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Okay,<br>
Here we go.<br>
This is document is really great. We should find a way to
integrate our works.<br>
<br>
Perhaps we should move the discussion to a Free Network Foundation
list, or to a Redes Libres list?<br>
Our discuss list is here, if you're inclined to talk there:<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://freenetworkfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss_freenetworkfoundation.org">http://freenetworkfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss_freenetworkfoundation.org</a><br>
<br>
Comments follow inline.<br>
<br>
<br>
Can't wait to hear your thoughts.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
take care,<br>
<br>
Isaac Wilder<br>
Director, The Free Network Foundation<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.thefnf.org">www.thefnf.org</a><br>
<br>
<br>
On 07/18/2011 10:17 AM, Nicolás Reynolds wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:20110718141734.GI3484@ponape" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">El 15/07/11 08:37, Isaac Wilder dijo:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
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:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.freenetworkmovement.org/commons/index.php?title=Freenet_Manifesto">http://www.freenetworkmovement.org/commons/index.php?title=Freenet_Manifesto</a>
The second is what we call the Free Network Definition:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.freenetworkmovement.org/commons/index.php?title=Free_network_definition">http://www.freenetworkmovement.org/commons/index.php?title=Free_network_definition</a>
Yours seems like a little bit of both.
Let's work together to come up with something unified.
more later.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">
[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]
</pre>
</blockquote>
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<h1 class="western">Free Networks Manifesto</h1>
<p> This an English translation of the <a
href="http://redeslibres.altermundi.net/Manifiesto">Manifiesto
de las Redes Libres</a> originally translated by Daniel Wolff
<abajur
at gmail com> at FISL12. Corrections by <a
href="http://redeslibres.altermundi.net/RedesLibres">RedesLibres</a>
community. </p>
<p> 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: </p>
<p><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255,
0);">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:</span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: none
repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 0);">We are an
organization committed to the tenets of free information,
free culture, and free society.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: none
repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 0);">We hold that
advances in information technology provide humanity with
the ability to effectively face global challenges.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: none
repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 0);">We contend that our
very ability to mobilize, organize, and bring about change
depends on our ability to communicate.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: none
repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 0);">We see that our
ability to communicate is purchased from a handful of
corporate entities. </span> </p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: none
repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 0);">We know that we
cannot depend on powerful corporations with entrenched
interests to support movement away from the <i>status quo</i>.</span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255,
255, 0);">We believe that access to a free network is a
human right, and a necessary tool for environmental and
social justice.</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: none
repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 0);">Similar
ideas, expressed differently.</span></p>
<ol type="a">
<li>
<p><strong>a free network is a computer network that is
collaboratively built and managed by it's own users</strong>
and presents at least the following features: </p>
</li>
</ol>
<p><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255,
0);">This is spot-on. We say 'We
envision <b>communications infrastructure</b> that is <b>owned
and
operated cooperatively</b>, by the whole of humanity, rather
than by
corporations and states.' It is important to differentiate
between
state and corporate users, and individuals.</span></p>
<ol type="a">
<ol>
<li>
<p><strong>warrants decentralization</strong> and avoids
monopolization of resources, coercion or oppression. </p>
</li>
</ol>
</ol>
<p><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255,
0);">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.</span></p>
<ol type="a">
<ol start="2">
<li>
<p>respects <strong>net neutrality</strong>. </p>
</li>
</ol>
</ol>
<p><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255,
0);">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.</span></p>
<ol type="a">
<ol start="3">
<li>
<p>warrants <strong>free and public access</strong>. </p>
</li>
</ol>
</ol>
<p><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255,
0);">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).</span></p>
<ol type="a">
<ol start="4">
<li>
<p>it's structure is <strong>distributed</strong>; growth
from any existent node is possible. </p>
</li>
</ol>
</ol>
<p><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255,
0);">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?</span></p>
<ol type="a">
<ol start="5">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">interconnection takes place
between pairs that can publish or access services and
content in equal conditions. </p>
</li>
</ol>
</ol>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: none
repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 0);">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.</span></p>
<ol type="a">
<ol start="6">
<li>
<p>promotes the creation of other free networks, their
interconnection and interoperability. </p>
<p> <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0%
rgb(255, 255, 0);">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. </span>
</p>
</li>
</ol>
</ol>
<h3 class="western">Strategies
and common actions</h3>
<ol type="a">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> prioritize interaction with
other actors that promote common good. For instance, but not
being limited to: </p>
<ol type="a">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">educational and health
institutions </p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">formal or informal social
organizations </p>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="background: none
repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 0);">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.</span></p>
<ol start="2" type="a">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">promote the free exchange of
the knowledge necessary for society to learn about the
technologies that make the existence of free networks
possible .</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: none
repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 0);">This
is key. We can get people to participate by offering to teach
them
useful skills.</span></p>
<ol start="3" type="a">
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> 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.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> promote the use of free
licenses, not only for software but also for any production
that could be protected by copyright law. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> defend the right to free
circulation and access to information and knowledge. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">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. </p>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"> <span style="background: none
repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255, 0);">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.</span></p>
<ol start="7" type="a">
<li>
<p> take actions aiming to gain national recognition of free
networks and modification of relevant regulations that could
facilitate their creation and expansion. </p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>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: </p>
<ol>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">increase access to new
technologies in their deployment area. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">represent a unique opportunity
in those regions where network coverage provided by
traditional operators isn't economically feasible. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p>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. </p>
</li>
</ol>
<p><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255,
0);">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. </span>
</p>
<h3 class="western">Appendix
1: Technical provisioning</h3>
<p><br>
<br>
</p>
<p>(just
a few notes) </p>
<p>To maintain a distributed network structure, redundant routes
between nodes that create the free network should be reinforced.
</p>
<p><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255,
0);">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.</span></p>
<p>Regarding item a.5 in the Manifesto "the
interconnection should be between pairs...", it is desirable
that: </p>
<ol>
<li>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">the networks provide fixed IP
addresses and an internal domain name resolution service. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p>bandwidth should be symmetric. </p>
</li>
</ol>
<p><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(255, 255,
0);">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.</span></p>
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