Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020

United States

This Section has not been organized.

Informational Resources

Internet in rural areas 

• Info on US government plan: https://www.fcc.gov/5g-fund 

• What it would take to get 5G https://www.rcrwireless.com/20211115/5g/truly-national-5g-itll-take-an-extra-36-billion-and-another-37k-sites-cca-report-estimates 

• This was a huge scam that happened: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-book-of-broken-promis_b_5839394 

• FCC Universal Service Fund: The US Federal Communications Commission manages a fund that subsidizes telecom companies to provide affordable connectivity in high-cost rural areas that aren’t privatized. https://www.fcc.gov/general/universal-service

• Rural Digital Opportunity Fund: The FCC launched this 0+ billion fund focused specifically on bringing high speed broadband to the most hardest to reach rural homes and businesses using fiber, 5G and satellite coverage solutions. Explanation: https://www.usac.org/high-cost/funds/rural-digital-opportunity-fund/

• Connect America Fund: An FCC led long-term program started in 2011 that offers subsidies to cover the capital expenditure costs of building out broadband infrastructure in undersupplied communities. The website was confusing but they did have this cool section on maps of data. https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/maps/

• ReConnect Program: A rural broadband pilot program by US Dept of Agriculture that offers loans and grants to facilitate broadband expansion projects to farms, schools and hospitals in rural America. https://usda.gov/reconnect

• Rural Innovation Initiative: A multi-stakeholder initiative led by the National Governors Association aiming to promote innovation and small business growth in rural areas via increased broadband access and adoption. Check out their resource section for data tools, reports, stories, videos, and webinars. https://ruralinnovation.us/resources

• Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) - Global coalition working to reduce internet costs through policy and regulation. Founded by World Wide Web Foundation and funded by USAID, Germany and Sweden.

• Information on policy advocacy. This is only one page- check out the other pages in the policy advocacy section. https://a4ai.org/good-practices/

• This is a case-study database, with filters by region: https://a4ai.org/policy-advocacy/good-practices-database/

• Research and Publications on internet connectivity https://a4ai.org/research-database/

• Internet Society - International non-profit organization with initiatives like Community Networks to increase connectivity globally through local networks.

• This is a toolkit of practical tools that helps users assess whether a law proposal, business decision or technology could impact the Internet, and how to prevent it from harming what the Internet needs to exist and thrive for all. https://www.internetsociety.org/issues/internet-way-of-networking/internet-impact-assessment-toolkit/

• UN Broadband Commission - ITU and UNESCO backed commission aiming to boost high speed broadband globally. Has set targets like 2025 affordable 5G coverage. You can view their publications here: https://www.broadbandcommission.org/publications/

• Create broadband and mobile infrastructure

• Support community spaces like local internet cafes, village level kiosks and digital community centers to provide shared access points.

• Develop context-specific applications, low-bandwidth versions of popular apps/websites, localized content and digital skills programs to make internet access more accessible.

• Support community projects like mesh networks, community wifi, and micro-ISPs tailored to rural/low income areas.

DIY Solutions:

• Build a Rural Mesh Network - Using rooftop WiFi devices at each home transmitting from house to house can create a "mesh" to hop the internet signal from a single gateway to WiFi-enabled houses across a large area.

• Deploy DIY Antenna Sites - Building makeshift antennas coupled with open source software can pull in and amplify a signal from a distant commercial signal source to then rebroadcast locally at village scale.

• Set Up Intermediate Community Hotspots - Establishing routers powered by solar at strategic locations in the village to create free public hotspots within range of most houses to access on devices. Can backhaul to commercial internet.

• Share & Combine Existing Cellular Data Connections - Combine multiple limited cellular data plans into a local low-cost WiFi hotspot using old smartphones. Faster 2G/3G/4G service near villages could feed this community pool of bandwidth.

• Leverage TV White Spaces with Do-It-Yourself Gear- Using Software Defined Radios and opensource firmware allow building equipment to tap into unused TV broadcast bands for transmitting wireless internet over large distances of 10+ kilometers potentialy. Useful for rural contexts.

• Harness Long Range WiFi Protocols - Leverage point-to-point long range WiFi protocols like AirMax to DIY relay internet bandwidth from a commercial source miles away using rooftop dishes effectively without relying on cables.

• Of course, specialized technical expertise would be required on top of community cooperation and investment to build truly reliable and cost-effective solutions. But for remote areas, DIY options may be a good starting point until more robust infrastructure arrives.

• Commotion Wireless - An open-source project with downloadable software and hardware designs to help setup community wireless mesh networks. Has an active community forum. https://commotionwireless.net/

• Village Telco - An initiative with resources on their Mesh Potato DIY wifi device and broader tips on deploying mesh networks for rural internet connectivity. https://villagetelco.org/

• ISP Discussions Forum - A forum at dslreports.com focused specifically on rural wireless ISPs with threads on equipment, antennas, tower construction covering both fixed wireless and community mesh builds. https://www.dslreports.com/forums/all?r=27

• Wireless Networking in the Developing World - An free online book with very practical guides on building point-to-point links, antenna theory, networking fundamentals applicable for DIY connectivity projects. https://wndw.net/book.html