Introduction; Comments on Declaration on Community Connectivity v.0 Re: DC3 Digest, Vol 11, Issue 27 - DC3

1 Oct 2016

Hi All

I have only recently joined here; I come from a lower-middle class
background, self-taught machine language engineer, who inevitably got
involved with Linux and could use that skill to build a network - and I
have learned about money, organization, government, the economy, business,
strategy, marketing, poverty, and work-social life balance, through the act
of building a small wireless ISP - which has now grown up, and has served
more than 15 000 customers (ARPU <$10) while providing employment and
stable incomes to more than 25 people, over the course of 10 years. We grew
organically, solely from our own profits, and only very recently qualified
for our first investment.

I now find myself with some time on my hands, and after staying in a
township in South Africa for a few days, I realized that this great need of
providing better access to resources and information to economically
empower the poor, is now, 10 years later, despite many "bold things",
barely even been touched.

Besides national operators literally raking in $100k+/monthly from even
some of the smallest township areas (and larger rural areas), in exchange
for a handful of barely usable MB of data or minutes of airtime, literally
all is see is a handful of tiny specious, some expensive, tax-paid
installations, miniscqule fractions of marketing budgets - all for a
picture to be shown during a regulatory hearing or conference, with an
accompanying singular good story that completely misrepresents anything
capable of yielding long-term results on the ground.

Yet, I have, like I'm sure many of you have - during the run of things,
learned a lot of lessons - and have seen many great - but isolated - sucess
stories - few of them linked to government or corporate funding efforts,
and most of them running in isolation.

I have just started reading this draft (
https://pad.codigosur.org/GuadalajaraDeclaration), and I have to say that I
strongly disagree with the wording of this sentence in the opening
paragraph:

There is no business case for extending coverage based on the current
operational models of traditional network operators and alternative
strategies may face nearly-insurmountable regulatory hurdles. There is no
business case for extending coverage based on the current operational
models of traditional network operators and alternative strategies may face
nearly-insurmountable regulatory hurdles.

Perhaps it's just the order of the words, because there are several
business cases that I've seen work wonders, one on which I'm working on
right now, and in which I have found my new calling and "one thing" for the
forseeable future.

Or perhaps there really is no business case in the *"current operational
models of traditional network operators"* - (does not seem to hold in areas
of Mozambique - but this demands more research) - but if there is any
business case whatsoever, surely there can be - and before a bold statement
such as this is made, should it not perhaps be properly researched and
backed - before we shut ourselves out of the mainstream economy by chasing
them away up-front?

You have to ask yourselves who it is you want to attract, and align with,
in this forum - and who you stand to gain the most from? I don't think any
progress can be made thrugh sowing conflict or fragmentation - our whole
goal should be to bring people together - all people from all facets.

Personally, I think the crux of the matter is in educating the public about
the nature and role of government, as well as that of competition, and how
money interacts with these two in the face of scarce resources - not
through words or metaphors or stories, or by focusing on how the internet
came about as a giant collaboration, even held together by software that
was build in a similar fashion, necessarily, but through practical
illustration and first hand experience that will lead them to draw their
own, more accurate conclusions, on the limits of government, its mandate to
measure way before even trying to control, and how they can use their
wallet to feed- and hold companies accountable and promote the better ones
over the rest.

Then, when we get to your "Community Network" points - something is missing
- reliable transit capacity might quickly become a scarce resource - or
lend itself to abuse - how will its allocation and use be decided and
monitored? What is the meaning of the word "free" in this context? Free as
in "gratis" or free as in neutral? Should it apply to everything, or to
only a portion - and how big a portion? Should it apply all the time, or
only within certai limits - and if so, when and how and why?

Improving capacity and reliability will cost money and resources - and that
cost should be recovarable proportionally to how it's used.

Sure, confining it solely to monetary cost might not be fair, considering
the unequal distribution of money, especially in these areas - which is why
more careful work needs to be done around the wording here.

A good functioning community network model is a perfect opportunity to
teach people about markets, money and economies - yet it should not exclude
the "have-nots" - while it should be able to draw from the benefit of the
"haves".

Perhaps mobile operators can solve this problem rather quickly, with a
simple "future tax exemption" incentive - but would that deprive us of a
valuable, perhaps needed, learning and teaching opportunity?

Have any of you run any big, shared networks? Let your voice be heard!

Then, on a minor point -
http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/04/should-you-capitalize-internet/
- it's undecided - but the more you stop capitalizing "internet", the more
it looks normal - and indeed, as commonplace as it should be - rather than
this insurmountable obstacle hiding behind a tall wall that barely anyone
can fathom.

