Policy Brief and Recommendations for an Enabling Environment for Community Networks in Brazil
Association for Progressive Communications (APC) (2021), 152 pp.
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)
SECTION 1: WHERE DOES BRAZIL STAND TODAY IN TERMS OF AFFORDABLE ACCESS?
Progress made in access and penetration and the prevailing gaps, 14
The challenges of rural coverage and accurate data, 25
Who and where are the unconnected communities in Brazil? 29
Challenges and opportunities linked to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, 32
SECTION 2: COMMUNITY NETWORKS: WHAT ARE THEY?
Origins, goals and principles governing community networks, 39
Community networks, gender equality and diversity, 43
Impact on communities, 50
Community network models throughout the world, 52
Community networks in Brazil: Costs and characteristics, 64
Key pillars for sustainable community networks, 72
SECTION 3: BRAZIL’S PRESENT REGULATORY AND POLICY FRAMEWORK
Service licensing regimes under the LGT (General Telecommunications Act) and Anatel Regulations: Collective v. restricted, Public v. private, Concession v. authorisation, 79
Spectrum management: Planning, allocation and assignment, 93
Shared spectrum, 96
Hardware and firmware used by community networksm 100
Access to backhaul and passive infrastructure by community networks, 102
Satellite connectivity through GESAC for remote and isolated communities, 104
FUST and FUNTTEL, 104
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
Methodology, 111
Summary of interviewees’ answers by stakeholder type and topic, 112
SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICIES IN BRAZIL TO ENABLE COMMUNITY NETWORKS
Permanent dialogue between communities and Anatel, 121
Access to spectrum frequencies for community networks: Anatel, 123
Licensing and registration procedures: Anatel, 126
Policies on open access to backhaul networks and wholesale markets, 1130
Universal Service Fund (FUST) redesigned to support community network projects and FUNTTEL funding for development of Brazilian FLOSS and hardware for such networks, 133
Promoting national industry of hardware for community networks and FLOSS developments by easing homologation requirements, import taxes and access to subsidies, 134
Freedom of expression, pluralism and community broadcasting: Ministry of Communications and Anatel, 136
Open data at the granular (town or village) level: Passive and active infrastructure maps and backhaul and backbone coverage maps, 138
Leading collaborative work with other authorities: Anatel, 140
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
Progress made in access and penetration and the prevailing gaps, 14
The challenges of rural coverage and accurate data, 25
Who and where are the unconnected communities in Brazil? 29
Challenges and opportunities linked to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, 32
SECTION 2: COMMUNITY NETWORKS: WHAT ARE THEY?
Origins, goals and principles governing community networks, 39
Community networks, gender equality and diversity, 43
Impact on communities, 50
Community network models throughout the world, 52
Community networks in Brazil: Costs and characteristics, 64
Key pillars for sustainable community networks, 72
SECTION 3: BRAZIL’S PRESENT REGULATORY AND POLICY FRAMEWORK
Service licensing regimes under the LGT (General Telecommunications Act) and Anatel Regulations: Collective v. restricted, Public v. private, Concession v. authorisation, 79
Spectrum management: Planning, allocation and assignment, 93
Shared spectrum, 96
Hardware and firmware used by community networksm 100
Access to backhaul and passive infrastructure by community networks, 102
Satellite connectivity through GESAC for remote and isolated communities, 104
FUST and FUNTTEL, 104
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
Methodology, 111
Summary of interviewees’ answers by stakeholder type and topic, 112
SECTION 5: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICIES IN BRAZIL TO ENABLE COMMUNITY NETWORKS
Permanent dialogue between communities and Anatel, 121
Access to spectrum frequencies for community networks: Anatel, 123
Licensing and registration procedures: Anatel, 126
Policies on open access to backhaul networks and wholesale markets, 1130
Universal Service Fund (FUST) redesigned to support community network projects and FUNTTEL funding for development of Brazilian FLOSS and hardware for such networks, 133
Promoting national industry of hardware for community networks and FLOSS developments by easing homologation requirements, import taxes and access to subsidies, 134
Freedom of expression, pluralism and community broadcasting: Ministry of Communications and Anatel, 136
Open data at the granular (town or village) level: Passive and active infrastructure maps and backhaul and backbone coverage maps, 138
Leading collaborative work with other authorities: Anatel, 140
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
