Policy brief and recommendations for an enabling environment for community networks in Brazil
Association for Progressive Communication (APC)
(2021)
ISBN 978-92-95113-47-3
CC BY
Other Editions: also published in Portuguese
"The policy brief we hereby present to the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) includes recommendations and specific proposals to enable community networks in Brazil, considering extensive research in both the global and Brazilian context, the state of the art of these small, not-for-profit players and the findings and experiences of 32 interviewees all related in some capacity to Brazilian community networks: internet access, spectrum management, the digital divide or research on information and communications technology (ICT) projects. We hereby summarise the priority areas that need to be addressed and the recommendations to reduce barriers and unlock the potential of Brazilian community networks." (Executive summary)
Contents
SECTION 1: WHERE DOES BRAZIL STAND TODAY IN TERMS OF AFFORDABLE ACCESS?
1.1 Progress made in access and penetration and the prevailing gaps, 14
1.2 The challenges of rural coverage and accurate data, 25
1.3 Who and where are the unconnected communities in Brazil? 29
1.4 Challenges and opportunities linked to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, 32
SECTION 2: COMMUNITY NETWORKS: WHAT ARE THEY?
2.1 Origins, goals and principles governing community networks, 39
2.2 Community networks, gender equality and diversity, 43
2.3 Impact on communities, 50
2.4 Community network models throughout the world, 52
2.5 Community networks in Brazil: Costs and characteristics, 64
2.6 Key pillars for sustainable community networks, 72
SECTION 3: BRAZIL’S PRESENT REGULATORY AND POLICY FRAMEWORK
3.1 Service licensing regimes under the LGT (General Telecommunications Act) and Anatel Regulations: Collective v. restricted, Public v. private, Concession v. authorisation, 79
3.2 Spectrum management: Planning, allocation and assignment, 93
3.3 Shared spectrum, 96
3.4 Hardware and firmware used by community networksm 100
3.5 Access to backhaul and passive infrastructure by community networks, 102
3.6 Satellite connectivity through GESAC for remote and isolated communities, 104
3.7 FUST and FUNTTEL, 104
3.8 Community radio in Brazil: The aim to meet the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ standards for freedom of expression and equality, 108
SECTION 4: VOICES OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN RURAL CONNECTIVITY, COMMUNITY NETWORKS AND DIGITAL INCLUSION FROM THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVES
4.1 Methodology, 111
4.2 Summary of interviewees’ answers by stakeholder type and topic, 112
SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICIES IN BRAZIL TO ENABLE COMMUNITY NETWORKS
5.1 Permanent dialogue between communities and Anatel, 121
5.2 Access to spectrum frequencies for community networks: Anatel, 123
5.3 Licensing and registration procedures: Anatel, 126
5.4. Policies on open access to backhaul networks and wholesale markets, 1130
5.5. Universal Service Fund (FUST) redesigned to support community network projects and FUNTTEL funding for development of Brazilian FLOSS and hardware for such networks, 133
5.6. Promoting national industry of hardware for community networks and FLOSS developments by easing homologation requirements, import taxes and access to subsidies, 134
5.7 Freedom of expression, pluralism and community broadcasting: Ministry of Communications and Anatel, 136
5.8 Open data at the granular (town or village) level: Passive and active infrastructure maps and backhaul and backbone coverage maps, 138
5.9 Leading collaborative work with other authorities: Anatel, 140
5.10 Affirmative actions for gender equality, 143
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS, 145
Appendix 1. Spectrum bands or sub-bands relevant to community networks, currently destined for SLP, 147
Appendix 2. Small-scale operator access to licence-exempt spectrum: country comparison, 150
Appendix 3. Television white spaces regulation around the world, 152
1.1 Progress made in access and penetration and the prevailing gaps, 14
1.2 The challenges of rural coverage and accurate data, 25
1.3 Who and where are the unconnected communities in Brazil? 29
1.4 Challenges and opportunities linked to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, 32
SECTION 2: COMMUNITY NETWORKS: WHAT ARE THEY?
2.1 Origins, goals and principles governing community networks, 39
2.2 Community networks, gender equality and diversity, 43
2.3 Impact on communities, 50
2.4 Community network models throughout the world, 52
2.5 Community networks in Brazil: Costs and characteristics, 64
2.6 Key pillars for sustainable community networks, 72
SECTION 3: BRAZIL’S PRESENT REGULATORY AND POLICY FRAMEWORK
3.1 Service licensing regimes under the LGT (General Telecommunications Act) and Anatel Regulations: Collective v. restricted, Public v. private, Concession v. authorisation, 79
3.2 Spectrum management: Planning, allocation and assignment, 93
3.3 Shared spectrum, 96
3.4 Hardware and firmware used by community networksm 100
3.5 Access to backhaul and passive infrastructure by community networks, 102
3.6 Satellite connectivity through GESAC for remote and isolated communities, 104
3.7 FUST and FUNTTEL, 104
3.8 Community radio in Brazil: The aim to meet the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ standards for freedom of expression and equality, 108
SECTION 4: VOICES OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN RURAL CONNECTIVITY, COMMUNITY NETWORKS AND DIGITAL INCLUSION FROM THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVES
4.1 Methodology, 111
4.2 Summary of interviewees’ answers by stakeholder type and topic, 112
SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICIES IN BRAZIL TO ENABLE COMMUNITY NETWORKS
5.1 Permanent dialogue between communities and Anatel, 121
5.2 Access to spectrum frequencies for community networks: Anatel, 123
5.3 Licensing and registration procedures: Anatel, 126
5.4. Policies on open access to backhaul networks and wholesale markets, 1130
5.5. Universal Service Fund (FUST) redesigned to support community network projects and FUNTTEL funding for development of Brazilian FLOSS and hardware for such networks, 133
5.6. Promoting national industry of hardware for community networks and FLOSS developments by easing homologation requirements, import taxes and access to subsidies, 134
5.7 Freedom of expression, pluralism and community broadcasting: Ministry of Communications and Anatel, 136
5.8 Open data at the granular (town or village) level: Passive and active infrastructure maps and backhaul and backbone coverage maps, 138
5.9 Leading collaborative work with other authorities: Anatel, 140
5.10 Affirmative actions for gender equality, 143
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS, 145
Appendix 1. Spectrum bands or sub-bands relevant to community networks, currently destined for SLP, 147
Appendix 2. Small-scale operator access to licence-exempt spectrum: country comparison, 150
Appendix 3. Television white spaces regulation around the world, 152
