Founded in 2022, Community Internet operates as the public-facing platform of the Broadband Institute Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We help people and communities bridge the digital divide by supporting community-owned internet projects and digital education.
About Us
The Broadband Institute Foundation is served by a group of like-minded individuals who believe in keeping the Internet easily and readily available for all people.
As a platform cooperative, we provide three integrated spaces:
Definitions We Value
As defined by the Platform Cooperative Consortium
Platform Cooperatives
Platform cooperatives are businesses that sell goods or services primarily through a website, mobile app, or protocol. They rely on democratic decision-making and shared platform ownership by workers and users.
Co-Ops
Cooperatives, or co-ops for short, are defined as autonomous associations of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.
Platforms
Platforms are online applications or websites used by individuals or groups to connect to one another or to organize services.
Working cooperatively will promote #DigitalEquity
During the 1930s, rural electrification was a major challenge in the United States. At the time, private electric utilities were hesitant to extend their services to rural areas because they were considered unprofitable. This meant that millions of Americans in rural areas were left without access to electricity. In response to this problem, the U.S. government established the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) in 1935. The REA provided loans to rural electric cooperatives, which were owned and operated by the farmers themselves. These cooperatives were able to use the loans to build power lines and other facilities to bring electricity to their communities.
AI Chat GPT-4
Rather than being a single cooperative, we are functioning as a Federation of emerging cooperatives. Our focus is being in the center of that Federation, and providing tools for horizontal communication and learning.
We’re closing the Digital Divide with a Platform Cooperative that trains people to build Community Owned Internet Networks. We use LearnDash, a Learning Management System, and the BuddyBoss Platform in WordPress for community engagement to connect Courses with Social Groups and discussion Forums, thus promoting “Social Learning.” Governance by teachers employs “consensus decision-making” with tools from Loomio. We use a grassroots legal and financial toolbox from Open Collective.
We subscribe to the seven cooperative principles
Here is a breakdown of each principle:
- Voluntary and Open Membership: Cooperatives are open to all individuals who can use their services and are willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without discrimination based on gender, social standing, race, political affiliation, or religion.
- Democratic Member Control: Members control their cooperative through democratic means, typically with each member having one vote.
- Members’ Economic Participation: Members contribute equitably to and democratically control the capital of their cooperative, receiving limited compensation on capital as a condition of membership, with surpluses allocated to benefit members and the cooperative.
- Autonomy and Independence: Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members and remain independent when making agreements or raising capital.
- Education, Training, and Information: Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, and employees to help them contribute to the cooperative’s success, and they inform the general public about cooperation.
- Cooperation Among Cooperatives: Cooperatives strengthen the movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.
- Concern for Community: Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.
Marketplace 20 sec video
Members and businesses have . searchable profiles. A vendor has products and services.
AI & P2P
Benefits of a regenerative economy replacing the older extractive incumbent models.
Member Messages
Sign up & in to see left panel | horizontal communication without revealing your email | Block bothersome members
We added a new profile field
Please edit your profile (in the upper right drop down menu) and check all of the relevant boxes you support.
We are working on making it easier for people to find each other in order to collaborate on solutions that promote a better Internet for all. The more content you add to additional fields in your profile for you as an individual and your organization, the more likely it is that people will find you and seek to connect, in order to work together and collaborate to promote better Internet for all.
Community Internet is the dba for Broadband Institute Foundation.
Community Internet is a platform cooperative governed by its members and is open to all who want to build a fairer, more connected future. It is the educational arm of the Broadband Institute Foundation, a Michigan-based nonprofit.
All donations are tax-deductible (EIN: 87-4724219) and directly support our open-access educational and community programs.
Our Mission
Turn the digital divide into digital dividends with AI & HUMAN support.
Our charitable organization creates educational resources to improve Internet access for underserved populations. Free online training materials use Creative Commons licensing, rather than copyright. We train people to create Community Owned Infrastructure Networks, COINs, that promote local, regenerative economies, and leverage AI that works for us, rather than over us.
The Internet should connect us like the sidewalk
Together, we can do this!
In a Ted Talk, Bob Frankston starts with this question to the audience:
“How many of you paid your sidewalk provider in order to come here?”
Why do we accept the idea that we will let providers, who must make a profit, decide on what limits they want to impose on our Freedom to Connect?
In 2017, our founder, Dr. Ron Suarez, wrote an article about the necessities of net neutrality. During this time, he was also a member of NYC Mesh, an organization that strives to provide free internet to the people of New York City.
You can read more about this topic by clicking the article on the left.
Learn about how we move from an extractive to a circular economy. Plus, see how this website, integrates Groups, discussion Forums, and Courses.
Help us prevent “enshittification” of our platform
“Cory Doctorow advocates for two ways to reduce enshittification: upholding the end-to–end principle, which asserts that platforms should transmit data in response to user requests rather than algorithm-driven decisions; and guaranteeing the right of exit—that is, enabling a user to leave a platform without data loss, which requires interoperability. These moves aim to uphold the standards and trustworthiness of online platforms, emphasize user satisfaction, and encourage market competition.”
We already have built in support for the right of exit. Anyone can leave our platform and export all of their data to take with them. You can help us to make decisions about our directions by submitting user requests via our contact form.
Who We Serve
BIF believes in Digital Inclusion for All!
The Broadband Institute Foundation supports individuals and communities facing barriers to affordable, reliable internet and digital skills.
Broadband Institute Foundation serves a diverse range of communities and individuals who face barriers to affordable, reliable internet and digital inclusion. Our programs support students, professionals, seniors, women, and marginalized communities—including Black, Hispanic, and other underserved populations.
We provide training and resources both to individuals seeking digital skills and to communities organizing their own broadband networks, inspired by successful models like NYC Mesh. Our goal is to foster equitable access and sustainable community ownership of internet infrastructure.