The FSFE is looking for a policy intern

We are looking for a motivated intern to support the FSFE’s policy activities and contribute to our work to empower people to control technology. The person will work 35 hours per week with our team in the FSFE Berlin office for a period of six months.

About the FSFE

The Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to control technology. Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our lives and it is important that technology empowers rather than restricts us. Free Software gives everybody the right to use, understand, adapt, and share software. These rights help support other fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, press, and privacy.

The FSFE helps individuals and organisations to understand how Free Software contributes to freedom, transparency, and self-determination. It enhances users’ rights by abolishing barriers to Free Software adoption, encourages people to use and develop Free Software, and provides resources to enable everyone to further promote Free Software in Europe.

The FSFE is involved in many activities in the legal, economic, political, and technical areas around Free Software. This work is made possible by a community of volunteers, supporters, donors, and staff.

We are looking for an intern

We are looking for a reliable and driven intern for our policy team. You will support the FSFE’s activities and work closely with our team. We will make sure to offer our interns the opportunity to learn about Free Software and while supporting carrying out advocacy activities, the person will also be able to meet and work with our vibrant community across Europe. This position will take place in our FSFE Berlin office, 35 hours per week for a six month period.

Read more about our internships and what former interns say about it.

Main responsibilities

• Support FSFE policy projects like Public Money? Public Code!
• Conduct background research in the fields of politics, administrations, and economy
• Assist our policy team with formulating policy positions on various issues
• Communicate with contacts from the FSFE community, NGOs, industry, and public administrations
• Work together with volunteers in various projects
• You will participate and help organising events around Europe
• General office tasks

Qualifications

• Background in political or social science, or related field
• A knowledge of the EU legislative process is an advantage
• Excellent spoken and written English, other European languages are considered an asset

Attitude

We are looking for a reliable and well-organised team player who cares about social and political change for the next generations and is interested in acquiring practical experience by learning from our different policy activities.

How to apply

To apply, please send a maximum one-page cover letter and a maximum two-page CV in PDF format by email to jobs@fsfe.org, with the subject “Intern position”. Please do not include pictures of yourself in the application. There is no immediate closing date for submitting applications, but we recommend to apply as early as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please indicate your possible starting date.

The position is for a period of 6 months, full time at 35 hours per week, starting as agreed. The location of the internship is Berlin, Germany. Therefore you will be required to show that you can legally work in Germany -- either by being an EU citizen or by having a residence and work permit for the duration. The internship is compensated according to the German minimum wage. Your personal data will be deleted 3 months after we have made our decision.

Free Software is meant to serve everyone regardless of their age, ability or disability, gender identity, sex, race, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation. Hence, we encourage applications from all backgrounds and promise to judge all applications on merit, without reference to any of the characteristics listed. To promote diversity and equality in the Free Software community, we shall give preference between applications of equal strength to applicants who identify as part of a traditionally marginalised demographic in technology.

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What pupils write about proprietary software and why it motivates me

Pupils all over the world are learning about the story of "Ada & Zangemann - A Tale of Software, Skateboards and Raspberry Ice Cream": it is encouraging to see how new generations are inspired to start coding, and to write to Zangemann about his behaviour. Below a message from our president Matthias Kirschner to our readers.

2023 has been a busy year at the FSFE. Besides our general promotion for software freedom, we have helped EU regulators to better understand Free Software for their work on the Cyber Resilience Act, the Product Liability, the Interoperable Europe and the AI Act. We have followed up on the Digital Markets Act about device neutrality, monitored the implementation of router freedom, and made sure to keep public administration accountable for their promises on Public Money? Public Code!". We supported Free Software contributors by answering questions and providing tools to better handle legal obligations.

This year, as well as in the two decades before, there are times when, despite working hard with our team, there are setbacks. Regulators who (even though it is 2023!) still do not understand how Free Software works, companies that, again and again, try to restrict software freedom for their own benefit despite the harm they thereby do to society, or people in the Free Software community who fight with each other instead of focusing on our common mission.

Looking ahead, next year marks 20 years of working for the Free Software Foundation Europe for me. On 10 December 2003 I joined the FSFE’s discussion mailing lists; in 2004, I became the FSFE's first intern; later, I continued as a volunteer; and since 2009, I am a staff member.

At the FSFE, I have the privilege of working with many volunteers and colleagues who encourage each other to continue our work, even in situations where others might have given up. We remind each other why we are doing this work, and why it is crucial for society to continue it despite hard resistance.

