[gaia] Re: For discussion: Operational Practices for Digital Sovereignty and Meaningful Connectivity through Circular Management of User and Network Devices

[Leandro Navarro Moldes <[e-mail]>]

Thanks, Benson, 

I'll think about how to incorporate your thoughts into a new draft. 

> On 17 Mar 2026, at 18:17, Benson Muite <[e-mail]> wrote:
> 
> Leandro Navarro Moldes <leandro.navarro=[e-mail]>
> writes:
> 
> Dear Leandro,
> 
>> Dear GAIA, 
>> 
>> The file, with the same content, has just been posted to Datatracker:
>> https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-gaia-circular-device-practices
>> 
>> See you soon, Leandro.
>> 
> 
> Thanks for an overview of how to provide conectivity.  It may be helpful
> to distinguish  possible use cases.  Many people will access the
> internet through a mobile phone or tablet.  These maybe more difficult
> to repair than desktop computers or laptops, manufacturing costs often
> make consolidating components on a single board cheaper for which
> component replacement is more difficult.

I agree small devices may be harder to repair, but there may be individual or collective choices to move to more maintainable/repairable devices. Some examples to show feasibility are my Fairphone or the Commown cooperative (no links to avoid promotion) and the Repair (.EU and .ORG) campaigns. Community/organizational procurement practices can help too to include these considerations. For instance, I was involved in the development of ITU-T L.1061 that relates to that <https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Environment/Pages/Toolbox/Circular-and-Sustainable-Public-Procurement-for-ICTs.aspx>.

> 
> Network infrastructure may also be used for local activities where
> informtaion does not need to be exchanged with people outside the
> community network, this would be very useful in school and university
> settings where one could provision electronic books for example.
> Security cameras and IoT uses are other examples of connnectivity that
> could be mentioned.

Yes, but how it relates to these operational practices? It however relates to the meaningful connectivity concept. 

> 
> Ability to repair and modify is also greatly enhanced by open standards.
> The IETF is extremely helpful in this regard, though there maybe
> language barriers for those who do not use English.  Open hardware would
> also help, but tends not to be the norm.

I agree, lack of open standards and public information limits agency and community autonomy.

Best, Leandro.

> 
> Benson
> 
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--
Leandro Navarro
http://people.ac.upc.edu/leandro	 http://dsg.ac.upc.edu