[arin-ppml] 2008-3 Support

[Joshua King]

Sorry to be late weighing in on the proposal in this whole process.

I was partly responsible for the initial version of this proposal, and it
grew out of a long, iterative process. Initially, my organization, Acorn
Active Media Foundation, attempted to get an IPv6 address allocation from
ARIN that we could experiment with and find uses for across several
disparate systems that we managed across a collection of local,
technology-oriented non-profits that we co-managed the computer
infrastructure for; these organizations would probably be considered
community networks. They include Chambana.net, a community co-location and
hosting co-operative that runs a collection of servers that host
mailinglists, websites, email, and other services for dozens of community
organizations; the Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network (CUWiN),
which develops open-source wireless mesh software and deploys networks both
within Champaign-Urbana, Illinois where it's located and within other
communities around the country; and the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media
Center (UCIMC), a large community media, arts, and journalism center which
runs public computer labs as well and electronic media creation training
along with its other projects. We wanted to get an IPv6 allocation to see
what we could do with it, for a number of reasons. We were paying $165/month
for a 1Mb upstream connection and 4 "sticky" public IPv4 addresses with
donations, and couldn't afford anything better (nothing was available that
was less expensive, all of our equipment donated, all of our work volunteer,
and no budget). We used 4 semi-static addresses to provide public services
upstream from 10 servers and 80+ wireless nodes, and hoped that getting IPv6
addresses could allow us to better manage our systems for those that
supported IPv6. We wanted to experiment with how global addressing space
might allow us to experiment with CUWiN's mobile wireless systems, or tie
together multiple networks in different locations: CUWiN manages networks in
Champaign-Urbana, Illinois; Homer, Illinois; and Mesa Verda, California, and
is allied with Seattle Wireless, NYC Wireless, Wireless Philadelphia, and
Open Air Boston; UCIMC is the global hub of over 200 independent journalism
centers worldwide. And since IPv6 is presumably the future of the Internet,
we wanted to start supporting it as soon as possible (our current upstream
provider didn't support IPv6).

But when we tried to apply for space, ARIN didn't seem sure what to do with
us. So it was recommmended that we put in a policy proposal, which would
provide a niche that would encourage community networks like the ones that
we represented to apply for space, by letting them know it was possible. I
honestly think that this proposal would be beneficial, to the organizations
like those above and others like them. Even if it doesn't eventually result
in a policy that reduces fees, I think it will let community networks know
that there's a place for them in the greater Internet community.

A common criticism of community networks is that they are difficult to
define; I think that that is unfortunately true. It's much like the phrase
"community organization," commonly used in organizing and non-profit policy,
that people don't really know what it means. I hesitate to refer to
Wikipedia, but I feel like they give a pretty good if broad definition of
community network: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_network/. It is
however a subjective definition dependent upon purpose and motivation within
the group, rather than something that can be nailed down under budget, staff
size, or fiscal status. Thus I agree with the need for discretion within the
AC on qualifying organizations.

However, here's a list of some community networks that I know of (sorry
there are a lot from Illinois, and a large wireless bias; those are just
regions and fields I'm involved with). Maybe they can provide an example:
Acorn Active Media Foundation
UCIMC
CUWiN
Chambana.net
Tribal Digital Village, provides network services and outreach on California
reservations
Prairienet, a community access project and dial-up ISP sponsored by the
University of Illinois
Seattle Wireless, a community wireless network
Personal Telco Project, a community wireless network based in Portland
Portland Community Media, a community technology center (CTC)
Denver Open Media, a CTC and public access station in Denver that deploys
open-source publishing platforms in other public access stations
Mountain Area Information Network, a CTC, public radio and television
station, and ISP in Asheville, NC
Ile Sans Fil, a community wireless network and volunteer open-source
software developer in Montreal
Austin Wireless, a community wireless network
Wireless Philadelphia, first a public metro wifi network, then defunct
commercial network, now getting restarted as community-oriented again
Public Internet Project, digital divide outreach non-profit and community
wireless network
NetEquality, outreach and activism, vendor of discount wireless equipment

-- 
Josh King
--
Treasurer, Acorn Active Media Foundation
Systems Engineer, Chambana.net and CUWiN
Technical Coordinator, UCIMC
Adjunct Technologist, Open Technology Initiative
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