{"id":62334,"date":"2017-06-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-21T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/foxtail\/2017\/06\/21\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/"},"modified":"2022-10-28T12:27:02","modified_gmt":"2022-10-28T19:27:02","slug":"2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/","title":{"rendered":"A $2 Million Prize to Decentralize the Web. Apply Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re fueling a healthy Internet by <\/i>supporting big ideas that keep the web accessible, decentralized and resilient<\/i><\/a>. What will you build?<\/i><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mozilla and the National Science Foundation are offering a $2 million prize<\/a> for big ideas that decentralize the web. And we\u2019re accepting applications starting today<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Mozilla believes the Internet is a global public resource that must be open and accessible to all. \u00a0In the 21st century, a lack of Internet access is far more than an inconvenience \u2014 it\u2019s a staggering disadvantage. Without access, individuals miss out on substantial economic and educational opportunities, government services and the ability to communicate with friends, family and peers.<\/p>\n

Currently, 34 million people<\/a> in the U.S. \u2014 10% of the country\u2019s population \u2014 lack access to high-quality Internet connectivity. This number jumps to 39% in rural communities and 41% on Tribal lands. And when disasters strike, millions more can lose vital connectivity right when it\u2019s needed most.<\/p>\n

To connect the unconnected and disconnected across the U.S., Mozilla today is accepting applications for the Wireless Innovation for a Networked Society (WINS) challenges<\/a>. Sponsored by NSF, a total of $2 million in prize money is available for wireless solutions that get people online after disasters, or that connect communities lacking reliable Internet access.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The details:<\/p>\n

Off-the-Grid Internet Challenge<\/b><\/h3>\n

When disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes strike, communications networks are among the first pieces of critical infrastructure to overload or fail. How can we leverage both the Internet\u2019s decentralized design and current wireless technology to keep people connected to each other \u2014 and vital messaging and mapping services \u2014 in the aftermath of a disaster?<\/p>\n

Challenge applicants will be expected to design both the means to access the wireless network (i.e. hardware) and the applications provided on top of that network (i.e. software). Projects should be portable, easy to power and simple to access.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an example: A backpack containing a hard drive computer, battery and Wi-Fi router. The router provides access, via a Wi-Fi network, to resources on the hard drive like maps and messaging applications.<\/p>\n

Smart Community Networks Challenge<\/b><\/h3>\n

Many communities across the U.S. lack reliable Internet access. Sometimes commercial providers don\u2019t supply affordable access; sometimes a particular community is too isolated; sometimes the speed and quality of access is too slow. How can we leverage existing infrastructure \u2014 physical or network \u2014 to provide high-quality wireless connectivity to communities in need?<\/p>\n

Challenge applicants should plan for a high density of users, far-reaching range and robust bandwidth. Projects should also aim to make a minimal physical footprint and uphold users\u2019 privacy and security.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an example: A neighborhood wireless network where the nodes are housed in, and draw power from, disused phone booths or similarly underutilized infrastructure.<\/p>\n

These challenges are open to individuals and teams, nonprofits and for-profits. Applicants could be academics, technology activists, entrepreneurs or makers. We\u2019re welcoming anyone with big ideas and passion for a healthy Internet to apply. Prizes will be available for both early-stage design concepts and fully-working prototypes.<\/p>\n

To learn more and apply, visit https:\/\/wirelesschallenge.mozilla.org<\/a>. This challenge is one of Mozilla\u2019s open innovation competitions, which also includes the Equal Rating Innovation Challenge<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related Reading: <\/b>Internet access is an essential part of life, but the quality of that access can vary wildly<\/a>, writes Mozilla\u2019s Executive Director Mark Surman in Quartz<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re fueling a healthy Internet by supporting big ideas that keep the web accessible, decentralized and resilient. What will you build? \u00a0 Mozilla and the National Science Foundation are offering a $2 million prize for big ideas that decentralize the web. And we\u2019re accepting applications starting today. Mozilla believes the Internet is a global public […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":144,"featured_media":10633,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"coauthors":[306191],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA $2 Million Prize to Decentralize the Web. Apply Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/\",\"name\":\"A $2 Million Prize to Decentralize the Web. Apply Today\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/278\/files\/2017\/06\/30551957571_2f5c7c258d_k.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-06-21T07:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-10-28T19:27:02+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/33edd7d4d73723140487082573041c83\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/278\/files\/2017\/06\/30551957571_2f5c7c258d_k.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/278\/files\/2017\/06\/30551957571_2f5c7c258d_k.jpg\",\"width\":2048,\"height\":1365},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"A $2 Million Prize to Decentralize the Web. Apply Today\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/\",\"name\":\"The Mozilla Blog\",\"description\":\"News and Updates about Mozilla\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/33edd7d4d73723140487082573041c83\",\"name\":\"Mozilla\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/f32381c01597770b1131dff44b9d6de1\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f84bd67e8e3ab3bcc9676910aecf5700?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f84bd67e8e3ab3bcc9676910aecf5700?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Mozilla\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/author\/mozilla\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A $2 Million Prize to Decentralize the Web. Apply Today","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/","url":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/","name":"A $2 Million Prize to Decentralize the Web. Apply Today","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/278\/files\/2017\/06\/30551957571_2f5c7c258d_k.jpg","datePublished":"2017-06-21T07:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2022-10-28T19:27:02+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/33edd7d4d73723140487082573041c83"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/278\/files\/2017\/06\/30551957571_2f5c7c258d_k.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/278\/files\/2017\/06\/30551957571_2f5c7c258d_k.jpg","width":2048,"height":1365},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/mozilla\/2-million-prize-decentralize-web-apply-today\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"A $2 Million Prize to Decentralize the Web. Apply Today"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/","name":"The Mozilla Blog","description":"News and Updates about Mozilla","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/33edd7d4d73723140487082573041c83","name":"Mozilla","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/f32381c01597770b1131dff44b9d6de1","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f84bd67e8e3ab3bcc9676910aecf5700?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f84bd67e8e3ab3bcc9676910aecf5700?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Mozilla"},"url":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/author\/mozilla\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62334"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/144"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62334"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62334\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10633"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62334"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.mozilla.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=62334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}