Personal Telco

The Personal Telco Project (or PTP) is a wireless community network project in Portland, Oregon. It was founded by Adam Shand in November 2000[1] after he read a Slashdot article about the Consume The Net project in London.

Personal Telco Project
Formation2000
PurposeWireless community network
Location

PTP has wireless hotspots offering free Internet access at locations around Portland including Pioneer Courthouse Square, three public parks, and several restaurants and coffee shops using Wi-Fi.[2][3][4] In 2005 PTP was involved in a grant-funded project to bring free wireless Internet to an entire neighborhood in North Portland, along N. Mississippi Avenue.[5]

PTP is a non-profit organization in the state of Oregon, and received its 501(c)(3) status (a federal tax exemption granted to charitable organizations) in early 2003.

PTP made US news in August 2002 when their hotspot at Pioneer Courthouse Square was blocked by a for-fee hotspot at a nearby Starbucks coffee shop. The problem was resolved amicably when the for-fee hotspot moved their connection to another channel.[6]

On March 4, 2003, a study was published stating Portland had more wireless hotspots per capita than any other U.S. city. This was due in part to PTP's advocacy.[7]

References
  1. Andrew Blum (August–September 2001). "Alternative Net: Wireless activists bring the battle over public space to the airwaves". Metropolis Magazine. Archived from the original on August 21, 2001. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  2. "Personal Telco Node Map".
  3. Ballard, Nigel, Wi-Fi for Everyone!, BlueOregon, April 7, 2005
  4. Vince Vittore (January 1, 2003). "Adam Shand, Founder, PersonalTelcoProject". Wireless Review. Archived from the original on February 8, 2003. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  5. Willamette Week, Mississippi Wi-Fi'ing Archived 2006-07-07 at the Wayback Machine, April 6, 2005
  6. Slashdot, Starbucks Clashes With WiFi Hobbyists Over Airwaves, August 20, 2002
  7. Zach Dundas (June 9, 2004). "Free for All: How a brainy Brit and an army of idealists are leading Portland to Internet Nirvana". Willamette Week. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
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