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Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2022 17:07:01 -0500
Message-Id: <CPDSJP9N1OHR.TEEJ625TRAQ3@XPS-13-9360>
Subject: Re: Co-op ISPs and techs available in Philly area?
From: "Karl Schultheisz" <k@kdsch.org>
To: "scossu" <stefano@cossu.cc>, <~kdsch/kdsch_inbox@lists.sr.ht>
References: <37e2f4b5-634e-5197-118e-3372e8955059@cossu.cc>
In-Reply-To: <37e2f4b5-634e-5197-118e-3372e8955059@cossu.cc>

On Wed Dec 28, 2022 at 10:45 AM EST, scossu wrote:
> Hi Karl!
> Upon reading your article about ISP co-ops[1] that I am interested in,=20
> and looking at your background, I thought I would contact you (or=20
> anybody who would read this list) for some information.

Thanks for doing so. You have the distinction of being the first person
to post!

> I am a tech worker and broad-range DIYer who recently moved to=20
> Philadelphia and looking to settle long-term in West Philly. Given the=20
> area's long history of socially engaged communities, I imagine that=20
> could be a good breeding ground for an initiative similar to Gui-Fi,=20
> FreiFunk or RONJA.

It's interesting that you mention socially-engaged communities in the
area, because I'm not too aware of them. Perhaps you can share some.

> The three networks you mentioned seem to use different approaches and=20
> technologies, and are all in the EU. You also mention Magnolia, a co-op=
=20
> based in Colorado.
>
> Do you have experience with technologies and regulatory barriers that=20
> are specific to this country, which may challenge such initiatives from=
=20
> developing in the US, or conversely, facilitate them?

I work as an embedded software engineer. I also have a little experience in
hardware design. But I haven't worked on a telecom project.

I have no background in law. When I wrote the article, I believed
free-space optical transmission was essentially unregulated. I believe
that is still true, but I haven't kept up on the laws. There are indeed
existing companies that have commercialized FSO for certain markets. I'd
research those companies to get an idea of what's going on with regulations=
.

> Also, noticing that you are located in PA, albeit not in Philly proper,=
=20
> perhaps you know of any such initiatives in the Philly area, or people=20
> who may be interested in starting such a project?

I'm not aware of any. When I was researching this topic several years
ago, I contacted Keystone Development Center, a nonprofit in Lancaster
County that helps start coops. The first step was to form a steering
committee, and I had no collaborators. So it went nowhere. KDC does a
lot of agriculture, but they happily met with me to discuss the idea.

> Many thanks for your useful write-ups and any further info you may provid=
e.

Thanks! Looking back at the article, I wish I could have fleshed out the
idea a bit more. It was a time of learning and exploring ideas. I have
some doubt that a cooperative is a good strategy for fixing some of the
problems with telecom in the US. It's a tough but interesting question
and I wasn't in the best position to try to answer it.

I invite you to provide some more context about your interest. I'm happy to
make connections among people interested in cooperatives and technology.