



GAIA                                                          L. Navarro
Internet-Draft                                                  ISOC.CAT
Intended status: Informational                                  M. Roura
Expires: 7 July 2026                                          eReuse.org
                                                            E. Rodriguez
                                                                TAU/RAEE
                                                              V. Ambrosi
                                                               EKOA/UNLP
                                                          3 January 2026


      Operational Practices for Digital Sovereignty and Meaningful
  Connectivity through Circular Management of User and Network Devices
                draft-gaia-circular-device-practices-00

Abstract

   This document systematizes operational practices observed across
   multiple community-centred deployments that aim to improve meaningful
   connectivity and digital sovereignty through the circular management
   of end-user and network devices.  It is published as an Informational
   RFC on the IRTF stream and does not define Internet standards or
   protocol requirements.

   The document addresses a foundational but often overlooked dependency
   of Internet access deployments: the availability, repairability,
   governance, and lifecycle management of network and user devices
   required to meaningfully use access networks.  It is based on
   operational experience from deployments in Spain, Argentina, and
   Senegal—including eReuse.org, EKOA/UNLP, Solidança, TAU/RAEE, and
   Hahatay.  It describes practices that have demonstrated positive
   access, social, and environmental outcomes.

   These practices are presented as descriptive guidance derived from
   operational experience rather than as normative requirements.  They
   complement research within the IRTF GAIA Research Group by
   documenting reproducible approaches that improve the sustainability,
   autonomy, and long-term viability of Internet access in underserved
   contexts.

Status of This Memo

   This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the
   provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.







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Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
     1.1.  Background and relationship to prior IRTF work  . . . . .   4
     1.2.  Meaningful Connectivity: Context and Frameworks . . . . .   5
     1.3.  Relevance to IRTF GAIA  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   2.  Terminology and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   3.  Problem Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
   4.  Principles derived from operational experience  . . . . . . .   8
     4.1.  Device availability as a foundational layer of access . .   8
   5.  Local capacity, repairability, and digital sovereignty  . . .   8
     5.1.  Collective access models and commons-oriented
           governance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     5.2.  Transparency, traceability, and trust across the
           lifecycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     5.3.  Repairability and lifecycle extension as environmental and
           social strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     5.4.  Privacy and security embedded in reuse workflows  . . . .  10
     5.5.  Environmental responsibility across the full device
           lifecycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     5.6.  Community-rooted governance and social relevance  . . . .  10
   6.  Operational practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
     6.1.  Digitalized circular device management  . . . . . . . . .  11
     6.2.  Repair, training, and capacity building . . . . . . . . .  11
       6.2.1.  Role of GAIA in capacity building . . . . . . . . . .  12



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     6.3.  Alignment with access networks  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
     6.4.  Community-centred meaningful connectivity . . . . . . . .  13
     6.5.  Collective access and commons-based device governance . .  13
     6.6.  Federated registries and cross-community coordination . .  14
     6.7.  Secure data sanitization  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
     6.8.  Architectural considerations for access networks  . . . .  15
   7.  Human rights, security, privacy, and sustainability
           considerations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
     7.1.  Human rights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
     7.2.  Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     7.3.  Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
     7.4.  Environmental and sustainability  . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
   8.  Deployment case studies (Informative) . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
     8.1.  Catalonia and Madrid (Spain): eReuse.org ecosystem and
           social enterprises  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
     8.2.  La Plata (Argentina): EKOA/UNLP programmes integrating
           refurbishment, training, and outreach . . . . . . . . . .  19
     8.3.  Hahatay (Senegal): Device availability and inclusion in
           rural and peri-urban contexts . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
     8.4.  Rosario (Argentina): TAU/RAEE and territorial programmes in
           villas  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
   9.  Replication guidelines  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
   10. IANA considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
   11. Acknowledgements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
   12. References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
     12.1.  Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
     12.2.  Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
   Authors' Addresses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23

1.  Introduction

   *Note to readers*: This document supersedes and replaces the earlier
   Internet-Draft draft-gaia-bcp-circular-device-management-00, which
   explored similar practices using Best Current Practice (BCP) framing.
   This revision reframes the work as descriptive operational guidance,
   consistent with IRTF Informational publications.

