Wireless Offers Opportunities for Nonprofits

As the founder of the Wireless Forum on TechSoup, Zachary Mutrux guides nonprofits on using wireless in their work. He answers their questions, facilitates discussions, and provides resources to community members.

For the past few years, Mutrux volunteered at Virus Vaccination Day events hosted by CompuMentor . This led to his involvement in the TechSoup community, and ultimately, his work as a consultant for CompuMentor.

TechSoup: You recently hosted an online event that launched a new forum on wireless technology. How can wireless benefit nonprofit organizations?

Zachary Mutrux: Not long after joining the community, I contacted the administrators and proposed a new forum on wireless technology. I was invited to host an introductory event and now host the ongoing forum. The major technology we discuss is called Wifi, also variously known as 802.11x, WLAN, and just wireless networking. One of the really neat things about this technology is that it doesn't require a license in order to use the radios built into the equipment. That means that anyone can set it up and start using it. In the past, wireless technology required licenses from the FCC or comparable national regulatory entity that were difficult to obtain.

I think this technology can benefit nonprofits in a couple of ways. First, it is fairly inexpensive. If a nonprofit wants to move into a new office and there isn't an existing network of cables, they can set up a wireless network pretty inexpensively. There are limitations, but if done correctly it can cost a lot less than a wired network.

Second, it is now inexpensive to link two locations over a distance of many yards or even miles, as long as each end can see the other. So schools that have portable units can link them into the school network. A nonprofit that is near another nonprofit could share its DSL link by creating a wireless bridge between the two organizations. There are also agencies working against the digital divide that use wireless networking to bring high-speed Internet access to homes where it might otherwise be unavailable.

TS: What advice would you give to organizations that want to go wireless?

ZM: First off I would suggest that they critically examine why they think they need wireless networking. Some folks want to implement wireless networks because everyone is talking about it and it's the next big thing. If you can afford a conventional Ethernet network of copper wires, I say go with that. It's faster and more secure. But if you can't afford a wired network, and your building doesn't have a lot of metal in the walls, think about WiFi.

If you haven't participated in setting up a wireless network before, get some help. Hire a consultant or find a mentor through CompuMentor's matching serviceservice. Plan the network first, decide how many access points you will need to cover your office. Don't just get the cheapest equipment you can buy and stick it up somewhere. Choose reliable, high-quality gear from a trusted provider like Cisco. There's a wireless networking bundle on TechSoup Stock that is excellent.

I would also strongly suggest that organizations only select equipment that uses WPA for security. Most consumer wireless equipment uses a technology called WEP, which just isn't any good.

When creating point-to-point links, buy commercial, directional antennas if you can afford them. There is a lot of talk about building your own antennas out of Pringles cans and soup cans. Those antennas do work, but they aren't as waterproof as commercial antennas, and they can be hard to mount securely. Only build your own antenna if you absolutely can't afford to buy.

TS:How are community networks, such as SFLan , implementing wireless technology?

ZM: SFLan is a collaborative project of the Internet Archive and other organizations in San Francisco. It is creating a wireless network throughout the city, and tying it into the Bay Area Regional Wireless Network. It is starting out by creating wireless links between buildings in the Presidio of San Francisco and other locations in the city. Participating organizations in the Presidio can tap into the Internet for free because of the generous donation of bandwidth by the Internet Archive. Since the network is community property, participants don't have to pay fees to a commercial entity like the phone company. There are many of these networks springing up around the country. There are sizable ones in the San Francisco Bay Area, Portland, Oregon, and New York City. Find out more on Toaster's site .

TS: What impact will this have on the nonprofit sector?

ZM: Well, I think it will be interesting to see what the impact will be on society at large. We are in the horse-and-buggy days of wireless networking.

There are plans to use radio towers, high-altitude balloons, and efficient robot airplanes to bring high-speed Internet access to every inhabited corner of the world. It sounds like science fiction, but the Internet revolution is just getting started. In the future, nonprofits will have cheaper access to faster communications technology than ever before. That means more money left over for services, and new ways to connect with partners and constituencies.

As wireless networking becomes pervasive and people regularly carry wireless devices like handheld computers and mobile phones, it will become even more difficult for legislators to sneak laws into being. Activist organizations will light up their network and their members will communicate their wishes to our leaders. It's already happening in other parts of the world like the Philippines.

TS: You began your career as an accidental techie for an NPO, have worked with for-profits, and are rejoining the nonprofit sector. Why have you chosen this career path?

ZM: My mother is a librarian and my dad is a graphic arts professional, a photographer. So it was natural that I would become intrigued by the intersection between information systems and design that is the World Wide Web. My parents raised me to have a social conscience, too, so much of my working life has been spent with nonprofits.

Working in the commercial sector taught me a lot. For-profits often have newer technology and more money to spend on it than do nonprofits, so I benefitted from that. Working as a project manager for Web sites and as an IT consultant, I had the opportunity to work with different clients, and many times they were nonprofits that didn't have in-house technology expertise. So in a way I feel like I never left the nonprofit sector.

I am really excited by the new emphasis on social entrepreneurship -- creating nonprofits that employ revenue-generating strategies and employ the best practices of business. And I'm interested in socially responsible businesses and democratic organizations. I think nonprofits and for-profits have a lot to give each other and I think that is happening more and more.

The focus of my career is helping nonprofits understand and benefit from information technology. I'm really excited to be able to make that happen as part of the team at CompuMentor .