Everything Under The Sun: Openly Available Network Technology

Mounting a dish on a rooftop for a mesh network node.

Sometimes, starting at the grassroots can provide benefits for an entire community, especially those who would usually be ignored, like those with little income. And what better place to give access, to pioneer, than in California, the Oakland area.

We all know how beneficial connecting to the internet can be. Worlds of possibilities open up, connecting with others, developing political movements and activism, even meeting friends with whom one has lost touch, a world of learning, all become possibilities. But there is a gate to that internet, and that gate costs money that people with low incomes don't have. Even if an income-challenged individual manages to obtain a computer, the expense of a network link is a huge barrier to overcome.

Enter Marc Juul, a well-versed computer nerd, who is used to putting his skills to work in numbers of projects, most of them designed to allow more access to computer networks, including the internet. He's also an activist and committed vegan. He began to envision a way to develop free access to the internet, utilizing wifi mesh capabilities. So he and a colleague founded the PEOPLE'S OPEN NETWORK, an open, decentralized, and all-volunteer collaborative. By going open source, this group allows interested individuals to view the code, make changes and improvements, then submit their changes in code back to the originator.

According to Marc, "We believe in the creation of local internets and the cultivation of community-owned telecommunications networks in the interest of autonomy and grassroots community collaboration." In this type of system, wireless routers are programmed to run an open source operating system, through wifi, to allow local communication. It essentially becomes its own network available to locals who know how to access it. It's separate from the larger internet and can even be thought of as a backup to the internet, which can operate even if the entire internet becomes dysfunctional.

By utilizing this method of connecting with an open source operating system, this network familiarizes users with network infrastructure, allowing the development of communication tools and apps that have local capabilities. In discussing his beliefs, Marc said, "[When] people own, operate, and understand their own network infrastructure, it will improve social justice locally and globally." Eventually, the goal of People's Open Network is to run this network entirely off the grid, utilizing solar power. It has not yet reached this goal.

However, there have been several accomplishments, including SUDO ROOM, an online hackerspace and creative space, an inclusive space that allows users to tinker with open source, work on projects, and develop applications. Then there is the online space, COUNTER CULTURE LABS, that brings science and research to average individuals, instead of leaving it in research institutions on college campuses, out of reach of the average interested person. The Omni Oakland Commons provides an amazing physical space in the community, containing a variety of resources, all accessible. Check out some of these links to open up a geek's wonderland - all accessible, all inventive, all creative.

An extender antenna that allows free wifi.

The biggest benefit that I can see is that anyone, no matter what your income, can access the projects and information, while helping to build a people's network that is entirely free. Even young people, who may never have heard of code can learn from those with technological expertise. Just imagine children, whose families face financial challenges, being able to access this open source resource, and learning the language of technology. That is what opens future career doors.