   Extending Internet access requires more than deploying network
   infrastructure.  Meaningful connectivity depends on the availability
   of functional, affordable, and maintainable end-user devices (such as
   laptops or smartphones) and, in many deployments, network devices
   (such as routers, switches, or antennas).  In underserved
   communities, limited device availability is often a primary barrier
   to benefiting from existing or planned connectivity.

   Circular device management—encompassing reuse, repair, refurbishment,
   redistribution, and responsible end-of-life handling has emerged as a
   practical response to this barrier.  When combined with community-



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   centred governance and digital traceability, these practices can
   strengthen local capacity, improve access outcomes, and reduce
   environmental impact.

   This document draws on operational experience from:

   *  eReuse.org deployments in Catalonia and Madrid (Spain), involving
      social enterprises and reuse circuits that coordinate donors,
      refurbishers, and recipient organisations;

   *  University-linked programmes in Argentina (EKOA/UNLP), integrating
      refurbishment, training, and community engagement;

   *  TAU/RAEE in Rosario (Argentina), where a specialised cooperative
      carries out device diagnostics, repair, data sanitization,
      refurbishment, and e-waste management, while community centres
      focus on access, accompaniment, and territorial programmes;

   *  Hahatay initiative in Senegal, combining device availability with
      local digital inclusion efforts in rural and peri-urban contexts.

   Several initiatives apply collective access and community-ownership
   models in which devices are managed as shared resources rather than
   permanently transferred private property [Ostrom1990].  Digital
   lifecycle tracking supports transparency, accountability, and
   coordination across donors, refurbishers, and communities, an
   approach analysed in prior research [Roura2025].

1.1.  Background and relationship to prior IRTF work

   This document builds on prior IRTF work that recognizes Internet
   access as a socio-technical system in which protocols,
   infrastructure, governance, and human practices interact.  In
   particular, [RFC8280] established the importance of systematically
   considering human rights impacts during protocol development, while
   [RFC9620] further refined practical guidance for identifying and
   documenting such impacts in IETF and IRTF work.

   While this document does not define or modify Internet protocols, it
   addresses operational dependencies that directly affect whether
   Internet access architectures can be used in ways that respect human
   rights, support sustainability, and enable meaningful participation.
   Device availability, repairability, governance, and lifecycle
   management shape who can access networks, under what conditions, and
   with what degree of autonomy.  As such, these operational practices
   constitute a pre-condition for realizing the rights-aware Internet
   architectures envisioned in prior IRTF research.




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   This document therefore complements protocol-level human rights
   considerations by documenting empirical, deployment-level practices
   that enable human-centred outcomes in real-world access contexts.

1.2.  Meaningful Connectivity: Context and Frameworks

   This document adopts a community-centred understanding of meaningful
   connectivity, aligned primarily with civil-society analyses such as
   those presented in the Global Information Society Watch [GISW2024].
   A multi-dimensional concept encompassing not only technical access
   (infrastructure, connectivity, devices), but also social relevance,
   community agency, cultural and political meaningfulness, inclusive
   governance, and sustainable local ownership.  It recognises that
   connectivity gains value when aligned with community practices,
   needs, and aspirations.

   The ITU Universal Meaningful Connectivity (UMC) framework [ITU-UMC]
   provides an important baseline by identifying six key dimensions:
   quality, availability, affordability, security, device access, and
   skills.  Civil-society work, notably by APC and GISWatch, extends
   this framing by placing greater emphasis on governance, rights,
   social relevance, and community control.  The practices described in
   this document are informed by this broader interpretation.

1.3.  Relevance to IRTF GAIA

   The IRTF GAIA Research Group investigates technical and socio-
   technical approaches to extend Internet access to underserved
   populations.  Device availability, repairability, and lifecycle
   governance form a foundational layer of access architectures and
   directly affect sustainability, resilience, and adoption.

