Building a movement where Internet connectivity is treated as shared civic infrastructure, not a metered commodity
"The Internet should connect us like the sidewalk—ubiquitous infrastructure we take for granted, not a service we purchase by the byte."
— Bob Frankston, Internet pioneer and co-creator of VisiCalc
Bob Frankston's vision of "ambient connectivity" challenges the dominant model of Internet service as a metered commodity controlled by incumbent providers. Just as we don't pay per step on public sidewalks or per breath of air, connectivity should be environmental infrastructure that enables participation in modern society.
The Ambient Connectivity Guild was founded to turn this vision into reality by supporting community-owned alternatives to traditional ISPs—from fixed wireless mesh networks to cooperatively-owned fiber infrastructure.
To unite community networks, cooperatives, and advocates in building Internet infrastructure as a public good—providing technical resources, policy advocacy, and knowledge sharing to make ambient connectivity a reality.
We facilitate peer learning, group purchasing cooperatives, open-source tools, and coordinated advocacy. Rather than competing, member networks strengthen each other through shared knowledge and collective action.
Centralized documentation, monthly webinars, peer mentorship programs, and an annual conference connecting network operators across the country.
Open-source network management tools, equipment testing and certification, group purchasing cooperatives for bulk discounts, and technical advisory support.
Grant writing assistance, legal template libraries, financial management training, community organizing workshops, and digital equity curriculum.
Coordinated advocacy campaigns for spectrum access, municipal broadband rights, and public funding. Regulatory comment coordination and policymaker education.
The Ambient Connectivity Guild emerged from conversations among community network organizers who recognized the need for collective action. While individual networks like NYC Mesh, Philly Community Wireless, and Detroit Community Technology Project were achieving local success, they faced common challenges: equipment costs, regulatory barriers, and limited technical resources.
Inspired by Bob Frankston's writings on ambient connectivity and the success of international networks like Spain's Guifi.net, founding members established the Guild to pool knowledge, amplify advocacy, and accelerate the community broadband movement. Today, we unite over 15 networks serving 25,000+ people across the United States.
Our vision is a future where every community has the option to build and govern its own network infrastructure—where connectivity is a shared resource that enables participation, not a gated service that extracts value.