Progress

I've neglected to post here until now: Three new nodes are online on the Red Libre de Ometepe. They are a "Cyber" run by los Cabrera of Altagracia, the new Hotel Cabañas in Santo Domingo, and the Insituto Nacional Ladislav Chwal Binksy (INLCB) of Altagracia. We're very happy both for the improved financial viability of the network, and the gradual realization of its social goals.

Yours truly is to leave the island at the end of this week for Managua, followed by a two week vacation in Honduras and Guatemala. Before leaving, our proposal to PEMCE (DFID and the UN Office for Project Services) will be complete, and hopefully a solicitation for license to sell Internet service.

The latter process gives no sign that anyone in the Nicaraguan government understands the Internet as anything other than a commodity, that is, there is no sign of recognition of the original intent of the Internet, nor of the decentralized and community-based structure of a freenet. The level of beaurocracy surrounding these activities prohibits anything like the kind of growth in coverage and access that Nicaragua supposedly desires. Perhaps through CONIPROSIT we'll have the opportunity to open some minds.

If anyone knows of any interesting community radio or community networking projects in Honduras, Guatemala, or El Salvador, please let me know soon!