Just my thoughts. Interact with me anytime, or on twitter @dagelf

Coenraad Loubser

Wireless Internet Services & Hardware (Pty) Ltd.
210 Long Street, Cape Town, 8001, ZA

Office: +27 21 481 1824
Skype: Coenraad_Loubser
Email: coenraad(a)wish.org.za
Cell: +27 73 772 1223
Web: http://wish.org.za

-- Spending Money is like watering a plant.

On Fri, Sep 30, 2016 at 11:12 AM, &lt;dc3-request(a)listas.altermundi.net&gt; wrote:

...
  Send DC3 mailing list submissions to
         dc3(a)listas.altermundi.net

 To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
         https://listas.altermundi.net/mailman/listinfo/dc3
 or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
         dc3-request(a)listas.altermundi.net

 You can reach the person managing the list at
         dc3-owner(a)listas.altermundi.net

 When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
 than "Re: Contents of DC3 digest..."

 Today's Topics:

    1. Re: Declaration on Community Connectivity v.0 (Nicol?s Ech?niz)
    2. RES:  Declaration on Community Connectivity v.0
       (Instituto Bem Estar Brasil)

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

 Message: 1
 Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2016 01:09:44 -0300
 From: Nicol?s Ech?niz &lt;nicoechaniz(a)altermundi.net&gt;
 To: Dynamic Coalition on Community Connectivity
         &lt;dc3(a)listas.altermundi.net&gt;
 Subject: Re: [DC3] Declaration on Community Connectivity v.0
 Message-ID: &lt;57EDE588.4070705(a)altermundi.net&gt;
 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

 I like this first draft. Thanks Luca for the systematizing effort!

 I edited the pad a bit.

 changed "last mile" for "first square mile" (Bob and I agree on
this,
 but if the majority is against we can reverse it).

 Also added points e) and f) regarding peering and transit which we
 (AlterMundi) consider basic principles. Point f) is a "viral" clause.

 Of course open to discussion.

 Cheers!
 Nico

 On 09/29/2016 09:52 AM, Luca Belli wrote:
  Hi all,

 I have tried to consolidate the ideas put forward in this list regarding
 a Declaration to be presented at the IGF.

 I have added the draft to the pad created by Nico to collect our ideas
 https://pad.codigosur.org/GuadalajaraDeclaration

 You can also find this ?Draft Zero? in attachment.

 Please, do not hesitate to share your comments on the draft or to modify
 the text using the pad.

 I suggest we submit this first draft to the IGF Secretariat, to signify
 that we want it to be discussed during the IGF Main Session on Dynamic
 Coalitions (see the Secretariat?s email below). Then, we will have the
 next month to discuss and modify/refine the text of the Declaration and
 submit a second draft by 1 November (see email below). Lastly, we can
 discuss the Declaration at our pre-IGF event, on 5 December. What do you
 think?

 Please share your thoughts on this by *15 October*, so that we have time
 to elaborate a second draft and discuss it on the list.

 All the best

 Luca

 FGV Direito Rio

 *Luca Belli, PhD*
 /Senior Researcher/
 /Head of /*/Internet Governance @ FGV
 <http://internet-governance.fgv.br/>/*//luca.belli@fgv.br
 +55 21 3799 *5763*//

 http://www.fgv.br/mailing/Direito_Rio/assinatura_email/Ondas.png

 ---------- Forwarded message ----------
 From: *Eleonora Anna MAZZUCCHI* &lt;EMAZZUCCHI(a)unog.ch
 <mailto:EMAZZUCCHI@unog.ch>>
 Date: 5 September 2016 at 20:33
 Subject: [DC3] IGF 2016 Main Session: Papers from DCs
 To: dc(a)intgovforum.org <mailto:dc@intgovforum.org>
 Cc: Markus Kummer &lt;kummer.markus(a)gmail.com
 <mailto:kummer.markus@gmail.com>>, Avri Doria &lt;avri(a)acm.org
 <mailto:avri@acm.org>>

 Dear All,

 Thank you for continuing to contribute to the planning for Dynamic
 Coalitions' main session at IGF 2016!

 With apologies for cross-posting (!),  as we move closer to the meeting
 and begin to refine the content of the session, all DCs should kindly
 note the *requirement to produce individual substantive papers. *As
 agreed during DC Coordination meetings, submission of the paper will be
 necessary for the DC to participate in the main session. The deadline
 for a first draft is *30 September 2016.*

 Further details on the paper are included below this message and as an
 attachment. The information is also available on the DCs Coordination
 page
 <https://www.intgovforum.org/cms/dynamiccoalitions/dc-coordination>,
 together with any other documents pertaining to main session planning.

 Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Secretariat for any questions
 or feedback on this! We would be happy to help.

 Very best,

 Eleonora
 IGF Secretariat

  *IGF 2016 DCs Main Session: Substantive Paper *

 During discussions in DC coordination meetings, it was agreed each DC
 would produce a substantive paper by deadline in order to participate in
 the DCs Main Session this year.
 The papers will serve as collective background material for the session
 and be put forward individually for feedback, both in advance of the IGF
 and during the IGF itself. It was proposed and agreed that feedback be
 collected through online and hard-copy DC issue surveys (or ?Idea Rating
 Sheets?), piloted at IGF 2015.

 Bearing in mind many DCs have produced substantive papers in years past,
 or do so on a regular basis and introduce their work into other fora,
 *the paper for the main session can build on or be an updated version of
 any of this previous work. *It is only essential that the DC be able to
 cull from the paper *key ideas * for discussion in the main session and
 for receiving feedback before and during the meeting.

 *_Timeline & Process for Main Session Paper _*

 -The *initial draft * should be emailed to the Secretariat
 (emazzucchi(a)unog.ch <mailto:emazzucchi@unog.ch>) by *Friday, 30
 September 2016, midnight UTC, *for the DC to qualify for main session
 participation.

 -A *second draft*, as well as the extraction of *five key points for
 aligning with the DC issue surveys, *should be completed on/ about *1
 November. *This also conforms with the deadline for the IGF Best
 Practice Forum (BPF) outputs and with the general practice of submitting
 papers 6 weeks ahead of a meeting.

 -An email to the IGF community promoting the papers and the online
 version of the DC issue surveys is sent on/ about *1 November. *

 -The DCs? shared IGF booth opens with the hard-copy version of the
 papers, as well as DC issue surveys, from *6 December. *

 *_General Paper Guidelines_***

 - The paper should not exceed 5 pages.

 - Should not read as an ?activities report? and should contain a few
 thought-provoking issues/questions that can be put to IGF participants.

 -Should be as inclusive as possible of the views and ideas of the DC?s
 constituent members .

 */For any questions/feedback please feel free to reach out to the
 Secretariat at /**/emazzucchi(a)unog.ch/* <mailto:emazzucchi@unog.ch>*/!  /*
  _______________________________________________
 DC3 mailing list
 DC3(a)listas.altermundi.net <mailto:DC3@listas.altermundi.net>
 https://listas.altermundi.net/mailman/listinfo/dc3

 This body part will be downloaded on demand.

 ------------------------------

 Message: 2
 Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2016 06:11:57 -0300
 From: "Instituto Bem Estar Brasil" &lt;instituto(a)bemestarbrasil.org.br&gt;
 To: "'Dynamic Coalition on Community Connectivity'"
         &lt;dc3(a)listas.altermundi.net&gt;
 Subject: [DC3] RES:  Declaration on Community Connectivity v.0
 Message-ID:
         <!&!AAAAAAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAAKDlfaSMukZArgTZ5g+
 ZrkTCgAAAEAAAAIg7JCkIutxCrb8QBGNNT70BAAAAAA==(a)bemestarbrasil.org.br&gt;

 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

 Hi all, i put some inputs in the pad for consideration or discards.

 Very good the declaration.

 I just have a doubt about the principles and design of the community
 network.  One thing is to create QoS based on a comercial interests and
 another is a democratically decision by the community to guarantee the best
 quality of the net.  In mesh networks could be included best practices when
 nodes operates P2P for example and in decentralized networks with servers
 controlling the flow maybe the vote for democratic rules of QoS. I know I
 know I know, this is a run out of the net neutrality, but some mechanism
 social ou technical needs to be created when some users are causing heavy
 traffic and damaging the hole network.

 How to prevent this in wifi networks without democratic QoS rules or
 indication of good practices?

 De: dc3-bounces(a)listas.altermundi.net
 [mailto:dc3-bounces@listas.altermundi.net] Em nome de Luca Belli
 Enviada em: quinta-feira, 29 de setembro de 2016 09:53
 Para: Dynamic Coalition on Community Connectivity
 Assunto: [DC3] Declaration on Community Connectivity v.0

 Hi all,

 I have tried to consolidate the ideas put forward in this list regarding a
 Declaration to be presented at the IGF.

 I have added the draft to the pad created by Nico to collect our ideas
 https://pad.codigosur.org/GuadalajaraDeclaration

 You can also find this "Draft Zero" in attachment.

 Please, do not hesitate to share your comments on the draft or to modify
 the
 text using the pad.