   This document is intended to inform GAIA research discussions,
   architectural exploration, and capacity-building efforts.  It does
   not define protocol requirements and does not mandate compliance.

2.  Terminology and Scope

   This document is published as an Informational RFC on the IRTF
   stream.  It does not specify Internet standards, protocol
   requirements, or compliance criteria.

   Terms such as “should”, “can”, or “may” are used in their ordinary,
   descriptive sense to convey observed practices and lessons derived
   from operational experience.  They indicate patterns that have been
   found effective in specific contexts, rather than mandatory or
   normative requirements.




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   *Circular device management*: Structured processes that enable reuse,
   repair, refurbishment, redistribution, tracking, and responsible
   recycling of devices.

   *Collective access/community ownership*: A governance model in which
   devices are managed as shared resources, with rights of use,
   maintenance, and reassignment defined collectively rather than
   through permanent individual ownership, following a common-pool
   resource governance model.  [Ostrom1990]

   *Community-centred infrastructure*: Digital infrastructure (devices,
   facilities, local organisations, and governance) that is locally
   operated and aligned with community needs.

   *Commodatum (loan for use)*: A form of loan [COMMODATE] in which a
   device is provided to an individual or organisation *for use without
   transfer of ownership*, typically for a defined or renewable period,
   and with the obligation to return the device or allow reassignment
   when the agreed conditions end.

   In circular device management contexts, devices provided under
   commodatum support collective access by enabling maintenance,
   replacement, traceability, and reassignment of devices over time,
   while preserving shared stewardship and accountability.

   *Device*: Any Internet-capable end-user or networking device,
   including laptops, desktops, tablets, smartphones, routers, switches,
   antennas, access points, and IoT equipment.

   *Federated inventory/registry*: A network of interoperable device
   registries that enables transparency, accountability, cross-
   organisational coordination, and scaling without requiring
   centralisation.

   *Meaningful connectivity*: Internet access that is technically
   available, affordable, reliable, socially relevant, and supported by
   skills and agency [GISW2024].

   This document focuses on community/local-scale, decentralised
   practices relevant to access networks, community/local facilities,
   and underserved contexts.  The practices are described to inform
   analysis and deployment, not to mandate implementation or establish
   compliance requirements.

3.  Problem Statement

   Despite investments in access networks, many communities remain
   excluded from meaningful connectivity due to:



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   *  Insufficient availability of functional end-user and network
      devices for households, schools, and community organisations;

   *  Markets dominated by non-repairable or locked-down hardware and
      software preventing device reuse, with short usage cycles followed
      by replacement;

   *  Limited local repair capacity, including insufficient skills,
      limited access to spare parts, and limited tools for diagnostics,
      secure data handling and refurbishment;

   *  Lack of interoperable systems to manage and track device lifecycle
      and accountability across donors, refurbishers, and recipient
      organisations and persons;

   *  Premature disposal of devices, contributing to environmental harm
      and e-waste;

   *  Organisational models that assume permanent individual ownership,
      which can hinder redistribution, maintenance, and re-assignment to
      evolving needs.

   *  Individual private ownership of devices, which complicates
      redistribution and limits scalability.

   *  Lack of digitalized device management/transparency tools limits
      trust among donors and refurbishers, obstructs environmental and
      social impact assessment, and prevents coordinated processing of
      large-volume donations.

   *  Network connectivity alone cannot solve digital exclusion if
      individuals lack adequate network and user devices.

   Operational experience shows that without collective access models
   and digital traceability, communities struggle to pool devices, scale
   refurbishment, assess impact, or establish donor trust and
   accountability [Roura2025].  As a result, access networks alone are
   insufficient to close the digital divide.

   Addressing device availability is therefore a foundational
   requirement for equitable, inclusive, and rights-preserving Internet
   access.









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4.  Principles derived from operational experience

   This section synthesizes recurring patterns observed across multiple
   community-centred deployments involving circular device management
   and access provision.  These principles do not constitute
   prescriptive requirements or normative rules.  Rather, they
   articulate conditions, trade-offs, and enabling factors that have
   consistently influenced the sustainability, autonomy, and social
   relevance of connectivity initiatives in practice.

