Michigan State Professor Helps Bring Broadband Internet To Rural Africa (Video)

Roblimo writes "Assistant Professor Kurt DeMaagd, of Michigan State's Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media, runs a program that brings broadband Internet to villages in Tanzania that have never known connectivity better than what they get with non-smart cell phones. Lots of students are involved, and Kurt (who was one of Slashdot's co-founders many years ago) believes the students get as much out of the project as the people in Tanzania who are its primary beneficiaries. Setting up not only computer networks but also satellite communications and solar arrays in areas where you can't zip on down to the local computer or hardware store for parts you forgot teaches how to work under adverse conditions, and how to plan in advance instead of winging everything at the last minute. But we'll let Kurt DeMaagd, who is an engaging speaker, tell the story himself in this long (8:12) video."

Comments

Just keep in mind that these are real people

[crazyjj]

I'm all for these sorts of projects, just keep in mind that the idealistic do-gooder mentality of "They're all going to use this wonderful internet for education and uplift" needs to be tempered with a realization that these are real people you're dealing with, not characters in some fairy tale narrative you've created in your own head. Understand that some of them are going to use it for education. But some are also going to use it to scam, surf porn, download shitty Nicolas Cage movies, and play games. So don't throw a hissy-fit and abandon the project the second you find out that you're dealing with real human beings who aren't always going to use your wonderful gift to do what YOU want them to.

Remember that these are real autonomous human beings just like you, and don't idealize them as some abstraction.

Re:Just keep in mind that these are real people

[kdemaagd]

We are pretty open and aware of their actual use. We (try to) block porn and a lot of video stuff because it chews up the bandwidth. Still, a vast majority of their use is not educational. They use it a lot for email, and facebook has really taken off in the last year. In many cases, they are just happy to be able to randomly surf the Internet while they charge their cell phones for free from our solar system. We do our best to provide educational resources and guide them towards productive uses of the technology while they are also using it for their own personal benefits.

Rural Michigan?

[ewg]

How about bringing broadband to rural Michigan?!

Re:Rural Michigan?

[germany-runt]

There are PLENTY of places in the rural United States that would love better connectivity. But I guess those places are tied too tightly to the ISPs. They are doing it for a better quality of life while here in the States we worry too much about making our money back in a timely manner, ("What?! You mean it'll be 5 years until that infrastructure is paid for?!") so a lot of people really do miss out.

Re:Rural Michigan?

[quetwo]

The TISM department at MSU has had a long-standing program to build out rural networks in Michigan. They've spawned a few companies (AllBand, to name one that I did some work with) that are CLECs or ILECs in the upper-lower peninsula. The biggest problem MSU/TISM runs into is that a lot of areas are already locked up by AT&T / Verizon / Centrytel / etc. who make sure that non-profits and psudo-government agencies can't provide internet access without a long, drawn-out legal fight.

Re:Rural Michigan?

[quetwo]

you really thing Brighton is rural? Try going north of Gaylord and you will quickly find entire counties that don't have basic telephone service, let alone cellular or broadband services...

Ah Hah!

[DroolTwist]

So, this explains my increase in emails from African Monarchs who just need my bank account number and $1000 to buy the equipment needed to finish the trek to the vast fortunes they hid when being invaded by terrorists, which they will then deposit into my account after they get it!

What about rural Michigan?!??!?

[BenJeremy]

Geez, we still don't have broadband in large parts of Michigan. Dialup is still a reality, not a bad memory (as it should be) for many people - some of whom are nestled within the populous southeastern quarter of the lower peninsula.

Re:Good for Tanzania

[nedlohs]

I'm pretty sure impressing you isn't high on their list.

Re:Because,,,

[Iamthecheese]

And the news will tell them their local politician took a bribe so they'll end up with better leadership, closer international cooperation, and an extra goat next year. And that there's a bumper crop of corn in the US so they'll plant cotton this year. And that their child's cleft palate can be fixed by a local clinic almost free. Not that I don't think most of it will be porn but don't underestimate the power of information.