Welcome to New America, redesigned for what’s next.

A special message from New America’s CEO and President on our new look.

Read the Note

Close

In Short

Call for Proposals: International Commotion Mesh Wireless Projects

View as PDF

Application Deadline Extended to October 1

The Open Technology Institute is pleased to announce its first call for proposals from groups interested in implementing Commotion-based wireless mesh networks. Due to funding restrictions, projects must be located outside of the United States.

Promising projects can apply for funds up to $10,000 USD. Projects should be completed within six months of a grant award.

We encourage applications from projects that will build strong community coalitions, address critical challenges to human rights and serve traditionally marginalized communities.

This fund is supported by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Affairs at the United States Department of State.

Additional information about Commotion and Commotion networks:

Commotion is a free, open-source communication tool that uses wireless devices to create decentralized mesh networks. Commotion provides a way for you to share digital resources with the people around you.

Hardware requirements: Commotion currently supports Ubiquiti routers. However, the Commotion project is expanding the list of compatible routers. Here is a list of potentially compatible routers.

Learn more about organizing, planning and building community wireless networks: Commotion Construction Kit.

Read more about existing networks that use Commotion: Sayada, Tunisia; Red Hook, New York City; Detroit, Michigan; Somaliland; and India.

Read more about OTI’s vision of digital justice and digital stewardship.

Read more about Commotion as Community Technology.

Proposal Process:

  1. Submit your project idea by email (details below).

  2. Promising project ideas are invited to discuss the project with OTI staff and submit a full proposal.

  3. Submit a full proposal, incorporating OTI staff feedback.

  4. Proposal review and funding determination.

  5. Grant agreement signed; work begins.

General Open Technology Institute (OTI) Grant Criteria:

  • OTI supports projects from countries or groups that face critical human rights challenges. Currently, projects must be located outside of the United States.

  • Projects must uphold the principles of equity, diversity and inclusiveness.

  • OTI grounds its work in the Digital Justice Principles developed by the Detroit Digital Justice Coalition. OTI supports only projects whose objectives are in line with these principles and our mission.

  • Women and traditionally marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Project Selection Criteria:*

  • Projects must address a critical human rights challenge.

  • Preference will be given to projects that will run local applications on the network. Projects that simply distribute Internet access are less likely to be selected.

  • The proposed project should use an inclusive community process to involve people in the planning, building and governing of the network. Community-wide training and engagement should be an essential component.

  • The organization or group applying must have experience in community engagement and/or community organizing.

  • The project team has gender balance and includes a range of skillsets.

  • Project team has contributed to open source projects or has experience using open source tools.

  • Availability of supported or supportable hardware in proposed location.

*Some of these criteria may not apply to all projects.

If you would like to discuss your project before submitting an application, email us at: commotion-grants (at) opentechinstitute (dot) org.

Submit a Project Idea

Project ideas should be submitted in the following format:

  1. Project Title

  2. Project Location

  3. Name of Organization or Group

  4. Contact Name

  5. Contact Email

  6. Project Description (800 word or less description of the proposed mesh project). The Description should include the following:

    1. Description of the proposed network (area covered, equipment used, etc.)

    2. What need does the network serve? What will be possible with the network that was not possible before?

    3. Who will use the network? How will the users be involved in the building and governing of the network?

    4. What, if any, local applications will run on the network?

    5. Who will plan, build and maintain the network?

  7. Project Timeline

  8. Project Budget

  9. Project Team. Who will be involved in the project? Describe their technical skills and experience. (note: the project team should include at least three people.)

  10. Organization Mission. Describe the mission of your organization or group.

Submit proposals to: commotion-grants (at) opentechinstitute (dot) org.

Project ideas deadlines are below. However, we will review projects as soon as they come in, so we encourage groups to apply early.

  1. Round 1: October 1, 2014

  2. Round 2: December 15, 2014

  3. Round 3: February 15, 2015

  4. Round 4: April 15, 2015

Programs/Projects/Initiatives

Related

Close

Call for Proposals: International Commotion Mesh Wireless Projects

View as PDF