Meraki.com - Connect Your Community To The Internet

Meraki is bringing affordable wireless Internet to cities, neighborhoods, and rural spaces across the world. This is a giant step offering Internet to people in poor or isolated places where millions of people are left in the dark while the rest of us surge forward everyday in the online world. To use Meraki one community has to buy a few of their repeaters and plug them into power. Then connect one or more into a broadband connection and the system will provide service to the entire area. The networks can start small in a neighborhood with 10 houses and then be expanded to reach the entire town. Installation is easy and does not require a professional's supervision. The program also includes a web-based Dashboard control panel allowing the network manager to have control over the network and block unwanted users. Managers can also form a "branded, localized experience" and charge community members for access. Depending on what kind of community in involved, charging could be a fair or unnecessary aspect. For a neighborhood where money is available, it might make sense to ask a small fee but the great part about Meraki is that everyday it is being installed in developing countries to bring Internet to those who can absolutely not afford to pay.

"Meraki has focused on changing the economics of access since its beginning as a MIT Ph.D. research project that provided wireless access to graduate students.

Using their research, Meraki got its start at a low-income housing community in the US. News about Meraki's products spread by word of mouth into over 25 countries around the world. Every day, new Meraki networks bring access to locations ranging from urban apartment complexes in London to villages in India.

Meraki (may-rah-kee) is a Greek word that means doing something with soul, creativity, or love. It's when you put something of yourself into what you're doing."

It's about time that someone thought of a new way to bring the gift of Internet to poor isolated communities. Kids are growing up in a world run by the Internet and have never had the chance to even see it with their own eyes. Now, if we can just get them a few computers.

Would it be possible to have a page on the site for donating these networks to communities in need?