   The principles are interdependent and should be interpreted
   holistically, as they mutually reinforce (or undermine) one another
   depending on local context, governance arrangements, and resource
   constraints.

4.1.  Device availability as a foundational layer of access

   Operational experience consistently shows that device availability
   functions as a foundational layer of access, rather than as a
   peripheral or downstream concern.  Even where connectivity
   infrastructure exists, the absence of adequate end-user or network
   devices significantly constrains effective use, adoption, and long-
   term impact.

   In practice, access initiatives that explicitly plan for device
   availability—across initial deployment, maintenance, replacement, and
   reassignment—are better able to sustain connectivity over time and
   adapt to changing community needs.  Treating devices as part of the
   access system, rather than as a one-off input, reduces the risk of
   stranded infrastructure and uneven access outcomes.

5.  Local capacity, repairability, and digital sovereignty

   Across deployments, local capacity to diagnose, repair, reconfigure,
   and manage devices has emerged as a critical determinant of
   sustainability.  Dependence on external vendors, proprietary
   restrictions, or non-repairable hardware often introduces long-term
   fragility, cost escalation, and loss of local agency.

   Operationally, initiatives that invest in repair skills, access to
   spare parts, and locally understandable software stacks are better
   positioned to maintain continuity of service and adapt technologies
   to local conditions.  These practices contribute directly to digital
   sovereignty by enabling communities to exercise meaningful control
   over the material and technical components of their connectivity.






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5.1.  Collective access models and commons-oriented governance

   In many underserved contexts, individual private ownership of devices
   has proven insufficient to address issues of scarcity, affordability,
   and unequal access.  By contrast, collective access arrangements,
   where devices are treated as shared resources governed through
   community-defined rules. have enabled higher reuse rates, more
   equitable allocation, and greater resilience to changing demand.

   Operational experience indicates that commons-oriented governance
   models are most effective when accompanied by clear rules for use,
   maintenance, reassignment, and accountability.  Such models shift
   emphasis from ownership to stewardship, enabling devices to circulate
   over time while remaining embedded in local social and institutional
   structures.

   These governance models directly address power asymmetries between
   vendors, buyers, donors, and communities by relocating control over
   devices, maintenance, and lifecycle decisions.

5.2.  Transparency, traceability, and trust across the lifecycle

   Trust among donors, refurbishers, community organisations, and users
   has repeatedly emerged as a prerequisite for scalable and sustainable
   reuse ecosystems.  In practice, this trust is strengthened through
   transparent and traceable device lifecycle management, including
   documented diagnostics, data sanitization, refurbishment steps, and
   transfer histories.

   Digital traceability systems, particularly when open and
   interoperable, support accountability, enable impact assessment, and
   reduce friction among participating actors.  They also allow
   communities and institutions to demonstrate responsible handling of
   devices, which in turn facilitates continued donations and
   institutional support.

5.3.  Repairability and lifecycle extension as environmental and social
      strategy

   Repair, refurbishment, and refunctionalization are not merely
   technical activities, but strategic interventions with both
   environmental and social implications.  Extending device lifecycles
   reduces e-waste, lowers demand for new hardware production, and
   mitigates environmental harm associated with extraction and disposal.

   At the same time, these activities create opportunities for skill
   development, employment, and local value creation.  Operational
   experience suggests that prioritizing reuse over premature recycling



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   or destruction yields the greatest combined environmental and social
   benefits, provided that data protection and safety requirements are
   adequately addressed.

5.4.  Privacy and security embedded in reuse workflows

   Reuse workflows introduce specific privacy and security risks,
   particularly related to residual data, firmware integrity, and
   unauthorized access to device inventories.  Deployments that treat
   privacy and security as integral components of refurbishment
   processes, rather than as afterthoughts, are more successful in
   maintaining trust and protecting users.