Some of those reminding moments are when I get emails and letters about the book "Ada & Zangemann - A Tale of Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice Cream": emails from parents telling me about their daughter who started programming after reading the book to her; cute postcards from children telling me their thoughts about the book; or an email with pictures from a hospital in the Middle East who got some of the books and shared with us how much the children enjoyed reading the book (and side note, as one character in the book, many of them have 3D printed arms or legs due to war injuries).

In June, we received the letters that pupils wrote from the English International College in Marbella (Spain). Their teacher, Kaye Fogarty read the book together with her 8- and 9-year-old pupils, focusing on "the access to the internet on a global level and how the inequality of access in certain parts of the world hugely disadvantages people there in terms of education and opportunity". The pupils then shared their thoughts on the book by writing letters to Zangemann, the antagonist of the book. We got permission to share those letters with you -- so you can see for yourself why that was a motivating moment for me.

Reading all these letters and emails, I am sure that there are many young people out there who care about software freedom. While people in our movement have been working hard for software freedom for 40 years now, I am confident that there will be new generations, bright and energetic who will take the reins and using technology to shape their future. I have a strong feeling that they will continue with, and strengthen, our movement for the challenges that lie ahead for humanity in the next 40 years.

Enjoy reading the letters yourself

Thank you for your support!

Matthias Kirschner, President FSFE

PS: Here the feedback I received by the teacher: "A wonderfully entertaining read with an empowering message for younger generations, one which will shape our world and the way we live in it." Kaye Fogarty, The English International College, Marbella

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YH4F kickoff +++ UpA Open Letter +++ Router freedom in Belgium

Last month YH4F 2024 kicked off, the German Parliament received the Upcycling Android Open Letter, we discovered that the ambitious plan of the Interoperable Europe Act turned out to be watered down, we celebrated Belgium’s commitment to router freedom, and much more interesting news was out.

Table of contents

1. Youth Hacking 4 Freedom kicks off!
2. German Parliament receives Upcycling Android Open Letter
3. Interoperable Europe Act: an ambition that turned out to be watered down
4. Belgium commits to Router Freedom
5. Take action! Support our “Public Money? Public Code!” initiative
6. And even more!
7. Enjoy reading Ada & Zangemann in French!
8. Quote of the Month
9. Contribute to our Newsletter

Are we ending up in your spam?

It may happen that this newsletter ends up in your spam folder, but you really don’t want to miss the latest news about Free Software in Europe… do you?

In that case, it will be helpful to add our address, newsletter@fsfe.org, to your contact list!

Youth Hacking 4 Freedom kicks off!

After two successful editions, Youth Hacking 4 Freedom, the Free Software Foundation Europe’s coding competition for young Europeans, opens registration for the third round. YH4F 2024 kicks off on 7 December with an opening event. More than €10,000, in cash, will be awarded to the six winners of the 2024 edition.

Help us spread the word and involve the Free Software hackers of future generations! Find out more on the YH4F website.

German Parliament receives Upcycling Android Open Letter

Signed by more than 3000 individuals and by 147 organisations, the Open Letter to European Union legislators was presented by a delegation from the FSFE on 14 November to the Chair of the Digital Affairs Committee at the German Bundestag.

Discover more about what Upcycling Android is about, and the open letter demands!

“So many devices end up on the scrapyard after just two or three years. But the devices are still in good condition and could be made to last with new software. We could bring them back to life, especially with Free Software. It would be a real sustainability effect if we had the right to install any software on any device. That’s why this initiative is absolutely worth supporting.”

— Tabea Rößner, Chair of the Digital Affairs Committee, when receiving the open letter

Interoperable Europe Act: an ambition that turned out to be watered down

Some weeks ago, European decision makers met to agree on the final text of the Interoperable Europe Act (IEA). There is wording that worries the FSFE related to giving priority to Free Software when implementing interoperable solutions and confusing criteria to do so. Overall, what could have been a very ambitious initiative turned out to be another regulation with ambiguous and problematic wording.

In particular, the critical wording refers to different passages in (Art4(5a)). Moreover, the chance for other stakeholders to be part of the governance structure, specifically on the Board, has been removed from the final text. It is currently only up to the Chair to decide if an expert can join the Board as an observer. Read our news item to have a deeper understanding of the FSFE’s concerns.

Belgium commits to Router Freedom

The Belgian telecom regulator BIPT formally introduced Router Freedom nationwide, applying this right to all network types, including fiber (FTTx).

