democratization.

The conference will be in Thai

Program (Tentative)
Date: November 20, 2012
Public session: Room 310, Maha Chakri Building

9:00 – 9:30 Registration
9:30 – 9:45 Introduction and opening remarks
Dr. Jittiporn Chaisaingmongkol
Speaker session hosted by Dr. Pun-Arj Chairatana
9:50 – 10:10 Socialization of digital technologies: Digital divide
Dr.Kasititorn Pooparadai, NECTEC
10:10 – 10:30 Net Neutrality
Dr. Soraj Hongladarom, Chulalongkorn University
10:30 – 10:50 Digital security
Dr. Teeranan Nandhakwang
10:50 – 11:10 New media and hate speech
(Speaker to be announced)
11:10 – 11:30 Countering Hate Speech: Wikipedia as a
Socio-technical Solution?
Dr. Chanchai Chaisukkosol
11:30 – 11:50 Institutionalization of digital politics: ON-OFF line
Sombat Boonngamanong
11:50 – 12:00 Closing remarks for public session

12:00 -13:00 Lunch

Invited session: Room 815, Maha Chakri Building
13:00 – 14:30 Roundtable discussion I hosted by
Pichate Yingkiattikun
14:30 – 14:45 Coffee break
14:45 – 15:45 Roundtable discussion II hosted by
Pichate Yingkiattikun
15:45 – 16:00 Closing and concluding remark by
Dr. Soraj Hongladarom

Organized by Center for Ethics of Science and Technology, Chulalongkorn University, Siam Intelligence Unit (support by Thai Health Promotion), Thai Netizen Network and Noviscape Consulting Group

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meaningful broadband

Ethics, Wellbeing and Meaningful Broadband

International Workshop

Ethics, Wellbeing and Meaningful Broadband

August 16 – 18, 2011

Chulalongkorn University

Introducing broadband to a country such as Thailand has faced a number of challenges. Many of these challenges are regulatory and political in nature. Many groups are vying for a lead position in the broadband game and no one wants to lose out. This has led to an impasse where nothing is moving. However, a brighter prospect appears to be on the horizon when a new law was passed recently setting up the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) which has the responsibility and the authority to lay out regulatory framework for broadband network. Hence it seems that Thailand will have its own broadband network soon.

Nevertheless, a new set of challenges are emerging as a result of the introduction of the broadband network. When the physical infrastructure is there, these new challenges include how the network will be used to the best interest of the public as a whole. We have introduced the notion of “meaningful broadband” to refer specifically to these new challenges. How can broadband communication be “meaningful” in the sense that it responds to not only the demand for economic growth, but also the need to maintain the values and goals which are not so directly measurable? These values and goals comprise the meaningfulness of people’s lives. Meaningful values, for example, are present when the people do not become a mere cog in the giant economic wheel but retain their sense of purpose and direction that is ethically positive. Hence a number of questions and challenges emerges: How can broadband use be integrated into the traditional lives of the people so that it does not become a mere tool of the new seemingly all-powerful values of consumerism and globalized commercialization? How can broadband fit with and even promote the values that are meaningful to the people?

This is the rationale for the international workshop on “Ethics, Wellbeing and Meaningful Broadband.” A number of internationally recognized scholars have been invited to the workshop to share their viewpoints with leading Thai thinkers and members of the public to find ways to respond to the challenges of ethical and meaningful broadband use mentioned above. The workshop aims at answering the following questions:

1) How to operationalize “sufficiency economy”? The Thai constitution has a requirement for each Thai ministry and agency, including its regulatory agency, to further “sufficiency economy,” a principle laid out by the Thai king. The principle has affinities with the Bhutanese principle of “Gross National Happiness.” How is this requirement of either Sufficiency Economy and Gross National Happiness being operationalized? Of it is being ignored, why and which government agencies are innovating on this theme. As a new regulatory agency tied to the theme of digital convergence (linking broadcast and broadband), NBTC represent a new opportunity to position Sufficiency Economy as an overall driver of digital convergence strategies, integrated into the frequency allocation (spectrum management) and taxation strategies of the new regulator as well as establishing a new interface between regulation and “human development” which is a traditional concern of ministries such as public health, culture and education which have been totally isolated from telecommunications regulation.

