II.8. The Role of the Local Government in Establishing Partnerships between the Public and the Private Sector, and Development of Infrastructure in the Rural Areas II.8.1 Current ICT situation in the units of local government in the Republic of Macedonia In their everyday operation, units of local government – municipalities use communication services of the already existing private companies. Namely, for telephony they use the services of Makedonski Telekomunikacii, while for internet access they use the ADSL service of MTnet and the wireless internet access of OnNet30. Several municipalities use internet connections of local cable operators. It should be mentioned that a small number of municipalities still use Dial up internet connection due to lack of other services for internet access in their area. By initiating the process of decentralization in education, the maintenance of schools falls under the venue of the municipalities. Compared to the municipalities, the situation in the primary and the secondary schools is different. For the needs of the education process, the computer laboratories in the majority of the schools in the Republic of Macedonia (460 primary and secondary schools) have wireless internet access provided via the internet provider OnNet, as a donation by USAID through the project “MKConnects”. This donation covers the period until September 2007. The usability of these computer laboratories and internet connections in the schools depends on the maintenance of their computer and network equipment. II.8.2 ICT goals for the units of local government in the Republic of Macedonia until the middle of the year 2010 Municipalities and enterprises founded by them, as well the institutions under the jurisdiction of the municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia should have legal and financial opportunity to construct, develop and use municipal electronic communications networks and systems that are of public interest for the citizens in the municipalities. Municipal electronic communications networks and systems should satisfy the conditions for broadband internet access through a choice of the following possible platforms: WiFi, WiMax, FТТH (Fibrе to the Home), FТТP (Fibre to the Premises) and other. Municipal electronic communications networks will allow technologies and services in to be in full ownership of the municipality or through partnership with the private sector. For the realisation of the public service of municipal broadband internet access and in general municipal electronic communications networks, the municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia will use the legal framework governing public enterprises and 30 These connections are part of the donation of ADSL internet access of Makedonski Telekomunikacii as of June 2005 and the donation of wireless internet access of OnNet, the MkConnect and ZELS project from February 2006. Page 25 of 40