Thanks to Kristijan Fabina, many of the talks from the 2010 International Summit for Community Wireless Networks are now online. You can check out the video list either at:

http://www.youtube.com/kikodw (tagged as IS4CWN)

or take a look at the individual videos below.

*The Serval project*
1/5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yk1FdFsQUA
2/5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3SUWE5F7SM
3/5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGXoe424t5M
4/5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_YIJXq-BzY
5/5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrgvkSzdZ2E

*BGWireless Serbia Freemium Model*
1/2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJZ-Cl8ggj8
2/2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hTw677X5-Y

*Next Steps for Community Wireless Networks*
1/5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bDoARBaIuA
2/5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkm8i7XQSUs
3/5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsNGEOhBrls
4/5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGhloXSOW78
5/5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pm4TYGQ8dc

*Wireless Toronto*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtGSuAopOII

*Village Telco*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EsctLSG5dI

*FunkFeuer*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUMUnMkVm_w

*WLAN Ljubljana, Slovenia*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKFgWZO6Inw

*Athens Wireless Metropolitan Network (AWMN)*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5krFJ8nNpY

*Austin Wireless Freemium model*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC-U_IfV_hQ

*Freemium model - Brough Turner talk *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbEnl6fdBBo

*Tribal Digital Village*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYXCCN-yxds

*Chambana Wireless*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKBdRt2xxWg

*BGWireless, Serbia*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI3MufT9ZAE

Hoo-ray, it's time for the International Summit for Community Wireless Networks! The call for proposals is now officially open -- this is our first time hosting the Summit outside the U.S., so we're expecting a whole bunch of new folks from overseas. Here's more:

CALL FOR PROPOSALS -- Accepted April 1 - June 1, 2010

International Summit for Community Wireless Networks
August 12-15, 2010
Vienna, Austria

Propose panels online at www.wirelesssummit.org

Since the first National Summit for Community Wireless Networks in 2004, tens of thousands of community and municipal broadband initiatives have been deployed around the globe. The 2010 International Summit for Community Wireless Networks offers panelists to help shape the future direction of this thriving global movement. Over the course of three days, panels and workshops provide a significant opportunity for thinkers, developers, and stakeholders to swap notes and produce substantial recommendations supporting the continuing development of community wireless networks. By gathering leaders from across this field to exchange of strategies, stories, and best practices, the Summit is a key place to help shape the future of this global networking movement.

Interested presenters should propose innovative panels and workshops focusing on the three themes for the Summit: technology, policy, and implementation. The International Summit for Community Wireless Networks distinguishes itself from typical technical and academic conferences by engaging all participants in an ongoing dialog that encourages a strategic approach to community wireless network development and telecommunications policy reform. Panelists do more than present their work and opinions -- they facilitate a process that records lessons learned and help produce a comprehensive "to-do list" of action items for the coming months and years.

We invite your panel proposals and participation in this year's International Summit for Community Wireless Networks to discuss and exchange ideas on how to make universal broadband access a reality. Demonstrations of software innovation, success stories of network deployment, presentations of ongoing research and discussion of municipal and governmental collaboration, on both the national and transnational levels, are welcome. Panelists are encouraged to convene panels that look at specific issues from multiple angles and perspectives. Panel ideas will be accepted on a rolling basis and must be received no later than June 1, 2010. Please send panel proposals of 250 words or less to: summit at chambana.net. Travel stipends are available for speakers with financial need.

Past panels can be reviewed at http://wirelesssummit.org.

SAVE THE DATE!

August 12-15, 2010:
International Summit for Community Wireless Networks

Vienna, Austria
www.wirelesssummit.org

The New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative, Tech Gate Vienna, the CUWiN Foundation, and the Acorn Active Media Foundation are pleased announce that the annual International Summit for Community Wireless Networks will take place in Vienna, Austria from August 12-15, 2010.

Internet access is increasingly important to all facets of civil society. Since the first National Summit for Community Wireless Networks in 2004, tens of thousands of community and municipal broadband initiatives have been deployed around the globe, but many communities are being left out of this communications revolution. "The global coalition of developers, communities, industry, and advocates working together over the past decade has created one of the most disruptive and far-reaching technological innovations of our generation, yet few know about it and fewer still have taken advantage of this opportunity," says Sascha Meinrath, director of the Open Technology Initiative and the Summit's founder. "The International Summit for Community Wireless Networks is the nexus around which this movement swaps notes, strategizes, and organizes its agenda for development and implementation of ubiquitous, affordable broadband networks."