2) How to pre-empt government censorship of the Internet? Recently political constituencies and governmental factions have furthered internet censorship in Thailand and in other Asian nations. This is particularly evident regarding online games, gambling, pornography, and (in particular countries), certain themes such as Lese Majeste, Singapore’s sensitivity to criticism, China’s sensitivity to human rights arguments, Arab countries sensitivity to protest movements fostered by the internet. Censorship is an example of “throwing the baby out with the bathwater” because exclusion of web sites via censorship often prevents a country from receiving benefits from internet-based learning in an effort to achieve specific goals and much internet censorship is ineffective and unenforceable for a variety of reasons. Nonetheless we can expect censorship to continue and grow unless “national broadband ecosystems” emerge that that are meaningful to citizens and nations. In particular, needs of vulnerable citizens (the poor, the uneducated, young children) must be protected. What can be done in the design and regulation of new technologies to attracted ethically valuable applications technology and discourage negative impacts? What can be learned by the effort to develop “quality of life indexes,” e.g. those underlying Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH), to provide objective measures of technologies that enable policymakers to exclude or attract certain technologies based on their anticipated ethical impacts?

3) Rethinking “media ethics” for the broadband era: What is the track record of “media ethics” strategies to limit harm from television and encourage voluntary compliance by Hollywood or music-makers? What has/hasn’t worked in influencing behavior by large number of users, e.g. young children? What are the obstacles that have prevented better success of media ethics strategies? Now that the broadband era is introducing multimedia convergence how is the media ethics field changing? What new opportunities and challenges is it facing. What can be learn from South Korea and other broadband-saturated nations? How to effectively integrate media ethics considerations into broadband policies before a nation embarks upon its broadband-enabled transformation?

4) Predicting the ethical impacts of broadband: What are the best methods for scenario construction, forecasting and prediction of the ethical impacts of broadband? How can a “wellbeing society” be visualized and construction that involves broadband use? How can broadband contribute to wellbeing? How are the ethical impacts in poor uneducated countries different from advanced highly educated nations?

5) Technological determinism vs. human intervention: What are current views regarding the philosophical concept of technological determinism? What is the origin and development of this concept and what do we know from empirical research on this theme — from Pythagoras to Heidegger to McLuhan? What are the technologically deterministic viewpoints that now dominate the broadband era — and what corporate or governmental interests sustain these viewpoints? What opportunities exist to alter the course of next-generation broadband-enabled technologies in order to ameliorate their ethical impacts?

Registration

The public is invited to attend. However, space is limited. Please register with Mr. Parkpume Vanichaka at parkpume@gmail.com by July 31, 2011. Registered participants are invited for the luncheon before the main event on August 16. There are no registration fees.

Language

The workshop will be conducted both in English and Thai, and there will be simultaneous interpretation services.

Schedule

Workshop on “Ethics, Wellbeing and Meaningful Broadband”

Room 105, Maha Chulalongkorn Building, Chulalongkorn University

August 16, 2011

11.45 Lunch and Registration

13.00 “The Second Wireless Revolution: Bringing Meaningful Broadband to the Next Two Billion,” Craig W. Smith

14.00 “Content Regulations in the Broadband Era: Incentives and Disincentives Based Approach to Content Regulations,” by Akarapon Kongchanagul

14.45 “The Seven Habits of Highly Meaningful Broadband,” Arthit Suriyawongkul

15.30 Break

15.45 “The Anonymous Group: A Look at Online Rebel,” Poomjit Siriwongprasert

16.30 “Give Them the Tools, Get Out of the Way: the Liberisation of Communication and its Consequences,” Nares Damrongchai

17.15 Closes

August 17, 2011

8.30 Registration

9.00 Keynote Lecture, “Ironies of Interdependence: Some Reflections on ICT and Equity in Global Context,” Peter Hershock, East-West Center, USA

10.00 “Toward a Well-being Society Scenario,” Hans van Willenswaard

10.45 Break

11.00 “From Veblen to Zuckerberg: Past, Present, and Future of Techno-Determinism in Thailand,” Pun-arj Chairatana

11.45 Lunch

13.00 “Computer Technology for the Well-Being of the Elderly and People with Disabilities,” by Proadpran Punyabukkana

13.45 “Meaningfulness, IT and the Elderly,” Soraj Hongladarom

14.30 Mini-break

14.40 “Media and Information Literacy (MIL): the Move beyond Broadband Access,”Kasititorn Pooparadai

