DML 2011
From Driscollwiki
http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2010/db1001/FCC-10-175A1.pdf
Contents |
Using e-rate connections to create community wireless networks
- Gwen Shaffer, Ph.D.
- School of Information and Computer Sciences, UC/I
- Research tends to be about FCC policy
- Previously she worked on grassroots technology
- Interested in potential for wireless transmitters in "whitespaces"
This line of research began with Benkler's discussion of "excess capacity"
- Typical user only takes up 3% of their bandwidth
- How to share? Maximize systemic use?
Traditional wi-fi model
- Hub and spoke
- Line of sight
Mesh network
- Decentralized
- Scalable
- Fewer bottlenecks at the router
Projects
Wireless Ypsi
- Volunteers using Moraki repeaters
- Reached out to local businesses
- Meanwhile county-wide network is bankrupt
- Only 550 out of 40k residents subscribed
Personal Telco Project
- Portland Oregon
- Volunteer driven
- DIY transmitters
So Cal Free Net .org
- Built networks in 9 public housing projects
- Cooperating with housing authority
- 1 connection per 10 units
m@in
- Asheville, NC
- Mountain Area Information Network
- main-fm 103.5FM
- No ISP in the mountains
- But now they have a low-cost wireless isp
guifi.net
- Barcelona
- Only one broadband provider (telefonica)
athens wireless metropolitan network (AWMN)
- Using university broadband
Little Tokyo unplugged
- Drop page
- http://littletokyounplugged.org
Family Net in Philadelphia
NTIA
Badging infrastructure
- mozilla fo
Why do mesh networks matter for e-rate?
- Schools/ libraries reimbursed 20-90% for their telecomm costs
Revised rules in 2010
- Schools can open facilities to the general public when classes are not in session
- They can use dark fiber
- In philly, Dark fiber is laid out beneath 15 city buildings including a library (paid by Comcast)
- But city is paying for 23000 Verizon accounts
Scalability
- Schools can't use funds for future planning
- The point is to discourage re-selling (unfair marketplace)
Problems
Tech support
- People would stop using the wifi at the first sign of trouble
- Even a popup could cause people to stop
Steve ...
Students & teachers can access school infrastructure from off-campus
"Fractional use" (use of dark fiber)
- Was intended to be access to ALL infrastructure
- Possible for the future
Clearwire 4G is built on EBS
- Educational Broadcast Spectrum
- This spectrum was re-licensed
E-rate program might say that if school is using 20% of signal, it could pay for 20% of the tower
- Right now this is only true for commercial providers
Difficulty is dealing with the commercial sector
Needed rule change:
- Enabling library patrons to use the infrastructure when they are not sitting in the library
- But not possible without support of large coalition, political population
- If a teleco is on your side, it's good to go
- Or fired-up congressman
- Alternatively bring together multiple grassroots orgs + city gov
If this is going to supplant commercial service, it's going to be very difficult
- Need to demonstrate a positive commercial potential
- e.g. people will get a taste and eventually move up to commercial provision
Connection to Arpa Ed
Repacking the DTV spectrum
- Move the channels around
Funded by wireless spectrum auction
- $93m
- Will be 2 years until this money comes through
E-Rate filtering requirement
If you get e-rate, you must meet SIPA filtering
- There isn't a list of blacklist sites
- But in practice a lot of valuable stuff is filtered out
- Local community determines blacklist
Q&A
Many states disallow community wifi
Franchise agreements
- Cable access in the 1980s
- Why not internet access centers today?
- Or low-income access?
USF reform
- Changing the meaning of universal service
