Dear Andrew

I am contacting you because I believe that our
Luton and Dunstable area computer network club
(which is part of the nationwide Consume project)
may be of interest to yourself and the University.

The project is a non-commercial one to establish
a broadband (11Mbps) wireless network for all
households, amateur clubs, voluntary  and other
non-profit organisations in the area.

A demonstration network is working in London.

The Government Radiocommunications Agency (RcA)
are aware of the project (which is country-wide)
and have not raised any objections to our use
of (free) licence-exempt waveband (2.4GHz).

A technical network summary and details of the L&D Club
that is being formed to promote the network are at:

http://www.swimsite.dabsol.co.uk

Full details, database of current nodes, etc. can be found at:

http://www.consume.net

Such a network could be of great benefit to the University
e.g. by making it possible to offer (free) internet access
to students at home throughout the area.
It would be particularly appropriate for students in "block"
accommodation.

You may wish to link to the University network if you have
adequate security in-place.

There are many academic aspects to the network
e.g. router algorithms that Luton University researchers
may be interested in.

Let me know if the University IT department would be
interested in participating, and if so, how.
Or tell me if I should contact another Department,

The entry cost is low, with a set of equipment costing
about £350 - possibly serving several users.

At this stage we are only trying to estimate interest
and map likely location of nodes to confirm connectivity.

From Paul Clarke (Local Club co-ordinator)
swimsite@freeuk.com