Celebrating Connectivity Advancements for Underserved Communities in the Philippines
This newsletter emphasizes the Konektadong Pinoy Act’s enactment, facilitating improved connectivity for underserved communities in the Philippines. It reports on community connectivity projects worldwide, shares insights via the Routing for Communities podcast, and invites contributions to a learning repository. The newsletter is part of the Local Networks initiative supporting community-oriented connectivity efforts.
In this edition, we highlight the recent enactment of the Konektadong Pinoy Act, which significantly enhances connectivity for underserved communities in the Philippines. This legislation has emerged from the fervent advocacy of various societal organizations, and it aims to expedite network expansion, particularly in rural regions, by easing licensing processes, streamlining permits, attracting investments, and broadening access to the radio spectrum.
Additionally, we present news and narratives concerning community-driven connectivity projects from several countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. This marks the 78th monthly summary of advancements affecting local access networks and community-driven initiatives.
In the latest episode of our podcast, Routing for Communities, we feature John Garrity from Manila, who serves as a policy advisor and chief of party for the USAID – Better Access and Connectivity project. He provides insights into the challenges encountered in promoting connectivity in the Philippines. Listeners can access the podcast through our dedicated page, as well as on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, with the first season comprising twelve episodes that share global community experiences.
From India, Layak Ram, a network engineer at the Digital Empowerment Foundation, narrates how the implementation of wireless internet has revolutionized his community’s access to information and resources. A video documenting his story is available for viewing.
We also invite you to engage with our community networks learning repository, which serves as an online platform for the collection and sharing of educational resources aimed at training personnel involved in community networks. Contributors are welcome to upload and exchange valuable materials.
This newsletter is a component of the Local Networks initiative (LocNet), coordinated by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and Rhizomatica, in collaboration with grassroots communities and support organizations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The initiative endeavors to bolster significant community-oriented connectivity initiatives while fostering a supportive ecosystem for their development.
Readers can access prior editions of this newsletter via our website. We also encourage you to extend this monthly newsletter invitation to others who may benefit from its contents. Furthermore, we welcome comments and additional information relevant to future editions, which can be shared through our designated contact form.
In summary, this newsletter celebrates the Konektadong Pinoy Act’s passage, which promises to enhance connectivity for underserved communities across the Philippines. It also highlights global community connectivity efforts, particularly through our podcast’s engaging discussions. The Local Networks initiative continues to support community-driven connectivity projects and aims to foster an inclusive ecosystem for these essential services.
Original Source: www.apc.org