15.25 Break

15.40 “Right Speech VS. Free speech: Buddhist Perspective and Meaningful Broadband,”Supinya Klangnarong

16.25 “From Meaningful Broadband to Open Infrastructures and Peer Economies,” Michel Bauwens

17.10 General Discussion – Where do we go from now?

17.30 Workshop closes.

18.00 Dinner (place to be announced later)

August 18, 2011

9.00 – 16.00 Workshop on “Meaningful Broadband Research Consortium,” organized by Craig W. Smith

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meaningful broadband

Meaningful Broadband Ethics

The PowerPoint file of the talk on “Meaningful Broadband Ethics” given by Dr. Soraj Hongladarom at a meeting on Meaningful Broadband Policy at Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University a few months ago can be downloaded now. Please click here.

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Craig Smith

Preparing for the NBTC

Like a lotus born in the mud, the new Thai regulator NBTC may arise like a beautiful flower after the 3G auction mess. It could do what NTC lacked the mandate to achieve: a distinct Thai model of digital convergence that could trigger the equitable growth economy which can bring the nation back together.

Sure, it will take some months for this flower to bloom, perhaps a year.  But that year is needed, because it buys time for researchers to present the new NBTC regulators on Day One with a plan to interlink the full power of all media for the benefit of all Thais.  It could correct the mistakes of Malaysia, South Korea and Singapore which each has leaped into ubiquitous broadband without asking themselves broadband’s true purpose.

Here are three reasons why NBTC do this, when NTC could not:

The B word (broadcasting): By adding broadcasting to telecommunications, the new regulator has the mandate to influence content as well as infrastructure.  It could be the author of a comprehensive broadband ecosystem could integrate the full power of multimedia to fulfill explicit national goals.

The P word (policy): At last, the regulatory agency has the benefit of being guided by an inter-ministerial National Broadband Committee.  At last, the PM, the Foreign Minister and the ICT Ministry are all on the same page.   Let them go behind closed doors and emerge a coherent framework for how public and private operators can combine their separate strengths to make broadband affordable, usable and empowering for all Thais.

The S word (sufficiency economy): NBTC is not limited to the conventional functions of regulation, such as “creating a competitive environment” or “extending access.”  Hidden deep in the legal language is a surprising phrase:   NBTC must further the King’s ethical concept of “sufficiency economy.”  Other than tiny Bhutan, Thailand will be the only telecommunications regulator which is driven by such an ethical mandate.  Once it is clear to NBTC that the purpose of broadband is to “unlock human development,” all other decisions can flow from that mandate.

To turn these three factors in a vibrant plan of regulatory innovation, researchers must look beyond competing interests to provide answer to these six questions:

1) What are the benefits – and the harm – that broadband can bring to the nation?   Thailand needs its own answer to this question, not one borrowed from South Korea or the World Bank.

2) What in fact is the optimal role for 3G, Wimax, Fiber and Satellites?  How should they complement each other?

3) How should spectrum and “universal service” taxation policies be altered to force mobile supply chains to innovate produce “data services” that bring wealth and learning (not just entertainment) to Thais who earn less than 12,000 baht per month?

4) How should NBTC and the government pool their efforts, combining “sticks” (of regulation) with “carrots” (of government subsidy) so markets empower Thai youth rather than addict them.

The answers to these questions are not readily available through any survey of “international best practices.”   They must come from the best thinking of the best Thai researchers drawing upon the best data.   Furthermore, all the answers cannot be found among the engineering and computer science faculties of Thai universities.   Researchers in non-technological disciplines (economics, management, anthropology, communications, political science, even philosophy) must join in. Also, the whole spectrum of cabinet ministries, ranging from agriculture to tourism, must join, drawing the Ministry of Science and Technology as their aggregator.  Once they find their core research questions, these researchers can engage and challenge the thinking of the so-called Thought Leaders who are conceiving next-generation technologies in the big international labs of the West, Japan, China and India.   With the help of these researchers, NBTC would able to anticipate and absorb worldwide innovations which will double bandwidth’s power every year through the 21st century.

Can this research campaign happen?  Yes!

