COMMUNITY NETWORKS

Built by people, for people

The internet didn't have to be a handful of corporations in California. It still doesn't. Community networks — from neighbourhood radio links to global message relays — are alive, growing, and open to anyone who wants in.

Every network on this page shares a core idea: ordinary people can own and operate their own communications infrastructure. No shareholders, no algorithms, no terms of service written by a legal team in San Francisco. Some of these networks are decades old; some are brand new. All of them work — and all of them could use more participants.

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BBS & Dial-Up Networks

Bulletin Board Systems — the original community hubs. Connect to small, human-run servers with message boards, file libraries, and real conversation. Still going strong.

Synchronet Mystic WWIV
Explore BBS networks →
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Store-and-Forward Networks

FidoNet-style networks where messages travel from system to system like postal relay — no one needs to be online at the same time. Resilient by design.

FidoNet BinkP LovlyNet
Explore store-and-forward →
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Community Wireless Networks

Neighbourhoods and towns building their own internet infrastructure using off-the-shelf wireless equipment. Local ownership, local control.

OpenWRT LibreMesh NYC Mesh
Explore community wireless →
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Mesh Networks

Every device is both a user and a relay — messages hop between nodes automatically. Works without any central infrastructure. Perfect for off-grid and emergency use.

Meshtastic LoRa
Explore mesh networks →
📡

Amateur Radio Data Networks

Licensed radio operators using digital data modes to send messages, positions, and even email without touching the internet. Long range, no infrastructure needed.

APRS Winlink AREDN
Explore amateur radio data →
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The Federated Web

Social platforms run by independent people and communities that all talk to each other. Like email, but for social media — choose your home, connect to everyone.

ActivityPub Mastodon Pixelfed
Explore the fediverse →
The Lovely Bits philosophy

We believe the best communications systems are ones where the people using them are also the people running them. Not because it's trendy, not as a reaction against anything — but because human-scale networks produce better communities. The signal-to-noise ratio is better. The conversations are more real. You know who's in charge and you can talk to them.

These networks aren't perfect or without their quirks. But they're ours. And if something isn't right, we can fix it.