Public Funding for Community Networks

Most countries have some public funding available in the form of universal service/access funds or others where commercial telecommunications are supposed to subsidize areas of market failure.

In many cases, such funds have piled up unused, and in others, they have been misused. The technical capacity of fund operating staff is as important as is their degree of contact with the situation on the ground. Community networks (CNs), for their part, are often unaware of such funds. This session explored how community networks can tap into such public funds if available.

Objectives of the webinar

The objectives of this third event were to expose community networks to the existence of public funding such as universal service/access funds, to facilitate community network development by:

  • Explaining the nature of such funds
  • Exploring the mandates, they have
  • Identifying case histories of interaction between funds and CNs
  • Identifying possible existing partnerships
Who should attend?
  • Members and supporters of existing and potential community networks
  • Policy makers and advocates and Universal Service and Access Funds (USAF) staff

This session was the last in 2020 and provided a 30-min interactive social event for participants through the Gather Town online platform. Review the short tutorial (.pptx) on how to use the platform. The social event enabled participants to connect with each other and explore collaboration and partnership opportunities.

Thank you for joining us! If you missed the session or you would like to experience it again, watch the recording. The event summary report, resources shared during the calls well as replies to unanswered questions are also available.

Together, we can connect the world. One community at the time. 
Date and Time

12:00 – 14:00 UTC

Wednesday 25 November 2020

Location

Online


More about Community Networks

Community Networks newsletter (APC)

Bottom-up Connectivity Strategies: Community-led small-scale telecommunication infrastructure networks in the global South (APC)

Local Access Networks: Can the unconnected connect themselves? (APC)

Community Networks page

Summit on Community Networks in Africa


Leading image: Zuko Tshitshi installing a wireless access point at a homestead in the village of Mankosi in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The village is home to Zenzeleni ("do it yourself" in Xhosa), a village-owned cooperative. © Internet Society / Nyani Quarmyne / Panos Pictures

Speakers and moderators

Portrait photo  of Dr. Charley Lewis

Dr. Charley Lewis

Independent Analyst, Researcher and Educator/Analyste, chercheur et éducateur indépendant

Dr. Charley Lewis is an independent analyst, researcher and educator, and a leading international expert on universal access and service and the digital divide. His knowledge and experience cover a… Read more about Dr. Charley Lewis

Portrait photo  of Nthabiseng Pule

Nthabiseng Pule

Project and Outreach Manager for the Cybersecurity Capacity Centre for Southern Africa (C3SA)/Responsable de projet et de sensibilisation, C3SA

Nthabiseng Pule is the former Head of the Universal Access Fund (USF), an Agency of Lesotho’s Communications Authority. She has over sixteen (16) years’ experience working in an Information and… Read more about Nthabiseng Pule

Portrait photo  of Victor Asante

Victor Asante

Senior Manager, GIFEC/Cadre supérieur, GIFEC

Victor Asante is the senior manager in charge of research, monitoring and evaluation at Ghana’s Universal Service Fund, the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC). He is passionate about… Read more about Victor Asante

Portrait photo  of Eleanor Sarpong

Eleanor Sarpong

Deputy Director and Policy Lead, A4AI/Directeur adjoint et responsable des politiques, A4AI

Eleanor Sarpong leads policy and advocacy efforts with particular oversight on all A4AI’s country engagement work in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. She is a versatile ICT and public policy… Read more about Eleanor Sarpong

Portrait photo  of Verengai Mabika

Verengai Mabika

Former Senior Policy Advisor - Africa

Verengai was the Senior Policy Advisor - Africa at the Internet Society until September 2023. Image credit: © Jordi Ruiz Cirera/Panos Read more about Verengai Mabika

Organizers

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