Information: Gabal

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Information Overview

The Republic of Gabal is a small island in the South Pacific. It relatively recently emerged from years of colonial rule into an independent liberal democracy. Gabal understands the importance of security guarantees with larger allies—primarily the Republic of Torbia—but will readily accept assistance from other foreign countries. The government respects the freedom of speech in media and

Onset of Information Age

Gabal burst into technology skipping the developmental phases found in the U.S. from landline telephones, to pagers, to car phones, and to cell phones. Instead, many people in Gabal went from no telephone at all to Smart Phones and access to the Internet.

Contemporary Situation

Most of the people of Gabal in the towns have access to mobile phones, but this is less true in the rural areas. Still, cell phone access is available in many parts of the country. But instead of every child in the family having their own personal cell phone, there is one or two cell phones per rural family.

Information Industries

Information Products (Content Industries)

News Media

Gabal has no television stations and only a single radio station so news media is limited to newspapers. For the most part, the Republic of Gabal government leaves the news media alone to operate independently. Newspapers still sell in Gabal, but much of what news Gabalians receive is through television on their satellite dishes.

Entertainment Media

Since there are no television stations in Gabal, there is no entertainment media. Gabalians are aware of international celebrities and those of South Torbia and Belesia based on television shows they receive over their satellite dishes. There is no paparazzi hanging out to get the scoop on any celebrities.

Social Media

While 50% of Gabalians have access to the Internet in some manner, this is not a major activity for the people. Due to the economic conditions of the country, most people are concerned about working to survive. This is especially true for those in the rural areas where one’s work is never done. Currently, the Gabal government does not monitor social media nor do they use it to communicate with their citizens. If the Gabal people want to get a message out to the people they normally do it over the radio.

Information Services

Financial Institutions

Description

Banking, insurance, and other businesses are increasingly increasing its use of cyberspace to conduct business, but it remains a very difficult market to penetrate successfully. With many Gabalians still not connected with the latest electronic fads, or even early Smart Phones, trying to have them conduct business electronically is not even an option. Companies must continue to do things with paper while offering electronic means to those citizens that are embracing the electronic age.

Control/Regulation

The Gabal government provides little oversight on the control and regulation of the financial and other business institutions within the country. There is little commerce outside the tourist industry so the country is receptive to almost anyone that wishes to create business revenue available to be taxed. This situation could set Gabal to become a haven for criminal organizations operating on a regional or even a trans-national basis.

Medical System

Description

The Gabal government provides little oversight on the control and regulation of the financial and other business institutions within the country. There is little commerce outside the tourist industry so the country is receptive to almost anyone that wishes to create business revenue available to be taxed. This situation could set Gabal to become a haven for criminal organizations operating on a regional or even a trans-national basis.

Control/Regulation

There is no government control of the health system and very limited regulations. In the few hospitals that operate, they are self-regulated.

Legal/Criminal Records

Description

Legal and criminal records HAVE NOT been digitized and integrated into a country wide database. While the Gabal government would like to do this, the country just does not have the discretionary funds to do so. Fingerprint cards are maintained at the local level and must be compared by hand to determine matches. If criminals get caught in different jurisdictions, the culprit is unlikely to be discovered as having a prior conviction. Usually, the person arrested is given a light sentence or a small fine. The criminal usually accepts the verdict and moves on.

 Control/Regulation

Criminal records are maintained by the jurisdiction in which the criminal trial occurred. There is no central database of criminals so crossing provincial borders will likely allow a hardened criminal to start afresh without worry about the local police force. In rural areas, however, new people are looked upon with suspicion unless they are related to someone already living there. Thus, the criminals often move in between the five largest cities in the country.

Navigation

Description

Gabal may commercially purchase global positioning receivers that support commercial needs, or they receive these as gifts from other countries seeking to garner favors. These are primarily used legally by the local fishing vessels and illegally by the smugglers that bring in goods to the country for the black market. In the last five years, most of the GPS devices coming into Gabal on based on the now operational Olvanan satellite system.

Control/Regulation

The ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Department of Gabal does not seek to control civilian GPS use or mandate what type of system, U.S. or Olvana.

Electromagnetic Spectrum Management (Radio Frequency)

Description

The only frequencies that the Gabal government has fenced are for its single radio station, cell telephone use, and for the military. Gabal’s laws state that the other frequencies are off limits for civilian use, but most people pay no heed. Gabal citizens will operate commercially made walkie-talkies from Olvana, the U.S. or other places on whatever frequency the devices are already tuned. It is the Wild West regarding frequency use in Gabal.