2010 marks the first year that this group of technologists, entrepreneurs, government officials, academics and engaged citizens will convene outside the United States, a critical step to broaden and deepen international involvement in what truly is a global movement. Participants will learn from each other’s examples, exchange strategies and anecdotes, and build partnerships that strengthen alliances among projects.

Vienna possesses a rich and diverse mix of established technology companies and start ups, new media organizations, researchers and cultural producers as well as a remarkable number of institutions of higher learning. Not only is Vienna well positioned among the top international leaders in the information economy, the city is also home to FunkFeuer, one of the most advanced community wireless networks in the world. FunkFeuer is highly respected internationally for its technical and social innovations, its many collaborations with university researchers and artists, and the scale and scope of its network. The Summit will provide an opportunity to expand upon FunkFeuer's successes and spread best-methods for developing sustainable metro-scale wireless mesh networks.

The International Summit for Community Wireless Networks focuses on how wireless networks can better serve their target populations, the policies needed to support broader deployment of community wireless systems, and the latest technological and software innovations in the field.

More information on the International Summit for Community Wireless Networks, including a call for proposals, registration, and other logistical information, will be available in the coming weeks at www.wirelesssummit.org.

We look forward to seeing you in August!

About the Acorn Active Media Foundation: The Acorn Active Media Foundation engages in software, website and technical development in support of the global justice movement. Acorn's commitment to its work stems from a foundational philosophy that its projects should align with the Foundation's goals to support social and economic justice. More information is available at: www.acornactivemedia.com.

About the CUWiN Foundation (CUWiN): CUWiN is a world-renowned coalition of wireless developers and community volunteers committed to providing low-cost, do-it-yourself, community controlled alternatives to contemporary broadband models. Its mission is to develop decentralized, community-owned networks that foster democratic cultures and local content. Through advocacy and through its commitment to open source technology, CUWiN supports organic networks that grow to meet the needs of their community. More information is available at www.cuwin.net.

About the Open Technology Initiative: Part of the New America Foundation, a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy institute in Washington, D.C., the Open Technology Initiative (OTI) formulates policy and regulatory reforms to support open architectures and open source innovations and facilitates the development and implementation of open technologies and communications networks. As an independent non-profit initiative, OTI provides in-depth, objective research, analysis, and findings for policy decision-makers and the general public. More information is available at: http://oti.newamerica.net.

About Tech Gate Vienna: Tech Gate Vienna is Vienna's first Science and Technology Park. For several years Tech Gate Vienna has provided a common location for research facilities, technology orientated companies and supportive advisory services. Vienna's focus on high-tech development is right here. Concentration on specific topics has ensured its effectiveness, and created an important requirement for developing synergies. More information is available at: http://www.techgate.at.

I've been bouncing between workshops, conferences, and summits for the past several weeks and haven't had a free moment to update folks on things. Thankfully, I'm out in CA, which means that my internal clock gets me up between 4:30 and 5:15am each day -- which is way before my local colleagues seem to be stirring and has enabled me to start catching up on the backlog. The 2008 International Summit was a resounding success -- here's a quick wrap-up:

Wow -- what a fantastic Summit!!! Over 150 people came through over the course of the 3-day gathering. Thanks to everyone who made this year's Summit so phenomenal!

Folks have been doing some great documentation of last week's International Summit for Community Wireless Networks -- for those who weren't there (and those who were), I thought I'd point out a few favorites of that people have sent along to me:

Steven Mansour has pulled together an *awesome* slideshow (with music!) that, I think, captures a lot of the energy, excitement, and conspiring (and debauchery) that went down at this year's Summit. This photo-video is really spectacular -- it's worth watching just for the cool effect of the medium -- check it out at:
http://stevenmansour.com/en/videos/2008/june/03/is4cwn_2k8_slideshow

Matt Westervelt took (last I looked) some 897 pictures at the Summit. Many of them are up at: http://flickr.com/photos/mattw/sets/72157605383291643 -- lots of great shots & candids.

Angela Siefer has a great synopsis of Harold Feld's rousing plenary talk titled, "Policy Hackers for Good," available on her blog: http://angelasiefer.com/wifisummit

For the Arabic readers amongst us, Abdelnasser Abdelaal has written up a synopsis for Al Hayat, one of major Middle Eastern papers. You can take a look at http://www.alhayat.com/science_tech/06-2008/Item-20080612-7cefe2ae-c0a8-10ed-0007-ae6ddb9e21f3/story.html. Google translate does an o.k. (though occasionally comical) job.

