[Chapter-delegates] Community owned Fiber Networks

[Brian Hall]

> *which is why I'm hopeful for the Brooklyn Mesh. *

What is this "Brooklyn Mesh"? Do you mean NYC Mesh?

We are looking into dark fiber installs. It's expensive, ~$10,000 install
cost and $1000 per month rental, but more than worth it for a large
building.

We're getting quotes for six buildings at the moment, some coops, a school
and a NYCHA building.

Brian Hall
NYC Mesh



On Mon, Feb 5, 2018 at 7:01 AM, Alan Levin <alan at isoc.org.za> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I can say that in SA, the City of Cape Town (local government -
> municipality) has built an open access "community" city-wide dark fibre
> infrastructure network together with >20 distributed open access "switching
> centres".
>
> They have no intention in doing home users although simply by providing
> cheap city wide back haul infrastructure for ISPs and telcos, the knock on
> affect to the whole market (even to other parts of the country) has been
> remarkable.
>
> hth
>
> Alan
>
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 2, 2018 at 11:59 PM, Jane Coffin <coffin at isoc.org> wrote:
>
>> Hi All –
>>
>>
>>
>> Apologies for a delay in responding.  I have been in some off-site
>> meetings.
>>
>> See some musings below/in-line!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Internet Society | www.internetsociety.org
>>
>> Skype:  janercoffin
>>
>> Mobile/WhatsApp:  +1.202.247.8429 <(202)%20247-8429>
>>
>> *From: *Chapter-delegates <chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org> on
>> behalf of "daveb at dslprime.com" <daveb at dslprime.com>
>> *Date: *Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at 7:59 PM
>> *To: *Glenn Mcknight <mcknight.glenn at gmail.com>
>> *Cc: *"chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org" <chapter-delegates at elists.isoc
>> .org>, Dynamic Coalition on Community Connectivity <
>> dc3 at listas.altermundi.net>
>> *Subject: *Re: [Chapter-delegates] Community owned Fiber Networks
>>
>>
>>
>> Glenn
>>
>> I've supported community networks for two decades, including by
>> volunteering. It's a great dream and sometimes works. The Berkman report
>> looks at some of the successes, nearly all muni. The city of Munich and
>> Hamburg are among the best ISPs in Germany.
>>
>> However, many community networks have been miserable failures. Burlington
>> Vermont and the multi-city UTOPIA went bankrupt after investment of tens of
>> millions. That's unfortunately all too common. In addition, as those
>> criticizing the Berkman report emphasize, many of these networks will never
>> be able to repay the initial public investment. Dedicated believers on both
>> sides emphasize the data that supports their position.
>>
>> ISOC has chosen to define "community networks" as bottom-up organizations *in
>> areas that do not already have coverage.* That's where the need is
>> greatest, but those areas are generally the hardest to cover. Low
>> population density raises costs dramatically. Rural backhaul costs are
>> usually ruinous. It's not impossible, but remarkably few bottom up
>> community networks have delivered broadband for more than a few years.
>> *We also support the DC-3 definition of a CN which targets underserved
>> areas (underserved means many things), and we notably have supported
>> NYCMesh and SFBay and just launched more work with Mark on indigenous
>> communities in NA.
>> The most constructive role ISOC could play is to find long term
>> successes, learn from them, and pass on that information.
>>
>> *We are on that and looking at some great CNs to highlight this year per
>> our CN campaign focus.  A great case-study from Tusheti, Georgia is here
>> <https://cdn.prod.internetsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/TushetiCaseStudy_201701006_FInal.pdf>
>> .
>>
>> *If you look at the DC-3 list – many sites on that list of CNs have great
>> stories on their sites or more data.
>>
>> (As a reporter, I'm looking for examples to learn from. Please let me
>> know off list. )
>>
>> -----------------
>>
>>
>>
>> I've reported about why some succeed and others fail. *Nearly all the
>> successes are supported by municipal power and/or water utilities. *Those
>> without a local team experienced in running networks most often fail. There
>> are dozens of examples. It is *hard* to reliably run a network for
>> years.
>>
>> It's possible to learn how, especially if you have a technical
>> background, which is why I'm hopeful for the Brooklyn Mesh.
>> ================
>>
>> Supporting bottom up community networks is good work if we can do it
>> effectively. But after twenty years, I can't think of a single country
>> where they approach even 2%. These are old ideas, tried often, and only
>> right in special circumstances.
>>
>>
>> *The takeaway for ISOC is that we also need policies for the 98+% who
>> will not be reached by our CN programs. **Great point.
>> I like the A4AI’s “1 for 2” target
>> <http://a4ai.org/1for2-affordability-target/> for affordable internet  —
>> 1GB of mobile broadband data available for 2% or less of GNI per capita.
>>
>> ISOC has the funding, reputation, and desire to influence the cost of
>> access for the remaining 98%.
>>
>> Let's figure out how we can be effective.
>>
>>
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Jane
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Editor, Fast Net News, Wireless One.news, Net Policy News and DSL Prime
>> Author with Jennie Bourne  DSL (Wiley) and Web Video: Making It Great,
>> Getting It Noticed (Peachpit)
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>
>
>
> --
> Alan Levin
> ----------------------------------
> Chairman ISOC-ZA
> +27 21 4882820 <+27%2021%20488%202820> (ddi)
>
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