Control/Regulation

The ICT, a very small office within the Gabal government is responsible for maintaining control of the electromagnetic spectrum within the country. The office does not go after any violators as long as there is no interference with the radio, telephone, or military frequencies. The smugglers and other criminals have learned to stay away from these bands and usually operate in the clear on a non-reserved frequency.

Information Distribution

Internet

Gabal claims that over 50% of its population can access the internet. While the number is likely accurate, television remains the primary means of entertainment. The economic value of the internet to Gabal’s population will increase as mobile phone data usage increases and more internet companies start to emerge on the island.

Infrastructure Support

Gabal’s internet operates on a satellite backbone provided by a single company, Cuuva.tv, which operates under the auspices of the ICT. Internet is available at no cost in the airport and other government facilities, such as the library and community center in populace centers.

Control/Regulation

Social media, generally free from government intrusion, is growing in popularity, especially in the cities. Social media has yet to catch on in the rural areas, but will likely increase over the near future as more and more people own a cell phone and/or more people obtain access to the Internet. The number of users is still relatively small making it financially infeasible for the ICT to hire additional personnel to enforce the current regulations, yet alone additional regulations that may arise in the future.

Television

Gabal does not have any local television broadcast capability. The population relies on satellite dishes to watch foreign television stations, primarily from South Torbia and Belesia. Television is the primary means of mass communication and entertainment in the country, even in the rural areas. As the tourism business increases and the popularity of certain shows with the younger generation increases, the demand for local television programming may lead to the development of a Gabalian television company.

Infrastructure Support

None

Control/Regulation

If a television station ever started operating in Gabal, the ICT would be responsible for regulating it. The anti-defamation laws that currently govern the press and radio would also cover television.

Radio

Gabal has one radio station, run by the government, Radio Gabal.  The station broadcasts local news programming twice a day, one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening. In between the Gabal broadcasts, BBC World Service is broadcast except for special events such as World Cup Soccer or the Olympics. Gabal residents can pick up radio broadcasts from other countries including South Torbia and Belesia. Though uncommon, it is not unheard of for local shortwave “pirate” radio stations to pop up among the population.  These are often short lived and used for specific events.  That said, the government typically shuts down these local transmissions if they in anyway challenge government authority or practices.

Infrastructure Support

There is only one radio tower in the country, but it reaches most Gabalians. Broadcast reception is limited in parts of the country due to topography. Gabal could see more radio stations emerge due to more foreigners moving to the island, increasing the capability to run and maintain them. Broadcast reception is limited in parts of the country due to topography.

Control/Regulation

The Media Department of the Ministry of Communications operates Radio Gabal, which includes relays of programming from international broadcasters. The Ministry of Communications has the final decision on news programming. Anti-defamation laws apply to radio broadcasts so if there was ever a commercial radio station, the GTI would be responsible for overseeing it.

Print

Two newspapers operate in Gabal, one operated by the government and one privately owned. The newspapers represent a variety of political stances, international news, and regional events. In addition, international newspapers are available for tourists at various resorts.

Infrastructure Support

The government-operated newspaper is available only in print and is produced in the capital city. The private newspaper also operates out of the capital city, but is available in print and electronic copies.

Control/Regulation

The Gabal government nominally supports the freedom of the press and does not attempt to control or regulate what the private newspaper writes or what political positions its editorial board takes. There are laws on the books for defamation so the newspaper self-censors itself.

Telephone/Telecommunications

Gabal telephone service consists of a single state-owned company, the Republic of Gabal Telecommunications Corporation (GTC). The GTC provides fixed line telephone communications and mobile phone services. There are over 1000 main lines in use by tourist resorts and government agencies on Gabal. Mobile phone services are used by 19 percent of the local population, mainly for texting and emails.

Infrastructure Support

There are enough cellular towers to cover over 90% of the population even though only 19 percent currently own a cell phone. Radiotelephone communications between the islands and international services are provided via satellite.

Control/Regulation

The ITC oversees the GTC, but leaves the telephone company alone most of the time.

