NoCatAcceptableUsePolicy - Personal Telco Project

RobFlickenger posted a [http://nocat.net/~rob/fairuse.txt fair use agreement] for the NoCat network. I like it better then ours for a lot of reasons, but simplicity, friendliness and readability are the big ones. -- AdamShand

Updated to reflect that The Personal Telco Project uses the 10.11.0.0/16 for its network. -- AaronBaer

See also: [http://www.picopeer.net/wiki/index.php/PicoPeeringAgreement Pico Peering Agreement], AcceptableUsePolicy

Fair Use

NO MEMBER MAY CHARGE A FEE FOR ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY NETWORK.

Transport on the 10.11.0.0/16 network shall be available free of charge to anyone capable of accessing it.

However, it is reasonable for any operator of an Internet gateway to request compensation to recover their recurring Internet bandwidth costs. Any packets that leave the 10.11.0.0/16 network qualify as Internet traffic, and an Internet gateway operator may wish for Downstream users to help split their recurring costs. These sort of arrangements are completely outside the scope of this community group, and are left to be negotiated between the people involved.

But for traffic that originates,travels through, and arrives at an address in 10.11.0.0/16, no memember may impose a restriction of any sort, with the following exceptions:

Reasonable bandwidth throttling of coop members and the general public, to promote participation and allow owners acceptable access to their own equipment
Upon becoming aware of intentional abuse or misuse of network resources, a Node owner may take whatever steps necessary to prevent continued abuse (and is encouraged to make reports and logs available to the mailing list and at community meetings, so interested parties can help track down the source of the problem...)
The network is a communications medium. If it comes to the attention of any Node operators that traffic of an illegal nature originates from your location, your Upstream operator can immediately suspend you. Depending on the circumstances, you may be permanently banned and reported to the appropriate authorities.

(Keep in mind that the definitions of ambiguous words like "Reasonable" and "Abuse" are to be defined by consensus of the cooperative.)

Naturally, an enormous amount of effort is involved in setting up and maintaining wireless networking gear. Here are a few instances where money may acceptably change hands:

Bits may be free, but equipment is not. Participants are expected to pay for (or otherwise provide) their own gear.
Not everyone is an expert. Some members may wish to subcontract more technically savvy members to install and configure equipment. This is perfectly reasonable, even on an ongoing basis, provided that access to the network is never contingent on payment (i.e., you can't shut off a neighbor because he hasn't paid you a monthly tech support fee. But then, you don't have to help him when his gear goes down, do you? =)
As outlined above, most Internet backhaul costs money. Members may split their operating costs with Downstream users (or other Members), but may not under any circumstances charge for access to 10.11.0.0/16.

Members are encouraged to barter time and equipment whenever possible. We enjoy a wealth of talented and intelligent people here in the West County... And most of them are excited to help the effort, however they can!

Violators of the above should be reported to the community group, and will be met with anything from a nice email to complete banning from the wireless network. Yes, we can do that, too.

In short: Be nice, play fair, have fun.