Peering into the future: How WiFi signal sharing is impacting digital inclusion efforts

Abstract

The expectation for ever-present broadband connectivity is growing along with the proliferation of "always-on" mobile devices such as PDAs, laptops and cell phones. The International Telecommunications Union predicts people worldwide will soon live in "ubiquitous network societies," where interconnected appliances and devices provide relevant content and information whatever the location of the user. While some public spaces currently offer wireless internet, broadband subscribers typically lose guaranteed connections each time they leave their access points. One increasingly popular solution, shared broadband signals, relies on a model of peer-to-peer networking. Instead of information passing from "one to many," it may travel from "many to many." This form of viral networking is taking hold at the grassroots level of media activism, as well as within the elite realm of venture capitalism. This study encompasses both semi-structured qualitative interviews and a survey in order to gain a deeper understanding of a complex phenomenon: the potential for peer-to-peer signal sharing to expand digital inclusion in the United States. The research approaches WiFi signal sharing as more than a promising "last mile" technology. Rather, it finds that WiFi sharing communities have the potential to disrupt the current political economy of telecommunications by privileging digital inclusion, innovation and localism over profits and globalization. This research extends knowledge by delving into the demand-side of the peer networking movement as a means of better understanding potential pathways to connectivity. The interview findings reflect the perspectives of people who opt to share their WiFi signals, policymakers, incumbent ISPs, and both non-profit and for-profit entities that facilitate peer-to-peer networking. Local officials stressed the need for wireless community activists to work with residents of disenfranchised neighborhoods, who stand to benefit the most from free broadband access. Federal-level informants suggested that high quality spectrum--so called "white spaces"--could enable peer-to-peer networks to transmit more powerful WiFi signals. Responses to a questionnaire disseminated to mesh network members suggest that these grassroots communities facilitate public participation in technology, as well as encourage civic engagement. The study concludes with recommendations--geared toward federal policymakers, local officials, ISPs and broadband activists--for supporting and sustaining peer-to-peer networking communities.