19 Dec
2016
19 Dec
'16
5:24 p.m.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: RAIBLE Sebastian <sebastian.raible(a)europarl.europa.eu>
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-free-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 <sebastian.raible(a)europarl.europa.eu>
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_for_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