Our current internet has been shaped by political and economic forces over time, including historical forces of inequity and oppression that became embedded in its physical form. But that is not how it has to be. In order to have more of a say in how we communicate with each other, we need to understand the internet’s physical infrastructure, where we fit into it, and how we can influence it. I worked with Diana Nucera, Greta Byrum, and Andy Gunn (through the Detroit Community Technology Project and Community Technology NY) to produce this booklet explaining the internet’s physical infrastructure. I developed a graphics to demystify complex concepts like bandwidth, tiers of networks, the path of an email, and collaboratively edited the booklet content to make it more accessible. This booklet is for folks who want to build their own infrastructure, or to change how the internet is distributed or designed in their communities. It’s currently being used in Community Tech NY trainings in the Bronx, Buffalo, Seattle, and Detroit.
Written by Greta Byrum and Diana Nucera
Edited by Valeria Mogilevich and Andy Gunn
Designed by Valeria Mogilevich
Note: this publication is not yet available for download.