Postal/Carrier

Users find the Gabal postal network available, reasonably priced, and generally reliable and has been that way for over a half-century. The local population is slowly moving away from sending letters; younger residents rely on mobile and internet technology to maintain contact with friends and family. Gabal has a small UPS branch office in Coron, enabling tourist and local businesses to mail packages throughout the world.

Infrastructure Support

Most towns over 3,000 people in Gabal have a post office. UPS coverage is limited and will only deliver to Coron. People can pick up UPS packages at the Coron UPS store.

Control/Regulation

The government operates and regulates the Gabal postal network.

Oral Communication

Communication by word of mouth continues to be the primary means of passing information in rural areas of Gabal. Older generations largely prefer traditional face-to-face conversation. Word-of-mouth communication is also enabled by VHF and UHF radios as Gabal residents listen to foreign radio broadcasts. With only 19% of Gabalians having a cell phone, texting is still in its infancy. As the number of cell phones continues to grow and based on what has happened in other countries, it is reasonable to expect that teens will soon be texting as much in Gabal as they do in many other Western countries.

Infrastructure Support

Not applicable

Control/Regulation

Anti-defamation laws apply to oral communication just the same as digital media or print media. It is more difficult to enforce now, however, in the electronic age.

Satellite

Gabal does not own any satellites, but leases satellites for communications and entertainment from South Torbia.  The population relies heavily on satellite for telecommunication services, such as television and internet.

Infrastructure Support

It currently has a long-term lease on a Ka band High Throughput Satellite (HTS) through Pacific Broadband Satellites for internet services which will expire in ten years. 

Control/Regulation

Since Gabal does not own any satellites, they do not need to regulate them. If Gabal ever launched or obtained their own satellite, it is likely the ICT would control and/or regulate it.

Internet of Things

Gabal is in the early stages of its information age as only 19% of the people use cell phones and only about half the people have access to the Internet. Within ten years, it is likely that Gabal will be saturated with cell phones and Internet access, or whatever is the newest electronic craze. That said, given that Gabal is in its infancy with IoT enabled technology and its population is typically poorer than other nations, the equipment that is available to Gabalians likely lacks up to date protections against cyber-attacks and intrusions.

Infrastructure Support

There is little infrastructure support now, but as more Gabalians embrace the information age, the infrastructure will be built to meet the demands.

Control/Regulation

The ITC will likely remain the main Gabal office responsible for the control and regulations regarding anything electronic in the country. This will likely result in a need for increased staffing including employees well versed in using electronic devices. To be competitive in the market for international tourism, Gabal’s tourist places will need to make their home on the Internet work for them.

Information Cohorts

Cohort - Baby Boomers and Generation X

Baby-boomers consist of the generation of Gabalians born between 1946 and 1965 and Generation X are those born between 1965 and 1980. While not a monolithic group by any means, the shared experiences of their generation have shaped their perspectives. The baby boomers were the first generation to experience childhood and to come of age in a freed Gabal. Both the baby boomers and Gen Xers lived through the boom years of the chromium extraction, but also the recession that followed when the chromium industry folded. Even if times are good, both groups feel that something bad is just around the corner. While baby-boomers should be in their retirement years, the struggle to survive means that most continue to work until they can no longer do so.

Biases (Positive, Neutral, and Negative)

Since both these groups were working at some part during the boom times, they both believe they know what is best for Gabal and many of them believe that the following generations are lazy. They still believe they are the keepers of the centuries of Gabalian traditions and that “young people” just do not understand their rich island heritage. Most baby-boomers and Gen Xers look towards the boom times of the past and hope that some new product will help create a similar boom in the future.

Perceived Antagonist Cohorts

Many baby-boomers have trouble dealing with the younger generations because most have never known anything different than what is currently going on in the country. As many older Gabalians are still part of the work force, they are finding themselves competing against younger Gabalians, who may be more familiar with newer technologies.  As Gabal continues to modernize with these new technologies, and the younger work force needed to work them, members of the older generation may develop animosities toward the younger workers and the technologies that are forcing them out of work.

Broadcast Media Engagement/Perception

Many baby-boomers and Gen Xers, especially those in the larger cities, still get their information from the newspapers. They trust what they read, especially in the privately printed newspaper. While they will listen to the radio news, they know it is controlled by the government. The television provides them information from what is happening around the world. They are loathe to embrace the new technologies that are arriving with the information age.

