<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large">Thanks for sharing this Glenn. Wasn't aware of the grant funding but now that I am, I think I will push ICT4D Jamaica to explore it.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large">Almost 18 years ago as part of a network systems provisioning practice I ran for a conglomerate, we allowed an agricultural-based company to move their hq from KIN to a rural location without telecoms infrastructure some 20 miles away as the crow flies by delivering their POTS service over a 2.4GHz ISM channel. That was my first glimmer of what could be done; the company we worked with was called Cabletron (later Enterasys) which pioneered ASICs for network applications. And for more than 8 years now we have been advocating for conditions conducive to building community broadband wireless networks with interconnection rights to the national backbone as a practical way to connect the underserved and the commercially-hard-to-serve. Can't say we've had much success; a small one was created in a small farming community in St Mary Parish but for want of stable interconnection and affordability it kinda withered away. [Coincidentally, a youngster who worked for me and migrated to work for Nortel did the engineering with 'open' platforms.] </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large">Some regulations have to be changed to enable stability, capacity and sustainability. So for example, we have been pushing for more unlicensed wi-fi spectrum by reallocation; I wrote a briefing paper pushing for some in the 5GHz band. Maybe it is serendipity but I now understand Google is thinking re-allocation as well because it fits into their plans for alternate bandwidth provisioning means as per Project Loon and other such initiatives. [I gather the Canadians are opposed on account of possible satcom interference.] So this is being proposed for adoption at WRC-15 later this year in Geneva; the proposal is for a study. We're pushing local authorities in the region to reserve and assign smaller chunks of licensed spectrum for use as 'demonstration' plots, which would enable assignment for community networks; ECTEL, the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Regulatory Authority already does. Looking also for re-assignment of spectrum vacated by over-the-air UHF/VHF tv when they go digital in about 5 years + the white spaces now. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large">The topic is of great interest so anything you find out and can share would be greatly appreciated.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large">Cheers.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large">CAS </div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature"><br>==============================<br>Carlton A Samuels<br>Mobile: 876-818-1799<br><i><font color="#33CC00">Strategy, Planning, Governance, Assessment & Turnaround</font></i><br>=============================</div></div>
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Message: 3<br>
Date: Wed, 27 May 2015 07:56:25 -0400<br>
From: Glenn McKnight <<a href="mailto:mcknight.glenn@gmail.com">mcknight.glenn@gmail.com</a>><br>
To: NA Discuss <<a href="mailto:na-discuss@atlarge-lists.icann.org">na-discuss@atlarge-lists.icann.org</a>><br>
Subject: [NA-Discuss] Building Wirelss Community Networks<br><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"<br>
<br>
<a href="http://communitytechnology.github.io/files/posts/041814-Case-Study-Sayada.pdf" target="_blank">http://communitytechnology.github.io/files/posts/041814-Case-Study-Sayada.pdf</a><br>
<br>
I'm wondering if anyone in NARALO took advantage of the grant from Open<br>
Technology Institute and rolled out a MESH Network anywhere in our region.<br>
<br>
I have attached a case study from Sayada, Tunisia<br>
<br>
I will be filming a series of IEEE sessions at the International<br>
Humanitarian Technology Conference including projects deployed in<br>
Nicaragua next week.<br>
G<br>
<br>
<<a href="http://communitytechnology.github.io/files/posts/041814-Case-Study-Sayada.pdf" target="_blank">http://communitytechnology.github.io/files/posts/041814-Case-Study-Sayada.pdf</a>><br>
Glenn McKnight<br>
<a href="mailto:mcknight.glenn@gmail.com">mcknight.glenn@gmail.com</a><br>
skype gmcknight<br>
twitter gmcknight<br>
.<br><br></blockquote></div></div></div>