The FSFE celebrates this milestone, especially because of the critical role played by the community. We want to strongly thank the FSFE Benelux team, who proactively monitored and supported communication with the regulator, and also our partners in Italy, who helped us provide prompt responses when the regulator required further input regarding the certification procedures for router interoperability in Italy.

Take action! Support our “Public Money? Public Code!” initiative

Together with 226 organisations and more than 36,000 individuals, we are calling on European politicians to enshrine the principle of “Public Money? Public Code!” across Europe.

We have important months ahead to get closer to this goal: in June, EU citizens will elect a new European Parliament with many new members. We need to reach out to them, as they could have a positive impact on software freedom in the coming years.

It is your support that enables us to continue our daily work for Free Software in Europe. We know that times are tough for many of you, but with a donation you can ensure that we keep advocating for software freedom across Europe with a clear goal: wherever public money is spent on software, the code must be public too! And do not forget to share the PMPC Open Letter!

And even more!

Thanks to the invaluable contribution of our great volunteers, the video “What is Free Software” is now in Esperanto! We will be working to have it translated into more languages! Remember to share this video – in any of the available languages – among your friends and relatives! Help us grow a better and broader understanding of the critical role played by Free Software in our society.

Enjoy reading Ada & Zangemann in French!

“Ada and Zangemann – A Tale of Software, Skateboards, and Raspberry Ice Cream” is now available in French, too! The French translation joins the English, German, and Italian editions. The books make for a wonderful Christmas gift, for children and adults alike.

On the dedicated page, you can buy the book, read the reviews, and see the letters addressed to Zangemann!

Quote of the Month

“Free Software is an important basis for DLR’s software development efforts. […] Free Software helps us to rapidly try out new things because we do not have to develop them from scratch. Besides these more efficiency-related aspects, publishing Free Software in the research domain helps to exchange knowledge inside a research community and between different research communities. In this way, Free Software can be a driver for innovation in research.”

— Tobias Schlauch – Software engineer at DLR (German Aerospace Center)

Contribute to our Newsletter

We would love to hear from you. If you have any thoughts, pictures, or news to share, please send them to us at newsletter@fsfe.org. You can also support us, contribute to our work, and join our community. We would like to thank our community and all the volunteers, supporters, and donors who make our work possible, with a special mention to our translators who make it possible for you to read this newsletter in your mother tongue.

Your editors, Ana and Tommi

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Austria goes against Router Freedom

The Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, RTR, has decided not to regulate the network operators with regard to Router Freedom, allowing ISPs to impose their equipment to consumers. For RTR, routers configured in “bridge mode” is synonymous with terminal equipment freedom. The FSFE laments this decision as a missed opportunity for Net Neutrality in the country.

In 2016, the Net Neutrality regulation established, for the first time in Europe, freedom of terminal equipment for internet connection. It means, in theory, consumers would be able to choose and use their own routers and modems independently from those provided by the internet service providers (ISPs). However, the practical realisation of this right has followed not a linear process, but has been marked by several difficulties, including the 2018 reform of EU telecom law, the implementation of technical rules, and the resistance from national regulators to interfere in the activities of operators. While several countries such as Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, and Belgium have decided on the full regulatory protection of Router Freedom, other EU members have followed other paths, preferring to exclude fiber networks (as Greece and Italy) or deciding completely against freedom of terminal equipment, as in Latvia, Denmark and now Austria.

Consumer protection falls short.

In November 2023, the Austrian telecom regulator RTR has published a decision on the evaluation of Router Freedom and the position of the network termination point (NTP), a demarcation of the limits of the public and private networks. The regulator has concluded to not regulate Router Freedom due to some alleged factors, including the limited usage by end-users of private routers and the enhanced operational costs for network operators. RTR has also claimed that the mere fact that Austrian providers already offer for end-users the possibility to connect their own router to the ISP’s modem in “bridge mode” would signify freedom of terminal equipment. This , as we explain below, is a contradiction in itself. Of particular concern is RTR’s statement affirming that there is currently insufficient evidence of significant restrictions on Router Freedom for a relevant proportion of users (page 3).

A lost opportunity for Net Neutrality

RTR’s position fails to capture the notion of Router Freedom as a fundamental aspect of Net Neutrality, as it has a profound impact on how end-users access the Internet. Router Freedom is the hardware component of Net Neutrality, and its protection should be understood not only from the market perspective, but should embrace its nature as an essential element of the Open Internet.

