Discover the episodes at routingforcommunities.apc.org. This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify.
We are delighted to launch a new season of our Routing for Communities podcast. In our second time together, we'll take a deep dive into community-centred connectivity initiatives and the self-definition of what meaningful means for these communities in different life contexts.
While a third of humanity has yet to experience digital inclusion, the challenges faced by those already online continue to grow, particularly in light of the partnership between authoritarian governments and major social media companies. In the face of this paradox, reflecting on how and why we connect has become essential.
The voices of communities that are building alternative models of connectivity and decentralised infrastructures highlight some pathways and changes we need. The second season of the Routing for Communities podcast brings together some of these voices in four new episodes.
Revisiting old friends
With 12 episodes launched in 2023, the first season of the Routing for Communities podcast offered an audio journey through the life stories of those connecting themselves while defending the fundamental rights and well-being of their communities – in remote, rural and urban areas around the world. It featured interviews with 24 people from 15 countries, sharing insights from community networks across the globe.
The topic provided us with a lot of content. So, we decided to extend the conversation into more episodes in season 2, now focusing on four main themes: 1) what changes when we think about community-centred connectivity, 2) the participation of women and the gender and race gaps in this field, 3) the principles we want to cultivate, and 4) the changes needed in terms of policy, regulation and financing to create an environment that supports meaningful community-centred connectivity.
Listen to the second season:
Episode 1:
In this first episode, the topic is community-centred connectivity as a strategy that communities have developed for bridging the digital divide. Listen now.
Episode 2:
This episode explores fundamental questions in the field of community networks, seen through the perspectives of women from a range of countries who play various roles – from hands-on technical work to national and international advocacy for better policies and regulation. Available on 3 June.
Episode 3:
What are the social values of community-centred connectivity initiatives that make them different from traditional stakeholders in the ecosystem? In the third episode, we're going to reflect on some of these principles in practice. Available on 1 July.
Episode 4:
What is missing for this movement to become even stronger? That's what we're going to talk about more in this episode: financing, regulation and public policies in support of community-centred connectivity initiatives. Available on 5 August.
This podcast is an initiative from the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and Rhizomatica, produced by Rádio Tertúlia. Its production is part of the “Meaningful community-centred connectivity” project being implemented by the Local Networks (LocNet) initiative, with financial support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and UK International Development from the UK Government through its Digital Access Programme. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the supporters’ views.