Switch It On

Community Networks

Jane Coffin, Director, Development Strategycoffin@isoc.org

June 2018

Presentation title – Client name1

Community Networks Workshop – African Union – 19-20 June 2018

African Union Headquarters

49% of the world is still not connected

The lack of affordable access

to the Internet and the

disparity in levels of access

across the world remains a key

challenge.

This creates competitive and

economic disadvantage.

A vehic le crossing the landscape near Koklata in Tusheti, a beautifu l but very rem ote reg ion of the

G reater C aucasus M ountains in the Repub lic of G eorg ia . © N yani Q uarm yne2

We believe we must act now!

In d ia – th e In fra stru c tu re o fte n sta rts o u t a s s im p le lo c a l

c o m m u n ity d e v e lo p e d a n d c a n b e c o m e m o re so p h ist ic a te d

a s w e b rin g o n p a rtn e rs to sc a le a n d su sta in th e p ro je c t .3

It’s time to:

• Change policies to connect the

unconnected

• Deploy networks with partners

• Build communities

• Focus on capacity development

Connecting communities

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One solution for connecting rural, remote,

and under-served communities is

community networks.

Small, do-it-yourself networks are already

connecting people in remote parts of the

globe, from the Amazon Rainforest to the

Himalayas, to the fly-in communities of

Canada’s north.

Community networks are making

connectivity affordable to more and

more people around the world.

M o se s "C h iif K a d iff" O tie n o (rig h t)

h a n g in g o u t in K ib e ra , a s lu m in

N a iro b i, K e n y a w h ic h is re p u te d to b e th e la rg e st in A fric a .

O tie n o h o p e s to b e n e fit fro m a

c o m m u n ity w if i n e tw o rk b e in g

e sta b lish e d b y th e Tu n a p a n d a

In st itu te , w h ic h a im s to p ro v id e a c c e ss to a ra n g e o f e d u c a tio n a l

c o n te n t, p a ire d w ith IT o u tre a c h

tra in in g . © N y a n i Q u a rm y n e

What are community networks?

© S a ra n ta p o ro .g r 5

• Built and operated by local citizens who want

to connect their village, city, or town

• Put technology in the hands of the people

who use it

• Bring new ideas, new ways of thinking and

new solutions

• Provide a complementary solution for

accessible and affordable connectivity in

underserved areas.

They inspire us to think a differently and

to solve problems together.

Community networks develop and lead to…

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• Partnerships

• Training opportunities for local cap-dev

• Workshops for the community

• Economic development – small business

• Economic development – incubating

networks to connect with other networks

• Education – wiring schools to provide

access for children and the communities

• Changes to policies that impact CNs

• Increase in local technical capabilities

Tusheti Region in the Greater Caucasus Mountains,

Georgia

Tusheti Region in the Greater Caucasus Mountains, Georgia

Barriers for community networks

© N y a n i Q u a rm y n e 7

In addition to the challenges of accessing

remote locations, there are many barriers to

deploying community networks:

• Registration/licensing and permits

• Taxes, regulatory licensing and import fees

• Access to Financing/funding

• Access to spectrum – access for smaller

networks, inefficient use and expense

Partnerships around the world

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New partners:

• Zimbabwe

• Argentina

• Kyrgyzstan

Existing partnerships:

• Brazil

• Colombia – Colnodo (with Rhizo/Redes)

• Georgia - Tusheti

• India - DEF

• Kenya - Tunapanda

• Mexico - Rhizomatica

• Pakistan - COMSATS

• South Africa - Zenzeleni

Tusheti Region in the Greater Caucasus Mountains,

Georgia

Tusheti Region in the Greater Caucasus Mountains, Georgia

CN Snapshots from Around the World

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DEF (ISOC’s First Partner): Digital Empowerment Foundation | www.defindia.org

• Country: India

• Location: Little Rann of Kutch in the state of Gujarat | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq27X8CJLTM

Tusheti Region in the Greater Caucasus Mountains,

Georgia

Tusheti Region in the Greater Caucasus Mountains, Georgia

CN Snapshots from Around the World

10

Rhizomatica (with Redes Communica):

• Country: Mexico • Location: Oaxaca

• Type of Tech: 2G VoIP• Started: 2013

Fast Facts:

• Model: Non-profit/community run• How much: USD $2-3.00 per month

• Reg: License – spectrum • Reg: License - services

• Reg: License - facilities• Regulator: IFT

• Partners w/: APC, ISOC, Colnodo, FB –Open Cellular

• https://www.rhizomatica.org/

Tusheti Region in the Greater Caucasus Mountains,

Georgia

Tusheti Region in the Greater Caucasus Mountains, Georgia

CN Snapshots from Around the World

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Sarantaporo:

