Community Wireless Networks (Chapter 19)

This chapter explores the history of community wireless networks (CWNs) through diverse case studies in Europe, Africa and the United States. Mesh networks are a prime example of a peer production practice. Anyone willing to place a router on his or her rooftop or window can play a role in helping a mesh network thrive. CWNs emerge for a variety of reasons. For some, a grassroots network is the sole option for Internet connectivity. For individuals concerned about the erosion of online privacy, security and anonymity, peer networks enable confidential online communications. Compared to vulnerabilities inherent in a centralized Internet design, mesh networks are disaster proof—whether the disaster is caused by a totalitarian government cutting of Internet access, or by a hurricane. Ideology also drives the current resurgence in mesh networks. Many CWN participants value the possibilities associated with sharing resources and deciding for themselves how—and where—to deploy Internet infrastructure. Rather than rely on Internet service providers, peer networks represent a bottom-up scheme of governance open to anyone with a desire to contribute. This chapter also examines how these projects serve as a testbed for related technologies, such as FreedomBox’s secure software. The case studies highlighted in this chapter suggest that developing open source applications, infrastructure and platforms—on which competitive providers may offer content and services—is as important to community wireless projects as connectivity itself