Mesh/Funding

Sample Budget

Below is an itemized sample budget for a small neighborhood mesh consisting of 50 Home Nodes and 15 Extender Nodes.

Category Item Units Unit Cost Total Cost Description
Node Hardware NanoStation M5 8 $70 $560 Extender Nodes
Node Hardware NanoBridge M5 7 $70 $490 Extender Nodes
Node Hardware MyNet n600 or 750 50 $20 $1,000 Home Nodes
Node Hardware Server Costs 12 $120 $1,440 Exit Node (1yr)
Mounting Hardware Grounded Shielded RJ45s] 5 $16 $80 Pack of 10, 50 total
Mounting Hardware Regular RJ45s 2 $4.26 $21.30 Box of 100, 200 total
Mounting Hardware Wall-Mount Cable Ties 2 Example Example 100 pcs, 200 total
Mounting Hardware Safety Equipment 3 $50 $150 Hard hats, harness, sunscreen, etc;
Mounting Hardware Hose Clamps 5 $7.39 $36.95 Box of 6 assorted
Mounting Hardware Indoor Ethernet Cable 2 $72.92 $145.84 2000 sqft total
Mounting Hardware Outdoor Ethernet Cable 1 $200 $200 1000 sqft total
Tools Binoculars 1 $40 $40
Tools Ladder 1 $211.85 $211.85 24' aluminum ladder
Tools Crimpers 1 $70 $70
Tools Wire Cutters 2 $10 $20
Tools Drill 1 $70 $70 Makita cordless 1/2" hammer-driver drill
Workshop Supplies Educational Materials 4 $75 $300 Handouts, office supplies, signage, swag, A/V livestream
Workshop Supplies Advertising 4 $20 $80
Workshop Supplies Food 4 $75 $300
Total: $5,232.42

Grants

We already applied for and received this one in 2014 ($1000)
See our award on the Pollination Project's website
Applied for OTF’s Internet Freedom Fund in Jan 2016 and declined with this message:

Determination status: Dropped

Goals and principles: This sounds like a great community project, but we does not fall under our remit. OTF’s Internet Freedom Fund generally funds tools and technologies that can be immediately used in repressive regimes to counteract censorship and surveillance. NYC has awesome mesh networks, Red Hook being the most famous. There is a huge project here funded by the city to bring mesh to other boroughs. Also, this seems like a project that should be funded by the local community - is there similar funding for San Fran for something like this? That might be more in line with the community approach this project is taking.

Technical merit: Reasonable, realistic and sustainable:

Other comments: Please refer to our list of alternative sources to see if any of them might be a better fit. https://www.opentech.fund/apply/alternative-sources-support

Applied for Knight Foundation Journalism and Media Innovation grant in Dec. 2015 and declined.

Security

Digital_Democracy

Human_Rights

Digital_Protection

Internet_Access

Startup_Assistance_Incubators

Garage 48 CyberGhost Privacy Accelator Program Mach37 iHub Hackers/Founders IranCubator 3fs USAID Development Innovation Ventures NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Program National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Small Business Innovation Research Program Google for Entrepreneurs PeaceTech Accelerator

Fellowships

Coding Fellowships

Policy_Fellowships

Other Fellowships

Crowdfunding

For our initial batch of crowdfunded hardware, we ran a 60-day campaign on WePay. See this page for details on that campaign, purchases and standing funds.

Sustainable Business Models

Preliminary Notes/Brainstorm

  • cost
    • buying routers
    • people adopt routers
    • people buy routers
  • couple of full time real employees
    • mounting routers/antennae
    • managing of network
  • bandwidth
  • electricity
  • advertising on splash page
  • name the wifi network as the web address
  • sell service to business districts
  • digital bulletin boards
  • skill share board
  • begging for cash model
    • OLPC model: people pay 2x for themselves and someone else
  • ISPs ToS don’t allow you to share bandwidth
    • get local ISPs to contribute
    • monkeybrains?
    • competing with Unwired, and their radio frequency
  • legal advisers???