# Toronto Mesh and the Toronto Community Network

## What:

{Describe the essential features of Toronto Mesh/ TCN vision}

- relationship with Toronto Public Library (a group they trust)
- support from Internet Society (a group who knows what they are doing)
- Like NYC Mesh (New York)
- ~500 people use them for internet, community growth
- 542 nodes
- Like Guifi.net (Catalunya)
- 35,000 nodes
- mix of individuals and businesses
- a progressive way to approach local digital infrastructure that truly engages and gives opportunities to local residents
- Digital Literacy
- Participation in the technology choices around/impacting them
- Toronto Library hotspot program (replacement fee of $200)
- We can schedule a call to tell more about community networks
- They started with 500 ppl (now 1000)
- The city is not building something for or against us, we are building something together

The folks we spoke with see the value/opportunity of having a Toronto Mesh in the ecosystem

Working alongside Cisco's deployments in - adding infrastructure and design expertise - with a variety of mutually beneficial collaborations possible.
Hotspot near TTC Bus stops and stations
Community centers

Access to buildings and infrastructure, and relevant community contacts/resources.
A voice in important decisions that impact planning by/for Toronto Mesh - in our collaborations alongside the Free WiFi Project.
Community engagement
Regular meetings with the City and the collaborating firms/orgs - on the Toronto Free Wi Fi Project.

## Goals

- Community supported multi-stakeholder process. What can individual people do?
- We are adding infrastructure in parallel to city wifi project
- Expand value of the Cisco program, extend beyond the city