 I suggest we submit this first draft to the IGF Secretariat, to signify
 that
 we want it to be discussed during the IGF Main Session on Dynamic
 Coalitions
 (see the Secretariat's email below). Then, we will have the next month to
 discuss and modify/refine the text of the Declaration and submit a second
 draft by 1 November (see email below). Lastly, we can discuss the
 Declaration at our pre-IGF event, on 5 December. What do you think?

 Please share your thoughts on this by 15 October, so that we have time to
 elaborate a second draft and discuss it on the list.

 All the best

 Luca

  FGV Direito Rio
 <http://www.fgv.br/mailing/Direito_Rio/assinatura_email/
 Marca_FGV_Direito_Ri
 o.png>

 Luca Belli, PhD
 Senior Researcher
 Head of  <http://internet-governance.fgv.br/> Internet Governance @ FGV
 luca.belli(a)fgv.br
 +55 21 3799 5763

  http://www.fgv.br/mailing/Direito_Rio/assinatura_email/Ondas.png

 ---------- Forwarded message ----------
 From: Eleonora Anna MAZZUCCHI < <mailto:EMAZZUCCHI@unog.ch>
 EMAZZUCCHI(a)unog.ch&gt;
 Date: 5 September 2016 at 20:33
 Subject: [DC3] IGF 2016 Main Session: Papers from DCs
 To:  <mailto:dc@intgovforum.org> dc(a)intgovforum.org
 Cc: Markus Kummer < <mailto:kummer.markus@gmail.com>
 kummer.markus(a)gmail.com&gt;gt;, Avri Doria < <mailto:avri@acm.org>
avri(a)acm.org&gt;

 Dear All,

 Thank you for continuing to contribute to the planning for Dynamic
 Coalitions' main session at IGF 2016!

 With apologies for cross-posting (!),  as we move closer to the meeting and
 begin to refine the content of the session, all DCs should kindly note the
 requirement to produce individual substantive papers. As agreed during DC
 Coordination meetings, submission of the paper will be necessary for the DC
 to participate in the main session. The deadline for a first draft is 30
 September 2016.

 Further details on the paper are included below this message and as an
 attachment. The information is also available on the
 <https://www.intgovforum.org/cms/dynamiccoalitions/dc-coordination> DCs
 Coordination page, together with any other documents pertaining to main
 session planning.

 Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Secretariat for any questions or
 feedback on this! We would be happy to help.

 Very best,

 Eleonora
 IGF Secretariat

  IGF 2016 DCs Main Session: Substantive Paper

 During discussions in DC coordination meetings, it was agreed each DC would
 produce a substantive paper by deadline in order to participate in the DCs
 Main Session this year.
 The papers will serve as collective background material for the session and
 be put forward individually for feedback, both in advance of the IGF and
 during the IGF itself. It was proposed and agreed that feedback be
 collected
 through online and hard-copy DC issue surveys (or 'Idea Rating Sheets'),
 piloted at IGF 2015.

 Bearing in mind many DCs have produced substantive papers in years past, or
 do so on a regular basis and introduce their work into other fora, the
 paper
 for the main session can build on or be an updated version of any of this
 previous work. It is only essential that the DC be able to cull from the
 paper key ideas for discussion in the main session and for receiving
 feedback before and during the meeting.

 Timeline & Process for Main Session Paper

 -The initial draft should be emailed to the Secretariat (
 <mailto:emazzucchi@unog.ch> emazzucchi(a)unog.ch) by Friday, 30 September
 2016, midnight UTC, for the DC to qualify for main session participation.

 -A second draft, as well as the extraction of five key points for aligning
 with the DC issue surveys, should be completed on/ about 1 November. This
 also conforms with the deadline for the IGF Best Practice Forum (BPF)
 outputs and with the general practice of submitting papers 6 weeks ahead of
 a meeting.

 -An email to the IGF community promoting the papers and the online version
 of the DC issue surveys is sent on/ about 1 November.

 -The DCs' shared IGF booth opens with the hard-copy version of the papers,
 as well as DC issue surveys, from 6 December.

 General Paper Guidelines

 - The paper should not exceed 5 pages.

 - Should not read as an "activities report" and should contain a few
 thought-provoking issues/questions that can be put to IGF participants.

 -Should be as inclusive as possible of the views and ideas of the DC's
 constituent members .

 For any questions/feedback please feel free to reach out to the Secretariat
 at  <mailto:emazzucchi@unog.ch> emazzucchi(a)unog.ch !
 _______________________________________________
 DC3 mailing list
  <mailto:DC3@listas.altermundi.net> DC3(a)listas.altermundi.net
  <https://listas.altermundi.net/mailman/listinfo/dc3>
 https://listas.altermundi.net/mailman/listinfo/dc3