   In practice, this includes systematic data sanitization, clear chain-
   of-custody procedures, controlled access to lifecycle records, and,
   where appropriate, mechanisms to detect tampering or
   misconfiguration.  Embedding these considerations early reduces
   downstream risks and reinforces the legitimacy of and trust on reuse
   initiatives.

5.5.  Environmental responsibility across the full device lifecycle

   Environmental responsibility in circular device management extends
   beyond end-of-life recycling.  Operational experience highlights the
   importance of considering environmental impacts across the entire
   lifecycle, including procurement decisions, refurbishment practices,
   logistics, and final disposal.

   Initiatives that integrate environmental considerations throughout
   the lifecycle—rather than focusing solely on waste management—are
   better aligned with broader sustainability goals and regulatory
   frameworks.  This integrated perspective also supports more accurate
   assessment of environmental benefits, such as avoided emissions and
   reduced material extraction.

5.6.  Community-rooted governance and social relevance

   Finally, sustained impact depends on grounding device management and
   connectivity initiatives in local governance structures and social
   priorities.  Deployments that involve communities in decision-making,
   regarding allocation, acceptable use, maintenance responsibilities,
   and future evolution, are more likely to produce socially relevant
   and durable outcomes.








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   Operational experience underscores that “meaningful connectivity” is
   context-dependent: its value emerges from alignment with local
   practices, cultural norms, and collective aspirations.  Community-
   rooted governance enables initiatives to adapt over time, respond to
   feedback, and remain relevant beyond initial deployment phases.

6.  Operational practices

6.1.  Digitalized circular device management

   Observed circular device management systems typically include:

   *  Unique device identification (e.g., labels/QR codes) and lifecycle
      records;

   *  Structured triage, diagnostics, and condition grading;

   *  Secure data sanitization steps recorded in device logs;

   *  Chain-of-custody tracking across donors, refurbishers, and
      recipient organisations and end-user persons;

   *  Interoperability with other inventory and infrastructure systems
      (e.g., ERP, network registries) where beneficial;

   *  Support for processing large-volume device donations or
      procurement across multiple refurbishers to improve throughput,
      quality control, and traceability;

   *  Optional tamper-evident or cryptographically verifiable logging
      mechanisms for accountability in multi-stakeholder ecosystems.

   These capabilities enable transparency and coordinated reuse circuits
   where donors, refurbishers, community and formal local organisations,
   and beneficiary programmes can operate with shared visibility and
   responsibilities.

6.2.  Repair, training, and capacity building

   Effective programmes typically:

   *  Distinguish between specialised refurbishing tasks (diagnosis,
      repair, sanitization, refurbishment) and community-level access/
      accompaniment functions;







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   *  Provide training that combines basic hardware diagnostics and
      repair (electronics), locally sourced spare parts, operating
      system and application installation and configuration (software),
      and practical repair and maintenance tasks;

   *  Use accessible pedagogies that reduce barriers for youth, women,
      and marginalised populations;

   *  Integrate digital literacy and social inclusion objectives
      (education, employability, access to services);

   *  Provide pathways for income generation or employment (e.g., social
      enterprises, cooperatives, paid refurbishment);

   *  Use digital traceability systems to compute environmental
      indicators (e.g., avoided e-waste, estimated CO₂ savings) and
      social indicators (e.g., beneficiary counts, institutions served),
      reinforcing accountability for donors, policymakers, and
      communities.

6.2.1.  Role of GAIA in capacity building

   Operational experience indicates that sustainable connectivity
   depends not only on technology deployment, but also on long-term
   capacity building.  Training programmes that integrate device repair,
   refurbishment, software installation, data sanitization, and
   governance practices are critical enablers of meaningful
   connectivity.

   GAIA can contribute by facilitating knowledge exchange, documenting
   reusable operational patterns, and supporting training materials and
   workshops that link access architectures with sustainability and
   repairability considerations.

   Such capacity-building efforts complement GAIA’s architectural
   research by ensuring that access solutions remain operable,
   adaptable, and rights-respecting over time.

