The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) has officially recognized community networks as an internet access option in Brazil. In its announcement, the regulator mentioned a study titled “The Community Network Manual: How to Build the Internet Yourself,” organized by Professor Luca Belli of the FGV´s Rio de Janeiro Law School.

This move makes Brazil one of the first countries in the world – and the biggest – to openly recognize the value of community networks as a valuable option to promote digital inclusion. “Community networks represent a sustainable and inclusive alternative to traditional internet access models, which clearly have limits, if we consider that more than 3 billion people around the world still do not have any type of access to communication infrastructure,” Belli said.

The Community Network Manual offers concrete suggestions on how to construct new digital infrastructure based on community networks, in a scalable way and in compliance with the law. “This innovative model is particularly relevant as it makes it possible to solve the problem of the unequal distribution of connectivity while promoting freedom of expression, entrepreneurship and access to knowledge, favoring self-determination,” Belli said.

The manual was published by Fundação Getulio Vargas in partnership with the UN International Telecommunication Union and the Internet Society. It was produced by a working group on community connectivity, coordinated by Professor Luca Belli as part of the UN Internet Governance Forum.

For more information about the study, click here.