Hi Everyone, I received this email through the LibreMesh list, and I guess is relevant for everyone of us that wants to do Mesh Networks around the world (not just Europe). A brief of what I understood: The European Parliament is trying to lockdown routers again, and Community Networks in Europe are organizing to resist. If you are in Europe, read below. If not... is there anything we can do to help? Reagards, -------- Forwarded Message -------- Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2016 18:24:12 +0100 Subject: [lime-users] Fwd: Radio Lockdown: Community WiFis unite! To: libremesh users &lt;lime-users(a)lists.libremesh.org&gt; Reply-to: libremesh users &lt;lime-users(a)lists.libremesh.org&gt; From: Ilario &lt;iochesonome(a)gmail.com&gt; ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: RAIBLE Sebastian &lt;sebastian.raible(a)europarl.europa.eu&gt; Date: 2016-12-07 16:42 GMT+01:00 Subject: Radio Lockdown: Community WiFis unite! To: Dear all, My name is Sebastian, I work as an assistant to MEP Julia Reda (Pirate Party, Greens/EFA) in the European Parliament. I am reaching out to you today on the topic of the Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU; RED) that you might have heard of as “Radio Lockdown” because of a provision obliging manufacturers of radio equipment (such as WiFi routers) to check all software installable on their devices [1-3]. We think this is a danger to Community WiFi projects throughout Europe, as they, among others, rely on midified (Free Software) firmware installed on routers. The good news is that the RED has not entered into force yet because the Commission needs to define equipment classes first. This is at the same time our best possible course of action: We think there should be a separate class for equipment that you rely on in your projects. In order to push for this, I would like you to join a working group that has already been formed in the European Commission. Stakeholders can join this working group. However, only European-level organisations will be allowed to join. That is why I am reaching out to you: I would like you to form a European representation of Community WiFis to join the working group and push for an exception for your projects. As we know that setting up European representation on short notice is not an easy task, I asked Kirsten Fiedler (in Cc) if it would be possible for you to team up with EDRi. Even though permanent members will have to apply and be accepted by the EDRi general assembly [4], a temporary observership would be an option. It would be great if you could talk to your projects, and also please forward this email to everyone else you think should be in the loop! I’m not sure who of you already know each other, so maybe you can send a short introduction of who you are and what your project does. In case you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me by email, phone (I can call you back!), and if you’re there, let us meet up on the upcoming Chaos Communication Congress in Hamburg. Kind regards, Sebastian [1] some background info if you’re not familiar with the issue yet: why we think the provisions endanger open Wifi projects: <https://juliareda.eu/2015/10/dear-european-governments-dont-endanger-f ree-and-open-wifi-networks/> [2] Free Software Foundation Europe posted this joint statement: <https://fsfe.org/activities/radiodirective/statement.en.html> [3] article on an FCC decision in the US that I think similarly applies for the European regulation: <https://netzpolitik.org/2016/fcc-keine-entwarnung-router-lockdown/> (quick and sloppy translation to English on my blog: <http://nerdpolitik.org/en/2016/08/fcc-tp-link-no-reason-to-relax/>) [4] on the bottom of https://edri.org/about/ Sebastian Raible Parliamentary Assistant to MEP Julia Reda European Parliament ASP 05F162, Rue Wiertz 60, 1047, Brussels, Belgium Tel. +32 2 28 38732 sebastian.raible(a)europarl.europa.eu ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: RAIBLE Sebastian &lt;sebastian.raible(a)europarl.europa.eu&gt; Date: 2016-12-19 17:19 GMT+01:00 Subject: Re: Radio Lockdown: Community WiFis unite! To: Dear all, thank you for all your replies. Let me quickly give you an update, that should already answer some of the immediate questions. I will then propose to form a European representation further down. # Call for participation in expert group, deadline 15/January The Commission has launched the public call for application to the expert group <http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regexpert/index.cfm?do=calls.calls_fo r_app> (search for Radio). The deadline for applications is 15/January. I reached out to EDRi, CCC, FSFE, and FFN, as well as other stakeholder groups (such as academics/research, ISPs). I just spoke with Christian Heise (also from the board of FFN e.V. from Germany, welcome to the list) and he will reach out to Kirsten in order to clarify if and how an application to the experts group can still work within the timeframe until 15/Jan. I suggest FSFE and EDRi/you apply independently as I suppose they represent sufficiently separate stakeholders groups. The members of the expert group are appointed by a political board, so the next point is kind of fyi, but please let me know if you think it worth pursuing it: Other than European organizations, "individuals appointed in a personal capacity" or "individuals representing a common interest" can be appointed to the expert group (see page 2 of the form attached, it is the PDF version with some highlights of <http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regexpert/index.cfm?do=news.open_doc& id=2516>). I think chances to go this way are slim, and we may risk cannibalizing the applications of the representations. But please let me know if you disagree! # How to get engaged - Community WiFis unite! Here's what you can immediately do to get engaged:   * Blog or publish in any other form about your projects and how they are affected by the firmware lockdown. (When you did, please send me your links!)   * If EDRi/FSFE or others manage to be appointed to the expert group, they will *need your input and support on documents and meetings to prepare*!   * If someone has the capacity to set up *a mailing list* we can replace this list with, I would appreciate that. (But please don't just subscribe everyone without asking! :)   * I guess it would be great if as many as possible among you that already have formed representations on their national level, join EDRi, or anything else if there is another European representation that suits your needs better.   * If you haven't already, and if you have the capacity, form national representations, or help form an own European entity. Both take a long time, now is a good time to get started! As always, please let me know if you have questions, if you'd like to set up a phone call, I can gladly call you – anything. Best, Sebastian -- Sebastian Raible, Parliamentary Assistant to MEP Julia Reda ASP 05F162 ­- Tel. +32 2 28 38732 _______________________________________________ lime-users mailing list lime-users(a)lists.libremesh.org https://lists.libremesh.org/mailman/listinfo/lime-users