Luckily the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), chaired by the Prime Minister, which oversees the research needs of the nation, has stepped forward at this crucial time.   NRCT will join with Chulalongkorn’s Digital Divide Institute and a coalition of other universities on October 29 to announce a research coalition that aims to prepare the NBTC for the tasks ahead.  They will offer the vision that may not only shape the direction of the new regulatory body, but the future of Thailand itself.

Craig Warren Smith is Senior Advisor at University of Washington Human Interface Technology Laboratory,  and Chairman, Digital Divide Institute of Chulalongkorn University (DigitalDivide.org). Prof Smith may be contacted atcraigwarrensmith@hotmail.com

 

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meaningful broadband

Final Program, Meaningful Broadband Forum

Date: 26 November 2009

Time: 8:15 to 12 noon

Place: Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration, Chulalongkorn University

8:15 Opening by Prof. Dr. Charas Suwanwela, Chairperson of the Chulalongkorn University Council

Master of Ceremonies, Prof Soraj Hongladarom,  Director of the Center for Ethics of Science and Technology, Chulalongkorn University.

8:25:  Welcome by Alcatel-Lucent representative, in which he expresses support for Meaningful Broadband.

8:40 Introduction of Keynote and keynote by Khun Supachai Chearavanont,  President and CEO of True Corp, and Rotating Chairman of Meaningful Broadband Working Group (composed of CEOs of AIS, DTAC, TOT, CAT and NTC, represented by Prof Prasit and Prof Sethapong)

9:15-9:30 questions to K. Supachai from audience.

9:30-10:00  Presentation of the Meaningful Broadband Framework.  Prof. Craig Warren Smith, Director, Meaningful Broadband Working Group Secretariat,  Center for Ethics of Science and Technology,  Chulalongkorn University

10:00-10:30 Interactive discussion with comments by invited by key individuals (NTC Commissioners, World Bank-Thailand lead economist),  Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Finance,  UNESCAP ICT Director, Thai Chamber of Commerce ICT Committee Chair,  Foreign Chambers of Commerce ICT Committee Chair,  key interdisciplinary professors of Chula,  ITU Asia Pacific director,  ICT Ministry representative.

10:30-11 -Interactive exercise for entire audience at tables

11:00-11:15 Conclusions and next steps.

11:30 Media briefing.  Announcements and Q&A from key principals.

Language: Thai (English when speakers are not Thai)

Registration: Everyone is invited. Please register by giving your name and email address at the comment box below. Or call 02 218 4761. Thank you.

Click here for the flyer of the event.

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Craig Smith

Model of “Meaningful Broadband”

“Meaningful Broadband” Model Released Soon at Chulalongkorn Forum

By Wisit Stephens, special to Bangkok Post

Fed up with delay surrounding Thailand’s 3G and Wimax deployments, the secretariat of a powerful Chulalongkorn-based think tank will release a report October 28, presenting a model to vastly accelerate the nation’s broadband deployment.

Headlining the event, to be held at Sasin Graduate School of Business, 1-4 pm that afternoon, will be True Corp. CEO Supachai Chearavanont, in his role as Rotating Chairman of Chulalongkorn’s Meaningful Broadband Working Group.  The Forum will be October 28 at Sasin Graduate School of Business, 1-4 pm, sponsored by Cisco Systems.

“The report shows that broadband is a necessary condition for macroeconomic growth.  But Thailand ranks close to the bottom of all Asian nations in broadband deployment,” said Supachai. “The situation is reversible.  But unless the country’s leaders in government, academia, business act quickly, Thailand’s entire economy is at risk.”

The report,  A Model to Close Digital Divide, formulates a business model that would more than triple fixed and wireless broadband penetration in Thailand from the current predicted level of 17%  by 2015,  to more than 50%, a target called for by the ICT Minister Ranongrak Suwanchawee.

“The Forum, for the Chulalongkorn community, with some space available to the general public, will be opened by Dr. Charas Suwanwela, Chairman of the University Council. Individuals interested in attending the forum can register after Oct 20 at www.meaningfulbroadband.org.

Supachai recently replaced NTC commissioners as temporary leader of Meaningful Broadband Working Group, which includes the top executives of AIS, DTAC, TOT Telecom and CAT Telecom, as well as the government’s NTC.   After gaining public feedback, the report will be revised and formally presented for the consideration of the Working Group and to the Prime Minister within the next several weeks.