A reforma da lei geral de telecomunicações e seus constituintes: riscos e oportunidades para universalização do acesso à internet e inclusão digital no Brasil

Abstract

The article suggests an evaluation of the current proposed amendment to Brazilian General Telecommunications Law of 1997 by the Bill No. 79/2016, currently pending for approval by the National Congress, and its compatibility with the 2014 ‘Marco Civil da Internet’ and further objectives of the global digital agenda. These objectives include the universalization of Internet access and the affirmation of right to access to the internet as a human right. One should remark the relevance of both an effectiveness’ evaluation of the 1997 Act and the scrutiny of current stakes and lobbies underlying the ongoing legislative initiative, especially in view of pivotal principles of democratic process, such as in transparency and public debate, the inseparable relationship between digital inclusion and digital transformation policies for Brazil. Any opportunity to amend BGTA equally requires the openness toward the normative interplay with Marco Civil da Internet, which may be supportive to the promotion of industrial, technological and innovation policies aimed at increasing of educational and scientific bases in the country.