[Freedombox-discuss] Free Networks Manifesto

[Isaac Wilder]

Okay,
Here we go.
This is document is really great. We should find a way to integrate our
works.

Perhaps we should move the discussion to a Free Network Foundation list,
or to a Redes Libres list?
Our discuss list is here, if you're inclined to talk there:
http://freenetworkfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss_freenetworkfoundation.org

Comments follow inline.


Can't wait to hear your thoughts.



take care,

Isaac Wilder
Director, The Free Network Foundation
www.thefnf.org


On 07/18/2011 10:17 AM, Nicolás Reynolds wrote:
> El 15/07/11 08:37, Isaac Wilder dijo:
>> I'm definitely going to write more in response to this in a bit, but I
>> just wanted to give you a heads up to two documents that were produced
>> by the Free Network Movement over the course of the last year:
>> The first is what we call the Free Network Manifesto:
>> http://www.freenetworkmovement.org/commons/index.php?title=Freenet_Manifesto
>>
>> The second is what we call the Free Network Definition:
>> http://www.freenetworkmovement.org/commons/index.php?title=Free_network_definition
>>
>> Yours seems like a little bit of both.
>> Let's work together to come up with something unified.
>> more later.
> [en]
> Hi, we'll wait for your insight then :)
>
> It would be good to have a common place for free networks to work together,
> RedesLibres is up for this but it's mostly Spanish and Portuguese.
>
> Also, I can provide a Spanish translation of those boths documents.
>
> Salut! Nicolás Reynolds, BuenosAiresLibre
>
> [es]


  Free Networks Manifesto

 This an English translation of the Manifiesto de las Redes Libres
<http://redeslibres.altermundi.net/Manifiesto> originally translated by
Daniel Wolff <abajur at gmail com> at FISL12. Corrections by RedesLibres
<http://redeslibres.altermundi.net/RedesLibres> community.

 Given the actual state of the Internet, the network of networks, mainly
operated and globally controlled by a small number of international
corporations whose main motivation is merely economic; and considering
the implications that this fact has in the path that the development of
the network of networks is taking, the members and activists of the Free
Networks manifest that:

This preamble is good, but I think that it could definitely do a better
job of setting out the reasons for the movement. The FNF says:

    *

      We are an organization committed to the tenets of free
      information, free culture, and free society.

    *

      We hold that advances in information technology provide humanity
      with the ability to effectively face global challenges.

    *

      We contend that our very ability to mobilize, organize, and bring
      about change depends on our ability to communicate.

    *

      We see that our ability to communicate is purchased from a handful
      of corporate entities.

    *

      We know that we cannot depend on powerful corporations with
      entrenched interests to support movement away from the /status quo/.

    *

      We believe that access to a free network is a human right, and a
      necessary tool for environmental and social justice.

Similar ideas, expressed differently.

   1.

      *a free network is a computer network that is collaboratively
      built and managed by it's own users* and presents at least the
      following features:

This is spot-on. We say 'We envision *communications infrastructure*
that is *owned and operated cooperatively*, by the whole of humanity,
rather than by corporations and states.' It is important to
differentiate between state and corporate users, and individuals.

         1.

            *warrants decentralization* and avoids monopolization of
            resources, coercion or oppression.

It is unclear what is meant here. Perhaps it would be better to frame
freedoms in the same way that they appear to the user? That way we can
avoid ambiguity. Otherwise, this type of statement should be moved to
the preamble, where generalities are more palatable.

         2.

            respects *net neutrality*.

We say "Freedom 1) The freedom to transmit bits from peer to peer
without the prospect of interference, interception or censorship". Net
Neutrality is a term with many connotations, and much baggage.

         3.

            warrants *free and public access*.

We say "Freedom 0) The freedom to access the network without tariff."
Yours may be better. It only seems that free may be taking on too much
meaning, perhaps we want emphasize the monetary aspect? Also, it's not
that there is no cost. There are real costs involved in running a
network, users should be expected to pay these costs. It's just that
they shouldn't have to pay price above cost (profit).

