The new EU telecommunications code in Greece and its effect on community networks

Location

Impact Hub, Karaiskaki 28, 105 54, Athens

Summary

During a key turning point for society, when digital technologies play a central role in everyday life, small providers and community networks can facilitate the connection of the "unconnected" and contribute to the increase of digital literacy and emancipation.

But certain regulations in the new telecommunications code can create significant barriers for their sustainability. So, instead of the much needed expansion and replication of such networks, we might witness their shrinking and eventual disappearance.

Global organizations like ISOC and EU research programmes like NGI (Next Generation Internet) have identified the importance of Community Networks and they are increasingly supporting them through special funding schemes.  However, appropriate policy and regulation schemes are necessary. 

After a 2-day visit of the Sarantaporo.gr CN, this public panel in Athens, organized by the EU Horizon2020 project netCommons, brings together international experts and local stakeholders to build a better understanding of the key role of small providers and community networks, and their needs, how the new EU telecommunications code might affect them, and which precautionary actions can be taken today.

We will present to the Greek public the Community Network model and the worldwide movement aiming to support it, and the current legal and regulatory situation in Greece as an EU member state, through a series of 5min statements of special guests from abroad and local stakeholders.

We will then open the discussion to explore how community networks like Sarantaporo.gr can be supported and replicated.  

Schedule - Monday, July 9 2018, 18h30-21h00

The event will start at 18h30 with a reception at the Impact Hub's main hall.

The panel and discussion will take place from 19h00-21h00, moderated by Panayotis Antoniadis (NetHood Zurich)

19:00-19:10 Welcome note and introduction to the netCommons project

Iordanis Koutsopoulos, Athens University of Economics and Business

Renato Lo Cigno, University of Trento

19:10-19:30 Community Networks around the world

Georgios Klissiaris & Vassilis Chrysos, co-founders Sarantaporo.gr NPO

Ramon Roca, co-founder guifi.net

19:30-19:50 International bodies and collaborations

Jane Coffin, Director, Development Strategy, Internet Society (ISOC)

Steve Song, Village Telco

19:50-20:00 Policy and regulation at the EU level

Félix Tréguer, CNRS, Paris

Maria Michalis, University of Westminster, London

20:00-20:30 The regulatory and public policy framework in Greece

Vassiliki Gogou, President's Office, EETT (Hellenic National Telecommunications and Posts Commission, National Regulator)

Konstantinos Champidis, Chief Digital Officer, City of Athens

Prodromos Tsiavos, Member of the board of GFOSS, responsible for Policy Recommendations, Open Content and Intellectual Property

20:30-21:00 Discussion on suggested actions for the sustainability of CNs in Greece

Open discussion on possible policy and legal actions, support structures, and organizational frameworks that can contribute to the sustainability of Community Networks in Greece in light of the new EU telecommunications code