From the Last to First Mile - Community Networks

With half of the world’s population unconnected to the Internet, creative models to develop infrastructure, cheaper and more agile equipment, regulatory/policy innovation, and local community drive have led to the development of affordable, locally owned, built, and managed local access networks.  These networks are commonly known as “community networks”.  They often are enabled by communities through partnerships with supporting organizations, governments, development agencies, and other like-minded entities.  Hundreds exist around the world and an ever-growing number of local communities are creating access “from the village out”.

Critical to the success of community networks are new ways of thinking about connectivity, new partnerships to develop networks, and connecting to bigger access pipes in partnership with new and traditional networks (mobile, fixed, Wi-Fi).  Changes to old rules - universal service funds, licensing, and access to spectrum -- will help connect the unconnected.  Community networks provide affordable access and empower communities, have broader development implications.  By empowering communities and building local capacity, new technical communities are built, and a foundation for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are created “from the village out”.  The last mile becomes a first mile for innovation, health care, education, trade, and connectivity.  

This workshop will focus on steps that governments, community networks, organizations, and development agencies are taking to partner for regulatory and policy action, changes, and innovative ways to promote new access networks.  This workshop will build on the lessons-learned from the field in the morning CN workshop.

After each presentation, there will be time for interaction with the audience and with on-line participants. Active participation of the audience during the panel discussion will be encouraged.