spectrumseries
For the sixth edition of our spectrum series, we are sharing the story of Adriana Labardini Inzunza's journey to this remote Mexican community to witness the remarkable power of community-owned networks to connect the unconnected and empower indigenous communities.
APCNews speaks with Karla Velasco Ramos and Erick Huerta about the necessity of more efficient and equitable spectrum regulation, including human rights organisations in ICT policy discussions and giving indigenous communities and women a greater voice in the spectrum debate.
During a conversation with APCNews, Carlos Rey-Moreno and Steve Song explain how the spectrum works, explore the history of its regulation and share their cautious optimism about a “significant uptick in the growth and sustainability of community networks.”
Internet access specialist Mike Jensen elaborates on the need for “more tools in the spectrum briefcase”, the challenges of changing restrictive regulation and the other key factors to developing connectivity beyond access to spectrum.
Peter Bloom highlights trends in spectrum regulation, the importance of empowering communities to govern their own telecommunications, and the need to see spectrum as “a potential to communicate over the airwaves” rather than a commodity to be owned.
Like other common goods, spectrum has historically been subject to gradual curtailment and private ownership. There are opportunities to change this scenario, which will depend on a new understanding of what the spectrum is and how to use it, as well as participation by civil society in debates.
