The State of Georgia, USA, has announced grant fundings of 3.421.225$ (about 3 millions euro) to six wireless communities who have applications for developing and running neutral networks. At the Frequently Asked Questions there are some relevant clarifications: Instead of promoting a single private or public operator, local and state government agencies agencies have a vision of being -“anchor tenants” to attract private-sector investment and ensure that the networks are financially feasible and services are affordably priced-, allowing as applicants any individuals or groups willing to setup a community.

To avoid facilitating of a new monopoly, there is a requirement of being a neutral network by distinguishing between the network owners/operators and the services providers. By accepting all service providers to be in the network, that will bring fair access to public spaces like ways, buildings, communication towers, street lights or traffic signals.

This vision for developing network communities and make relationships with governmental authorities reflects quite well the idea we have been defending at guifi.net as the right way for doing the things to get in the long term fair and sustainable networks.

Often, the people interested in getting a new monopoly (private or public), speculators or ultra liberals deny this possibility. Certainly the neutral networks contradicts those interests. In the meantime I'm pleased to see how new examples of common based networks are gaining presence and emerge new examples of formulas of cooperation between community networks, public governments and private companies. Just like it has to be.