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[ultush]

Draft Email

I was fortunate enough to attend the YUBAN webinar hosted by York on Wednesday 7 October, 2020, which you also attended. When the panelists were asked what York could do, one of the panelists Jean-Mark Moke raised the issue of lack of accessibility of high-speed internet services from home.

I currently volunteer with an organization called Toronto Mesh (https://tomesh.net/) that builds community communication networks. I would like to propose a project that provides internet access from York Universities network infrastructure to the geographically local communities to address the issues raised by Jean-Mark Moke, and experienced by many students including the students in my classes. The benefits of the project are:

• Mesh network deployment is done by placing nodes on rooftops, no digging for wires required.
• Utilization of the universities internet infrastructure that is currently utilized far below designed capacity
• For a community based network, we would train local students to be stewards of the community network in their own communities
• A stronger community reputation for York University in meeting identified short term student needs, and long-term local community needs

Along with my colleagues from Toronto Mesh, I would be happy to provide further proposed details for the project to you and others responsible at a meeting when convenient.

Sincerely
Ushnish Sengupta
Instructor, Schulich School of Business
York University