Satellite & Connectivity Communities Endorse A Global Broadband Initiative Promoting UN Sustainable Development Goals

WASHINGTON, March 12, 2018 -- Geeks Without Frontiers (GEEKS) is delighted to announce strong support from the satellite and connectivity communities for its Community Connect initiative, designed to drive and inspire a global policy effort to close the digital divide, to accelerate satellite broadband connectivity to the estimated 4.2 billion people who do not have the benefit of internet access, and to help meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). GEEKS is also delighted to announce that Community Connect won the Pacific Telecommunications Council’s ‘Best Regulatory Innovation’ Award.

Community Connect is a code of best practices for Satellite Operators, Regulators,  Service Providers and Integrators, designed to help promote the more rapid and cost-effective deployment of satellite broadband to communities globally. The initiative would not have been possible without the knowledge, experience and commitment of our expert working group, which included BLUETOWN, EchoStar Corporation, Eutelsat S.A., The Global VSAT Forum (GVF), ManSat LLC, SES S.A. and law firm Reed Smith LLP.

Since its release at the GEEKS annual conference in Washington, D.C. on October 21, 2017, Community Connect has also been endorsed by the EMEA Satellite Operators Association (ESOA), the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation, the Asian Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC),  Telesat, Intelsat, the Space & Satellite Professionals International (SSPI), the International Space University (ISU), the International Institute of Space Commerce (IISC), the Danish Telecom Industry Association (TI), the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) and the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

GEEKS co-founder John Morris said, “The Geeks initiative reflects the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s recommendations for countries to both “develop enhanced national broadband plans” and to “update regulatory frameworks for broadband” in recognition of the vital role of broadband in building and transforming economies and societies and achieving the SDGs. Community Connect will provide a powerful tool that can be harnessed by any country to help develop satellite broadband services as an important part of their national broadband strategy and policies.”

Fellow co-founder Michael Potter said, “GEEKS is inspired by the recognition of both the satellite industry and the Pacific Telecommunications Council of the strategic importance of Community Connect to the global community, especially as connectivity is critical for bringing educational, healthcare, social, economic and e-government benefits to communities and has a pivotal role to play in helping to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.”

Chris Stott, GEEKS co-founder, said, “Community Connect is the next logical step in opening up broadband for the global community.  The technology, the need and the demand are there. We now need to ensure that the regulatory paths are also there in order to enable it all to happen. This endorsement of Community Connect by so many experienced industry participants and by the Pacific Telecommunications Council is a ringing validation of the importance of this initiative.”

About Geeks Without Frontiers

The GEEKS’ goal is to positively impact the lives of a billion people in the next ten years through the innovative use of technology, connectivity and sustainable social enterprise models. GEEKS’ initiatives include: DigOnce!, VillageConnect and Community Connect.

GEEKS was a Global Grand Challenge finalist in 2017 for its Community Connect initiative and also in 2016 for its DigOnce! Model Law.  DigOnce! is a global policy initiative designed to help close the digital divide by introducing a customizable legislative framework designed to increase the availability of broadband internet facilities by reducing the time, cost and environmental impact of rolling out high-speed terrestrial communications networks. Following the release of DigOnce!, Michael Potter (and John Morris as alternate) was appointed to a sub-committee of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, which is focused on introducing model codes of practice designed to help close the digital divide in the U.S.A. John Morris, a UK qualified Barrister, is the principal architect and author of both the DigOnce! and Community Connect initiatives.  

About the Pacific Telecommunications Council

The Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) is the global non-profit membership organization promoting the advancement of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the Pacific Rim, the most dynamic geography of the world, spanning over 40 nations. PTC enables its members to conduct trade in facilities, technologies and services and to use the power of ICT to improve the quality of life in the Asia-Pacific region. PTC is recognized for many of its initiatives, including its Annual Conference, the Pacific Rim’s premier ICT event, where 7,000+ members and industry attendees gather annually in Honolulu, Hawaii.   

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