         4.

            it's structure is *distributed*; growth from any existent
            node is possible.

I don't see why this is essential to the freedom of a network? This
seems to have to do more with the technology. The fact of the matter is
that mesh networks don't scale, and so there has to be some mechanism
for drawing borders to encourage fractal-type architectures. Does this
make sense?

         5.

            interconnection takes place between pairs that can publish
            or access services and content in equal conditions.

I'm with you here, but I think that you're only describing one
particular type of connection. The FNF holds that neighborhoods should
be able to run what we call 'freedomtowers.' We cannot do away with
hierarchy completely. The essential thing is that network components be
owned and operated by those that benefit from them.

         6.

            promotes the creation of other free networks, their
            interconnection and interoperability.

             I'm not sure how this applies to the network itself?
            Doesn't it apply more to the people running the network? If
            so, it seems that this shouldn't be included in the
            definition of a free network.


      Strategies and common actions

   1.

       prioritize interaction with other actors that promote common
      good. For instance, but not being limited to:

         1.

            educational and health institutions

         2.

            formal or informal social organizations

 You forgot a big one here. Churches, mosques and synogogues are going
to be essential. We're talking to a church in Brooklyn, New York, to see
if we can put the first FreedomTower on their steeple.

   2.

      promote the free exchange of the knowledge necessary for society
      to learn about the technologies that make the existence of free
      networks possible .

This is key. We can get people to participate by offering to teach them
useful skills.

   3.

       use Free Software for the implementation of the different
      components of the network. When free software alternatives aren't
      available, their development will be promoted.

   4.

       promote the use of free licenses, not only for software but also
      for any production that could be protected by copyright law.

   5.

       defend the right to free circulation and access to information
      and knowledge.

   6.

      work towards achieving participation of free networks in the
      Neutral Points for the regions they cover as a strategy to: extend
      network coverage, improve possibilities of interconnection between
      free networks and defend the principles of freedom, neutrality and
      common good inside the communication infrastructure of their regions.

 This is essential. We should be seeking to obtain official status as
Autonomous Systems. Eventually we will have to figure out how to buy or
build fiber routes between neutral points.

   7.

       take actions aiming to gain national recognition of free networks
      and modification of relevant regulations that could facilitate
      their creation and expansion.

To facilitate creation of free networks, national legislations should
see them as first-order actors in the communications infrastructure of
the country, taking into account the value that their development
represent for the common good. Experience shows that free networks:

   1.

      increase access to new technologies in their deployment area.

   2.

      represent a unique opportunity in those regions where network
      coverage provided by traditional operators isn't economically
      feasible.

   3.

      being complimentary to State policies of "digital inclusion", free
      networks can provide capillarity for actions to really get to the
      population that needs such policies the most.

I fear that the state has failed us. The degree of corruption stemming
from profit-driven corporate interests is staggering. Dozens of states
in the United States have laws on the books against municipal and
cooperative networks. It is likely that we will need to explore avenues
of civil disobedience.


      Appendix 1: Technical provisioning



(just a few notes)

To maintain a distributed network structure, redundant routes between
nodes that create the free network should be reinforced.

Mesh networks. We see it all as a series of cascading, or fractal mesh
networks. At the neighborhood, regional, national, and global levels.
The first couple of layers could use radio for the PHY interface, and
the top layers would have to use fiber.

Regarding item a.5 in the Manifesto "the interconnection should be
between pairs...", it is desirable that:

   1.

      the networks provide fixed IP addresses and an internal domain
      name resolution service.

   2.

      bandwidth should be symmetric.

This is why we need to aggregate routes and buy bandwidth in bulk. That
is to say, we are much more likely to find these conditions in the case
that we build a FreedomTower that is connected by a fiber or T-line.
Then, redistribute that connectivity to FreedomNodes via mesh (we call
it the Mesh Interface for Network Devices). Each FreedomNode could have
its own, static v6 address, for the purpose of establishing
communications between nodes, from a block assigned to the FNF, or some
other regional freedom-loving organization.

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