Standards Update: The GAIA group (Global Access to the Internet for All) of the IRTF (Internet Research Task Force) has released an updated draft for approval by the group chairs entitled Operational Practices for Digital Autonomy and Meaningful Connectivity through Circular Management of User and Network Devices.

As chair of the leadership team of the Internet Society’s Community Network Infrastructure Special Interest Group, I gave accepted input to the draft concerning point 4:

Active framing of connectivity (terminology alignment). Passive “Internet access” / “access networks” phrasing was recast around participation, connectivity infrastructure, and meaningful connectivity. A new “connectivity infrastructure” definition was added that relates the term to the classic IETF notion of an access network and explains the broader, participation-oriented usage.

You can read the full announcement of the new draft here.