Assets:

http://on.fb.me/FlipTheSwitchGroup facebook group: for planning

http://on.fb.me/FlipTheSwitchPage facebook page: for visibility (search engine indexable)

http://on.fb.me/FlipTheSwitchEvent facebook event: the event itself

Hashtag: #fliptheswitch

We are calling for a Mass Demonstration (day, time, location TBD).

1. In light of the fact that Lebanon HAS the capacity to increase its Internet capacity by 100x with the flip of a switch. http://imewecable.com/
...
2. In light of the fact that this increased Internet capacity has been paid for and has been available since 2009. http://imewecable.com/

3. In light of the fact that political bickering is the ONLY reason this fast Internet switch has not been flipped.

4. In light of the fact that this constant and continuous political bickering has pushed Lebanon to the bottom of the 'connected' countries list.

5. In light of the fact that slow Internet services have made us regionally uncompetitive, falling significantly behind both Syria & Jordan.

6. In light of the fact that slow Internet has negatively impacted economic growth and limited diversification away from banking, tourism & real-estate.

5. In light of the fact that slow Internet services and high costs are in the Top 5 most talked about topics in Lebanon.

6. In light of the fact that all previous - non-demonstration - efforts, including petitions & lobbying have failed.

We are calling for a Mass Demonstration ... day, time, and location to be announced!

We own the fiber, our tax dollars have paid for it, why not demonstrate to get access to it?

Telecom Law 431 / 2002 - Law 431, or the Telecommunications Law as it is often referred to, was issued in 2002 to provide the framework for governing the organization of the telecommunications services sector and to set the rules for its transfer to the private sector.

UPDATE: after a thorough investigation on all levels, including MOT, TRA, Ogero et al, here are our findings:

CONFIRMED: Originally, under X-Ministry of Telecom (MOT), the X-MOT mandated Ogero to negotiate and sign on the participation in the IMEWE cable (there are multiple partners along the path of the fiber cable), providing Ogero with X millions of dollars to exercise for this purpose

CONFIRMED: Ogero complied with the X-MOT's request and negotiated and signed accordingly, then executed as per its mandate the installation of the IMEWE cable

CONFIRMED: The IMEWE cable is in place and all the necessary equipment is installed and has been paid for by the X-MOT through Ogero

CONFIRMED: As the MOT changed hands, a problem arose. Previously, the X-MOT & Ogero were all of the same camp. This facilitated the participation in the IMEWE cable, and is considered the reason why the cable lands in Tripoli rather than Beirut

CONFIRMED: However, now that Ogero and the Y-MOT are of different camps, the Y-MOT has decided that Ogero - which is mandated as per the partially implemented Law 431 to only operate the infrastructure - should not be responsible for negotiating the contract for the Tier 1 bandwidth that would 'LIGHT UP' the dark fiber IMEWE

CONFIRMED: The Y-MOT believes that Ogero had already gone beyond its mandate when it accepted to negotiate Lebanon's participation in the IMEWE cable

CONFIRMED: The signature on the IMEWE cable reads Ogero, not MOT

CONFIRMED: So the Y-MOT decided that it will negotiate the Tier 1 bandwidth, and upon signing the contract submit it to Ogero for execution and operation, as per Ogero's mandate in Law 431

CONFIRMED: However, Ogero has so far been adamant that it should retain its position as administrator (negotiator and signatory), rather than become relegated to just operations

FACT: Ogero is fully financed by the Lebanese government through the MOT

PARTIALLY-CONFIRMED: Since Ogero was the original signatory on the IMEWE cable, and because in effect it will be operating the cable, it has so far successfully blocked the Y-MOT from buying Tier 1 bandwidth to #FlipTheSwitch and 'LIGHT UP' the dark fiber � This is PROBLEMATIC as it begs the question: How can Ogero block the Y-MOT?

NOT-CONFIRMED: The contract for Tier 1 bandwith HAS been negotiated (by the Y-MOT) but not signed or fulfilled due to the stalemate between Ogero and the Y-MOT

NOT-CONFIRMED: The (recently in the news) Y-MOT's decision to stop financing Ogero is directly linked to the stalemate between Ogero and the Y-MOT over the IMEWE and other telecom upgrades / changes

SUMMARY: Ogero & the Y-MOT are at a stalemate over who will negotiate the Tier 1 bandwidth contract

FACT: Law 431 is the one law that rules them all. It has not yet been fully implemented.

#FlipTheSwitch is a campaign focused only on lighting up Lebanon's (currently dark) IMEWE fiber optic cable. Turning the IMEWE on would increase Lebanon's Internet capacity by 200x overnight. This is a direct action campaign with one and only one purpose, #FlipTheSwitch. This campaign does not concern itself with how it is done, or who does it, be it public sector or private sector, as long as it is done.

#Ontornet is a movement that aims to increase awareness about the state of the Internet in Lebanon, the reasons behind this state, and to hold those responsible for its current state accountable for their words and actions

#FastLebanon is a campaign funded by the private industry

Telecom Law 431 / 2002 - Law 431, or the Telecommunications Law as it is often referred to, was issued in 2002 to provide the framework for governing the organization of the telecommunications services sector and to set the rules for its transfer to the private sector.