Open PoP Workshop Summary

On November 9,2004, NetWork BC hosted an open point of network presence or PoP workshop in Vancouver. This event was designed to focus attention on the creation of access points in provincial communities that have some "open" characteristics. An open PoP will generally allow links to other open PoPs, as well as to the Internet, and be open to all users. This differs from traditional telecommunications services where the owner of the infrastructure has a decided advantage in selling services across the network. In an open PoP network model other service providers, by purchasing a port at one the PoPs, can then sell their services across the network into other communities that have PoPs. They still need to create their own last mile infrastructure within their community. Since the network itself is open, these connections can take place without transiting to the actual Internet, though Internet gateway services would be available for sale on the network.

The Vancouver event was attended by 60 people who represented communities, telecommunications suppliers, small ISPs and government. The day began with an introduction by Dave Nikolejsin, Assistant Deputy Minister of NetWork BC and there were short presentations from the four most prominent telecommunications suppliers in British Columbia: TELUS, Bell, Navigata and Big Pipe.

Andrew Cohill, first director of the Blacksburg, Virginia Electronic Village (BEV) presented on some of his experiences gained over the last 11 years while setting up BEV and working with many groups who wish to build networks where there is a large degree of community control. For more on Andrew's work visit: www.designnine.com.

Quote from Andrew Cohill following the workshop:

"The B.C. provincial government accomplished something that to my knowledge has never been done before: Convene a full day of thoughtful, open, and frank dialogue on telecommunications with the full breadth of stakeholders; telecom service providers, community leaders, non-profit community network managers, and provincial officials. Over the past decade, there have been meetings too numerous to count, but always some stakeholders have been absent from the table. It was truly an accomplishment to not only get them all together at one time, but get everyone talking openly and honestly about both private sector needs and community needs. My impression, at the end of the day, was that everyone had a much better view of the various needs of the stakeholders, and the potential that working together might actually accrue benefits to all."

The rest of the day was spent in workshops developing the attributes of open PoPs and how they could be delivered at the community level.