Formally defining the position of the NTP at Point A would officially include the modem and router under the end-user premises, and the public network would initiate from the plug on the wall. That would signify complete freedom of terminal equipment. RTR’s decision instead only guarantees that end-users can connect their routers to ISPs’ modems in “bridge mode”. Since operators can still impose their modems inside end-users’ premises, it cannot be considered compliant with Router Freedom.

Early on in 2021, when Austria was in the process of implementing the reform of the telecom sector, the FSFE, together with epicenter.works, has urged the Austrian government to safeguard Router Freedom in the new adopted legislation. We have warned back then that in case the decision on Router Freedom would be delegated to the national regulatory agency (RTR) this could lead to solutions against consumer rights and interests.

In 2022,we engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from industry and policy makers to demonstrate why Router Freedom is important for market competition, device innovation, and sustainability. We urged at the time RTR to seize the opportunity to establish Router Freedom in Austria by defining the NTP in a position favourable to consumer interests.

In May 2023, we sent to RTR our report on the Router Freedom survey, demonstrating how Internet Service Providers (ISPs) still hamper consumer freedom of choice, exercise lock-in over internet equipment and promote proprietary devices, negatively affecting consumer welfare, security, privacy and data protection. Although more than 13% of the participants were Austrians, the regulator has not provided feedback on this.

Besides, while other member states regulators have conducted open consultations and produced comprehensive reports and detailed studies regarding Router Freedom, RTR has not provided any relevant data, nor conducted consultation procedures where civil society stakeholders were broadly involved. This lack of transparency negatively affects the monitoring on Open Internet in the country.

The FSFE laments how RTR was not able to find a balance among business, investments considerations, and consumer protection, preferring to align themselves with telecom operators instead of taking a step towards Net Neutrality and Open Internet.

Aiming at the future: there will be room for improvement

As affirmed by RTR, the present decision has not a definitive character, and the regulator will re-evaluate this framework in the future. No deadlines nor a time schedule were informed, though. Although we regret the long period such regulatory decisions normally take place, there will be still room for improvement, and we will continue to closely monitor the situation in Austria.

Zooming out, as an example, in a study conducted on behalf of the European Commission, Router Freedom was considered one of the priorities for the proper implementation of Net Neutrality in Europe. Regulators have to take uttermost account of this freedom when designing their policies for the telecommunications sector. Besides, emerging issues regarding devices, optical fiber networks and satellite connections are still under intense debate on different levels at the EU and member states. Aspects of sustainability of the telecom sector are also been discussed. All those elements have been monitored by the FSFE, and Router Freedom will be an important element for policy making.

The Router Freedom initiative

Router Freedom is the right that customers of any Internet Service Provider (ISP) are able to choose and use a private modem and router instead of equipment provided by the operator. Since 2013, the Free Software Foundation Europe has been successfully engaged with Router Freedom, promoting end-users’ freedom in many European countries. Join us and learn more about the several ways to get involved. Please consider becoming a FSFE donor; you help make possible our long-term engagement and professional commitment in defending people’s rights to control technology.

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SFP#22: All about "Public Money? Public Code!" with Johannes Näder

In our 22nd Software Freedom Podcast episode, we talk with Johannes Näder, Senior Policy Project Manager at the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE), about "Public Money? Public Code!".

The "Public Money? Public Code!" initiative advocates for public bodies to switch to Free Software instead of spending tons of money on proprietary software. The reasons for "Public Money? Public Code!", how the initiative has evolved over the years, and how the FSFE defines its role as a watchdog within the initiative are discussed with Johannes in this episode.

Johannes has been involved with Free Software since the 1990s. In November 2022, he turned his passion for Free Software into his daily bread and started working for the Free Software Foundation Europe. He is, among other responsibilities, the current coordinator of the FSFE’s "Public Money? Public Code!" initiative.

If you have not heard of this initiative yet, or if you don’t know how best to get involved, check out our new Software Freedom Podcast episode and learn all about "Public Money? Public Code!".

Show notes

• Mailing list for German municipalities
• "Public Money? Public Code!"
• Open letter: Publicly funded software has to be Free and Open Source Software.
• TEDective: Find out where the money flow goes in the EU
• Sovereign workspace openDesk: German Ministry of the Interior provides answers

If you liked this episode and want to support our continuous work for software freedom, please help us with a donation.

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