Re: [gaia] Current version of the Alternative Networks draft

[Francesco Amorosa <[e-mail]>]

Dear all,
the word *governance* seems really relevant in "alternative" networks 
context.

It expresses the will and the ambition of a territory (a small or wide 
area with its population) and marks a substantial difference between the 
Alternative Networks and the others, whose governance (and strategy, 
evolution plans, coverage extensions, ...) are determined elsewhere, 
often exclusively on the basis of the market short-term perspectives.

I believe we need to introduce the concept of *governance*.

Best,
Francesco
---
Il 25/04/2016 02:42, panayotis antoniadis ha scritto:
>
> Dear Jose, all
>
> Here is the first part of my proposal for the improvement of the draft,
> up to the end of Section 4 (classification criteria), trying to minimize
> the suggested changes.
>
> I will send the second part a little later depending on how the first 
> part
> will be received :-)
>
>
>> Abstract
>
>> This document presents a taxonomy of a set of "Alternative Network
>>    Deployments" emerged in the last decade with the aim of bringing
>>    Internet connectivity to people. 
>
> "or of providing a local communication infrastructure to serve various
> complementary needs and objectives"
>
> [If the draft would include alternative networks with other objectives 
> than
> providing Internet access this should be reflected in the abstract.]
>
>> topologies different from those of mainstream networks, and rely on
>>    alternative business models.
> I would say "alternative business *and governance* models"
>
>
>> 1. Introduction
>
>> This term
>>    includes a set of network access models that have emerged in the last
>>    decade with the aim of providing Internet connection, following
>>    topological, architectural and business models that differ from the
>>    so-called "mainstream" ones, 
> again, I would add "governance" models
> 
>>
>>    o  Users in mainstream networks do not participate in the network
>>       design, deployment, operation and maintenance.
>
> same here: add "governance"
>
>
>>
>> 2.  Terms used in this document
>>
>>    This document follows a multidisciplinary approach, considering the
>>    multidisciplinary nature of the Internet and the problems being
>>    addressed. Therefore, some concepts used in fields and disciplines
>>    different from networking are being used. 
>
> I would replace the above with the following [I don't think that it
> "follows a multidisciplinary approach" since there are not other
> disciplines really represented in the whole approach other than
> the clarification of the terminology]:
>
> "Considering the central role that the Internet plays today in almost
> every aspect of our lives, this document touches on complex social,
> political, and economic issues. Some of the concepts and terminology
> used have been the subject of study of various disciplines outside the
> field of networking, and responsible for long debates whose resolution
> is out of the scope of this document. "
>
>>
>>
>> 4.1.  Commercial model / promoter
> The "commercial model" does not sound like a classification variable
> and the list below is not a list of "commercial models" but different
> actors involved. The term "promoter" is also very vague. I would
> call this category simply "actors involved"
>
>>
>>    The entity (or entities) or individuals promoting an Alternative
>>    Network can be:
>>
>>    o  A community of users.
>>
>>    o  A public stakeholder.
>>
>>    o  A private company.
>>
>>    o  Supporters of a crowdshared approach.
>>
>>    o  A community that already owns some infrastructure shares it with
>>       an operator, which uses it for backhauling purposes.
>>
>>    o  A research or academic entity.
>>
>>    The commercial model may have different implications regarding the
>>    ownership of the network equipment.  In some cases, each of the users
>>    of the community maintains the ownership over the equipment they have
>>    contributed, whereas in others there is an entity who owns the
>>    equipment, or at least a part of it.
>
> I would replace the above with the following:
>
> "The above actors could play different roles in the design, financing, 
> deployment,
> governance, and promotion of an alternative network. For example,
> each of the members of a community network maintains the ownership 
> over the
> equipment they have contributed, whereas in others there is a single 
> entity,
> e.g., a private company who owns the equipment, or at least a part of 
> it."
>
>
>>
>> 4.2.  Goals and motivation
> I propose to change this classification criteria to "Benefits"
>>
>>    Alternative Networks can also be classified according to the
>>    underlying motivation for them, e.g., addressing deployment and usage
>>    hurdles:
> And change the above as follows:
>
> Alternative Networks can be classified according to the benefits that 
> they
> bring compared to mainstream solutions, regarding economic, 
> technological,
> social or political objectives. These benefits could be enjoyed mostly by
> the actors involved (e.g., lowering costs or gaining technical 
> expertise) or
> by the society as a whole (e.g., Internet access in underserved areas or
> network neutrality).
>
>
>>
>>    o  Free sharing of Internet connectivity, including altruistic
>>       reasons.
> I would delete "including altruistic reasons". "Free sharing" sounds 
> altruistic enough :-)
>
> And add also:
>
> "Community building, social cohesion, quality of life" (example: 
> Redhook Wifi)
>
>
> BUT I still find this section a little confusing. I am not sure though 
> how to simplify
> it without "losing information". If I was the editor I would include 
> in the classification
> only the "stated goals" of different networks as presented in their 
> web sites and leave
> second-order goals and motivations for a "discussion"-like section. 
> They are
> very important but not really appropriate as classification criteria 
> in my opinion.
>
> However, this needs some extra work and personally I don't have the 
> time to do this
> right now. I could try though if you think it would be useful.
>
> Best,
>
> Panayotis.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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