Network Commons License (v1.0)

The Network Commons License is the framework that governs the network commons.

The License

The Network Commons License (NCL) describes the terms and conditions associated with the use of free and open networks, and so enables individuals, communities, companies, governments, and other organizations to adopt or support the same. ‘Free network’  means the infrastructure that makes up Tucson Mesh including routers, radios, cables and the configuration of the equipment that connects mesh users to each other and the internet. It does not refer to the cost of being a user on the network.

The NCL and the free network that we are creating are rooted in the following four tenets:

• Participants are free to use the network for any purpose that does not limit the freedom of others to do the same.

• Participants are free to know how the network and its components function.

• Participants are free to offer and accept services on the network on their own terms.

• By joining the free network, you agree to extend the network to others under the same conditions as a common resource.

Terms

Participation

• The free network honors the human right to communication and aims for the maximum possible benefit for its members. Disputes regarding the right and proper execution of this framework should be resolved through the consensus of network stakeholders according to these principles.

• If your facilities use the free network, you cannot profit off the provisioning and availability of the network. You cannot “sell” a connection on the network, including through increased rent on a property.

• The network must allow access to any willing participant, except when doing so would jeopardize the proper functioning of the network.

• Network devices and infrastructure can be financed in any manner that does not seek to profit off of other participants in the network. The network as a whole does not have any owner or proprietor, regardless of any specific contribution to the network. 

• Any financial contributions to the network can only be spent on the growth and maintenance of the network.

• Network participants agree to extend the network on the same terms and conditions that they receive it, allowing all data to transit their own portion of the network without manipulating that data for any reason other than network maintenance.

• Network participants agree only to the terms of this License - any other agreement must be explicitly expressed and accepted.

• In order to maximize connectivity and network growth, network members are encouraged to allow other network participants to install devices in their facilities, but this permission is always discretionary and can be revoked at any time.

Provision of Services

The contents and services of the network, including access to the Internet are offered on their own terms. These general principles apply:

• The free network serves only as a conduit of information - the network itself has nothing to do with hosted services and is not liable for them.

• Content and services may be created and shared at will.

• Content creators or owners can license their creations with the license of their choice, with no restriction. Unless otherwise stated, services are considered gratis, and offered “as is”, and without any warranty.

• The free network makes no guarantee regarding the availability of Internet access. Due to Tucson Mesh being a collectively controlled network, the functioning of the network and resulting internet access is dependent on everyone’s contribution. 

• Should it become necessary to shape network traffic in order to optimize network performance, real-time communications may be given priority over delay-tolerant forms. In the case that traffic is shaped or manipulated, such practices must be transparently disclosed, and the exact policies in use must be published.

• Where possible, information regarding network throughput and availability should be published to allow the network participants to diagnose incidents by themselves.

• Network participants agree not to transmit contents that might jeopardize the well-being of other participants or operation of the network itself, including, but not limited to illegal content, unsolicited communications, and malicious software. (don’t get caught!)

Equipment

• Unless requested otherwise, all equipment is provided by Tucson Mesh network, including indoor and outdoor routers. We consider Tucson Mesh network to be the collective owner of this equipment. 

• If network participants decide to leave the network, participants will, to the best of their ability, return all network-owned equipment so that Tucson Mesh can use it for future network participants. 

Use of Spectrum

• Participants must use spectrum reasonably and responsibly, using the minimum transmission power necessary to achieve intended service levels.

• Coordination and cooperation should be used, whenever possible, to avoid interference and minimize spectral pollution

Security and Liability

• Network participants are responsible for the security of their own systems.

• Participants should assume that all information transiting the free network is visible to others, and encrypt their communications accordingly. On the free network, just like all other internet providers, there is no guaranteed way to prevent information that is unencrypted from being visible to others. This does not apply to encrypted traffic (most modern web traffic is encrypted).

• In this agreement, a "secure" network connection is defined as a network connection that, at the user-device level, utilizes cryptographic technologies—such as Transport Layer Security (TLS/HTTPS), Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), or other similar mechanisms—to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of data transmitted over the network. A secure connection protects against unauthorized access, ensuring that the contents of the network traffic are obscured from unintended recipients and that the integrity of the data is maintained during transmission.

• Private networks can be connected to the open network and use firewalls to regulate access and traffic between those networks. Those private networks are not under the terms and conditions of this License, and their owners are responsible for their own security.

• The free network is not responsible for any damage caused to or by participants in the network.

• The free network disclaims all liability for the behavior of its participants.

Conditions

• Adoption of this License can be expressed by individuals or organizations and implies the acceptance of the License's terms and conditions. At any time, any member can revoke this adoption. Upon revoking adoption of this license, Tucson Mesh network devices and equipment must be returned to the collective.

• The Network Commons License is distributed under a Creative Commons Non-commercial, Attribution, Share-alike license, which stipulates that derivative works are allowed, but that they may not be used for commercial purposes, must give credit to the Network Commons License, and must be released under these same conditions.