Overview October 1999: FYR Macedonia

1. Society wide promotional and awareness context

The overall awareness of IS in the public sector in the present context can be characterised with initiatives having a fragmented view on IS, with not yet sufficient exploration of the ideas of convergence and globalisation.

In the previous period, the public bodies, principally in charge for the regulations on availability and content of information services: Macedonian Telecom, Ministry of Transport and Communication and the National Broadcasting Council have conducted their affairs mostly individually. Starting from recently, they are attempting a dialogue on harmonisation in global aspects enabling their businesses and the shape of the communication services globally.

Particularly promising is that the idea of convergence of technologies and services are concerning more and more the top-level executive bodies. This trend undoubtedly will foster a further dialogue on all IS relevant aspects, in the first place on the national regulation for services on the global network (aspects focused in the Bonn Conference on Global Network, June 1997).

Nowadays, government and public telecom operator became more conscientiously of their role in the promotion of the IS among citizens and enterprises.

According the current IS promotion actions, one desored effect of the ESIS II initiative is to increase the commitment of the public authorities for IS developments and access.

2. Information on particular promotion activities