Presence/Activity in Cyberspace

Most baby-boomers do not participate in social meeting. They would rather meet their friends in person to play cards, dominoes, or other activities. A few baby-boomers, usually only the most affluent, will use social media. In the business world, if they are still working, they only use the technology given to them by their company that may consist of a computer and possibly Zoom for meetings. Gen Xers are slightly more comfortable with the information age, but access to cell phones and the Internet prevent any deep penetration into their group.

Cohort - Millennials and Zoomers (Generation Z)

While millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) and Zoomers (born between 1997 and 2012) are technically two separate generations they are often lumped together. Both generations have come of age in a Gabal that was economically depressed. They are more likely than their parents and grandparents to embrace the information age, but lack of access to social media and cell phones are an issue. They watch more television than the previous generations and since the satellite picks up shows from other countries, they see how well many of their neighboring countries are doing.

Biases (Positive, Neutral, and Negative)

Both millennials and zoomers are wary of the news media whether it is written in the newspaper, spoken on the radio, or aired on the television. Many think that the message is being controlled by the government. Some only trust news from other countries as they think their government is providing a biased account of the facts. There are no local pop-culture icons, but millennials and zoomers are aware of the pop-culture stars of other countries.

Perceived Antagonist Cohorts

Most millennials and zoomers are antagonistic to their elder generations, thinking that they are living in the past. They are open to government assistance, but do not seem to understand that the government does not have the financial means to do more, and many blame this on mismanagement.

Broadcast Media Engagement/Perception

While most of the millennials and zoomers were exposed to basic computers and possibly the Internet, the lack of financial means to purchase these still expensive items means that many do not have them even as adults. Some in the larger cities or due to their job may have access to a computer and the Internet during work hours, but not during their free time. Internet capable cell phones are becoming more popular, and more widely available due to price drops, however they are still out of reach for younger Gabalians, who may still live in single phone families. Most millennials and zoomers get their news from television so it is from an outside perspective. They just do not read the newspaper or listen to the radio news because that is too old fashioned.

Presence/Activity in Cyberspace

If a millennial or zoomer has access to the Internet, they will be active, ingesting information and participating in online forums with people from around the world. But most are not. The family cell phone is a communal device so these younger adults, teenagers, and pre-teens cannot normally have their own phone. A teenager with a computer with Internet capability or a cell phone usually becomes the center of attention for a group of people.

Cohort - Rural Gabalians

Rural Gabalians are far and away the most impoverished segment of society. As such, they often lack the means to access the internet. Radios are often shared by small communities, with one radio possibly serving ten or more families. Televisions are rare, but when rural Gabalians have access to one, they typically use it as a community resource.  This means that smaller communities are much more likely to hear from the same information sources, and hold the same opinions. Radios and televisions act as communal gathering points, with many relationships based upon the shared nature and pattern of use of the device.  Many rural Gabalians believe that an injection of multiple information sources into their communities would damage the interconnected nature of their communities.

Biases (Positive, Neutral, and Negative)

The rural Gabalians do not think the government and those in the larger cities understand their position. The rural Gabalians feel that the government spends resources to placate the city dwellers and give little to those in the rural areas. Rural Gabalians are also used to receiving information from only a few sources, and are likely to prefer the sources they are familiar with over any new sources that they are exposed to.

Perceived Antagonist Cohorts

Many rural Gabalians do not understand the infatuation with the information age and just stay away from it. Some rural families do not even have the electricity needed to charge a phone or computer so there is no need to purchase one. Rural children in schools are usually not exposed to the Internet if they even attend school.

Broadcast Media Engagement/Perception

Most rural Gabalians receive their information via radio. For the most part, the news of the “outside world” has little concern to most of them as the politicians in the capital or what is happening on the other side of the world has little effect on their way of life.

Presence/Activity in Cyberspace

Most rural Gabalians are not involved in cyberspace activities due to lack of access to the Internet or to a Cell phone. Many families will only have one cell phone per family and is more of an emergency device than anything else.

Cohort - Traditionalists

These are Gabalians that have pride in the Pacific Island heritage of their country and desire a return to a traditional way of life. Most of them live in the rural areas and are similar to the previous cohort.  Traditionalists in Gabal are rarely outspoken about their views, unless it is on a specific topic (like eco-tourism). More often than not, it is the nonverbal actions of an ardent traditionalist that will help other traditionalists identify them.