• Country: Greece

• Location: Sarantaporo

• Type of Tech: Wi-Fi Mesh

• Started: 2013

Fast Facts:

• Model: Community run/non-profit

• Who: Local villages & Team from Athens

• Reg: N/A

• Partners w/: Net Commons, ISOC, APC

• Backhaul: University

• Web: http://www.sarantaporo.gr/

Tusheti Region in the Greater Caucasus Mountains,

Georgia

Tusheti Region in the Greater Caucasus Mountains, Georgia

Snapshot – Tusheti, Georgia

Tusheti is in northeast Georgia on the northern slopes of

the Greater Caucasus Mountains and bordered by the

Russian republics of Chechnya and Dagestan.

The Internet Society partnered with its Georgian Chapter

and several Georgian Internet organizations.

Internet connectivity helps support the economic

sustainability of this remote region and create

opportunities for communities to sell their local products

and services as well as access education, healthcare and

government services.

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Lasha Tunauri (le ft) and h is packhorses w ait

w hile Konstantin Stalinsky , G iorg i K irvalidze

and A m irani G iorganashvili com plete construction of a tow er on Kheki, a m ountain

peak in Tusheti, a beautifu l but very rem ote

reg ion of the G reater Caucasus M ountains in

the Repub lic of G eorg ia , © N yani Q uarm yne

Governments & Regulatory Associations Can Ease/Eliminate Barriers

• Ease regulatory requirements

• Promote forbearance on taxes, customs duties,

and fee exemptions

• Enhance transparency and ease of doing

business

• Create clear websites and publicly accessible

data

• Clarity on who to contact on issues

• Expanding universal service and other funding

opportunities

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Policy-makers can help address connectivity issues

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Streamline or eliminate regulatory

requirements that are not

applicable to small, community-

based networks.

Provide tax, customs, regulatory,

and licensing fee exemptions.

These are expensive for

community network operators and

can delay or prevent development.

Enhance transparency. Regulators

should provide clear, public

guidance on policies and regulatory

requirements and exemptions.

Pursue innovative approaches to provide spectrum access. Direct

licensing of community networks, including social purpose licensing,

experimental licensing, and providing spectrum auction credits.

License exemptions and unlicensed use.

Expand Universal Service and other

public funding opportunities, and

publicize that community networks are

eligible for funding.

Tools for Policy-Makers & Regulators

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Spectrum Study

• Focus on innovative spectrum approaches for CNs

• Licensing/Authorization

• Experimental licensing

• Social Purpose Licensing

• Funding

• Universal Service Funds OR New Grants/PPP

Funding

• Collaboration

• Not a competition – Complimentary form of

access

• New Study from DEF India

Tusheti Region in the Greater Caucasus Mountains,

Georgia

Tusheti Region in the Greater Caucasus Mountains, Georgia

Tools for Policy-Makers & Regulators

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Licensing Study (May 2018):

• Streamline or Eliminate Onerous Regulatory Requirements, especially those

that are not applicable to small, community-based networks.

• Provide Tax, Customs, Regulatory, and Licensing Fee Exemptions. These fees

and duties are difficult for community network operators to afford and can

delay or prevent their development.

• Enhance Transparency. Regulators should provide clear, public guidance on the

specific policies and regulatory requirements (and exemptions) for community

networks.

• Expand Universal Service and Other Public Funding Opportunities and

publicize that Community Networks are eligible for funding. Work with micro-

finance and International Funding Institutions (IFIs) to examine innovative

funding options. Pursue Innovative Approaches to Providing Spectrum Access,

such as:

• Direct Licensing of community networks, including social purpose licensing,

experimental licensing, and providing spectrum auction credits;

Tusheti Region in the Greater Caucasus Mountains,

Georgia

Tusheti Region in the Greater Caucasus Mountains, Georgia

To make this happen, it is going to take all of us!

• Join with partners to bring the resources together to work with local

communities.

• Build a global network of policymakers, businesses, regulators, governments, and

other influencers to raise awareness about community networks and the

alternative they offer to connect the most remote regions.

• Work to change old policies in areas such as spectrum, universal service, licensing

to accommodate new connectivity.

• Advocate for new policies, processes, partnerships and ways of working.

Presentations that follow will:

Focus on Africa, Explain a Study on CNs in Africa, Hear from African CNs, Hear from

you – Q&A

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There are many ways to support the Internet. Find out today how

you can make #shapetomorrow

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Thank you!