And the American Association for the Advancement of Science has a great synopsis of some of the keynote speakers up at http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2008/0605wireless.shtml, including Amir Dossal (head of the billion-dollar UN Office of Partnerships), FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, Mark Ansboury from One Community, and Rey Ramsey (head of One Economy).

If you've created documentation that you'd like to share, please pass it along. As always, please tag your media "IS4CWN".

CALL FOR PANELS — Due March 31, 2008

International Summit for Community Wireless Networks
May 28-30, 2008, Washington, DC
Send panel proposals and questions to: summit@chambana.net

Since the first National Summit for Community Wireless Networks in 2004, hundreds of community Internet and municipal broadband initiatives have sprung up around the globe. Internet access is increasingly important to all facets of civil society, but many communities are being left out of this communications revolution. "High-speed broadband access is the electricity of the 21st century, yet many rural and poorer urban communities are being left off the grid," says Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press, a DC-based policy think-tank. "The innovators and organizers at the International Summit for Community Wireless Networks are blazing the trail to make broadband affordable and available to everyone."

The 2008 summit will be co-hosted by the world's largest general scientific society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and continue its tradition of featuring wireless leaders, innovators, activists, and community networking visionaries from around the globe.

The Summit focuses on how wireless networks can better serve their target populations, the policies needed to support broader deployment of community wireless systems, and the latest technological and software innovations in the field. "Wireless networking is about far more than Internet connectivity," states Sascha Meinrath, Summit Director. "It's about building next-generation multi-media services for communities, fostering social and economic justice, and facilitating a vibrant arts and cultural scene."

We invite your panel proposals and participation in this year's International Summit for Community Wireless Networks to discuss and exchange ideas on how to make universal broadband access a reality. More information will be available soon at: www.wirelesssummit.org.

CALL FOR PANELS:

Interested presenters are encouraged to propose innovative panels focusing on the three themes for the Summit: technology, policy, and implementation. The International Summit for Community Wireless Networks distinguishes itself from typical technical and academic conferences by engaging all participants in an ongoing dialog that encourages a strategic approach to community wireless network development and telecommunications policy reform. Panelists will not simply present their own work and opinions — they will also serve as facilitators of a process that records lessons learned and help produce a comprehensive "to-do list" of action items for the coming months and years.

While three days is not long enough to develop a truly comprehensive strategic plan, panels at the Summit represent a significant opportunity for thinkers, developers, and stakeholders to produce substantial recommendations to support the development of community wireless networks. The Summit is, in essence, a gathering of leaders in the field and an opportunity to shape the future of this movement. Past panels can be reviewed at:

www.cuwin.net/2007summit/2007schedule

Panel ideas will be accepted on a rolling basis and must be received no later than March 31, 2008. Please send panel proposals of 250 words or less to: summit@chambana.net

Travel stipends are available for speakers with financial need.

This week Community Wireless Networking leaders from around the globe are heading to Columbia, MD (right outside Washington, DC) for the International Summit for Community Wireless Networks. This is the third Summit I've organized and each year it grows. Interestingly enough, the development and implementation centers have shifted over the past half-decade -- I'm looking outside the United States for a lot of the innovation, passion, and excitement. Roughly a hundred different organizations will be present at this year's Summit -- it's by far the most international Summit to date.

So we're heading into the final stretch -- I still have to search out local watering holes for the Friday and Saturday evening socials. The Acorn Active Media Foundation advance team is flying in this afternoon to put the finishing touches on things.

Like previous years, the event is being run as a summit, not a conference -- in other words, sessions are interactive, presenters help set the agenda and guide discussion, but every attendee is expected to actively participate. Each time I host the Summit I'm amazed by the passion and intensity of the event. On the occasion of the third Summit, I plan to give a little retrospective on the numerous policy wins we've had in recent years, the amazing FOSS technologies we've seen developed, and the incredible growth in Community Wireless Network implementations around the world.

Each year, the last day of the Summit focuses on documentation and next-step strategizing -- looking through our documentation from 2004 onward, it's inspiring to see how many of our goals have been achieved. While our work sometimes feels Sisyphusian, a retrospective analysis makes one feel highly efficacious.

Looking forward to the IS4CWN!