Biases (Positive, Neutral, and Negative)

Traditionalists are against any progressive ideas that they believe come from external places and want the country to return to what it was before the European colonists arrive—small villages of people living off of fishing and what they could grow on their land. They are isolationists and would like all outsiders to stay away including the eco-tourists. When they meet a fellow traditionalist, there is an almost immediately bond between them due to their shared belief.

Perceived Antagonist Cohorts

The Traditionalists are ideologically against any person or group that desires a way of life other than a pre-colonial Gabal. They would rather struggle to survive than turn their backs on tradition. They are also realists however, and recognize that their primary antagonist needs to be those Gabalians who are aggressively seeking change. They understand that even though they ardently disagree with the lifestyle being led by the average Gabalian, the average person is exactly who they need to shift toward traditions and their point of view.

Broadcast Media Engagement/Perception

Traditionalists are unlikely to participate in cyberspace and will likely shun any modern communication means—radio, television, Internet, or cell phone, unless it can be shown to be somehow benefiting tradition. Radio, as an example, could be something that brings a community together, leading to deep communal bonds and relationships. A traditionalist might avoid the radio on their own, and would never talk on the radio, but they may accept communal use of a radio if it enhances a sense of community. They normally communicate via word-of-mouth and other personal communication means. A few Traditionalists may read a newspaper, but it is usually not a current issue as most will not pay hard-earned money for the pleasure of reading government directed propaganda.

Presence/Activity in Cyberspace

None

Information Suppression

Gabal’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech precludes the ability of the government to directly control the information environment. As a result, the government finds itself in a steady state of competition for influence internally within the country.  The government is able to limit competition in the information environment however, by limiting the number of information competitors that it has to face. For example, Gabal has two newspapers: one government-run, and one private. While both of these newspapers are able to survive, Gabal’s limited economy is unlikely to be able to support an additional newspaper. Therefore, by downplaying the economic opportunity available to newspapers, they are dissuading foreign newspapers from investing in Gabal. To be clear, it isn’t that the government is limiting free press for media companies, but rather that they are controlling the narrative and promoting the idea that there is limited economic opportunity, and thereby reducing the number of challengers it might face in the information environment. The same is true for radio, and television. The government uses the newspaper it publishes, the official radio station, and the two daily television news show to shape opinion inside the country. The Ministry of Information has the final say on what comes from all three media sources. Due to the Gabal’s small size, it has little influence outside its borders. With an anti-defamation law on the books, the government uses it to control the privately published newspaper. The Gabal government only inserts itself into issues involving private media in extreme cases and for the most part, the media outlets self-censor the most controversial stories.

Government Censorship

With only one newspaper privately printed and no privately owned radio or television stations, there is little government censorship needed. The private newspaper usually self-censors itself. The radio station news hours are approved by the Ministry of Information. The Gabal government cannot stop the people from receiving foreign broadcasts on their satellite dishes. Due to the small number of users, the government usually does not get involved in censoring anything on the Internet. 

Public (Popular) Censorship

Because of the national anti-defamation law, the private newspaper self-censors itself to make sure they do not run afoul of the Ministry of Information. There is no attempt by the government to limit free speech between individuals so private conversations can occur with many diverse opinions without fear of reprisal by the government. For those that use the Internet, there is little fear of censorship.

Non-Government Entity Censorship

NA

Cyberspace

Only 19% of Gabalians use a cell phone and while the government claims 50% of the population can access the Internet, this is probably not a clear indication of the actual accessibility. This number is based on those that have the Internet at work or can access a public library. The true number of users is probably down in the 20-25% range.

Strengths

The strength of the cyberspace in Gabal is that currently the government does not do much to restrain it because of so few actual users. As users increase, the government may feel a need to exercise more control over the content that its citizens put out over the Internet.

Vulnerabilities

Due to the unsophistication of the single Gabalian Internet provider, Cuuva.tv, the company could be vulnerable to hackers from both inside and outside the country.  The Gabal government uses the same server making their information vulnerable for illegal access or worse, being deleted. Gabal’s Internet of Things is also in its infancy, therefore it lacks the protections that you might find in other countries, and the technology is typically extremely outdated.

OE Specific Challenges

Gabal computers use a keyboard with the Gabalian letters on them. This could create a challenge for U.S. forces trying to work with Gabalian government and military forces. Google translate does an adequate job in translating from Gabalian to English, but not so good when translating from English to Gabalian.