6.3.  Alignment with access networks

   Device reuse is most effective when coordinated with access-network
   deployments by:

   *  Including network equipment (routers, switches, antennas, access
      points) in lifecycle tracking where relevant;

   *  Aligning device availability with connectivity provision (so
      devices reach users and institutions that can connect);



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   *  Supporting local repair and reconfiguration of networking
      equipment where feasible;

   *  Tracking performance and replacement cycles to reduce downtime and
      avoid stranded access infrastructure.

   This document does not assume the presence of a specific access
   infrastructure.  The practices described apply to contexts where
   connectivity is provided through a variety of access models,
   including commercial, community-driven, institutional, or any other
   access facilities.

6.4.  Community-centred meaningful connectivity

   Connectivity initiatives may:

   *  Engage communities in defining meaningful use for them (education,
      work, health, services, civic participation, cultural expression,
      etc.);

   *  Combine devices, skills development, and governance to build
      holistic digital ecosystems;

   *  Support shared facilities (community centres, libraries, schools)
      and collective access models where appropriate, rather than
      assuming all access is under individual ownership;

   *  Design for social inclusion: enable participation of
      underrepresented groups (women, minorities, youth, adults),
      account for cultural and linguistic diversity, and empower
      communities to use connectivity for their own goals (education,
      civic engagement, small-scale enterprises, local content creation,
      environmental monitoring, etc.);

   *  Respect local agency and context, enabling adaptation of workflows
      and priorities over time;

   *  Include feedback loops and governance mechanisms to evolve
      deployments according to expressed community needs.

6.5.  Collective access and commons-based device governance

   Where appropriate, communities may treat devices as a shared commons.
   Implementations of collective access typically include:

   *  Assigning use-rights instead of permanent ownership to individuals
      or organisations;




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   *  Allowing devices to circulate across multiple users and community
      spaces over time;

   *  Establishing clear governance rules for allocation, maintenance
      responsibilities, reassignment, and end-of-life decisions;

   *  Using open-source digital tools to track device history,
      condition, transfers, and responsible recycling;

   *  Embedding accountability mechanisms so actors (donors,
      refurbishers, community managers) can verify device provenance and
      lifecycle steps.

   This model has been validated operationally in reuse ecosystems and
   formalised in prior research [Roura2025].

6.6.  Federated registries and cross-community coordination

   Federated device registries may be used to coordinate reuse across
   organisations and regions while preserving local governance.  Such
   registries can support:

   *  Distributed metadata sharing and device lookup;

   *  Cross-organisational coordination for batches and surplus devices;

   *  Shared accountability while avoiding centralised control;

   *  Federation across communities with different legal, operational,
      or cultural contexts.

   *  Multi-stakeholder governance.

   Federation is essential when devices flow across regions,
   institutions, and countries.

6.7.  Secure data sanitization

   When devices are refurbished for reuse, data sanitization follow
   recognised good data sanitization practices such as ITU-T L.1081
   [ITU-T-L1081].  Implementers select and apply appropriate methods
   (e.g., clear, purge, or destruct) depending on media type and
   sensitivity, before reuse or redistribution.

   Implementations maintain documented chain-of-custody logs and
   sanitization records (preferably digitally linked to device lifecycle
   entries) to provide verifiable proof of data erasure, increase donor
   trust, and protect privacy.



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   Where feasible, refunctionalization (refurbishment and reuse) is
   preferred over destruction, consistent with circular economy and
   environmental sustainability goals [ITU-T-L1081].

6.8.  Architectural considerations for access networks

   The practices described in this document imply architectural
   considerations relevant to GAIA research, including:

   *  Device availability and repairability as part of the access
      architecture, not an external dependency.

   *  Federated registries as a decentralised control-plane component
      for device lifecycle management and accountability
      (verifiability).

   *  Alignment between network deployment lifecycles and device
      deployment and lifecycles.

   *  Reduction of centralised/remote dependencies through local
      maintenance and governance.

   These considerations may inform future research on access network
   architectures, operational sustainability, and resilience.

7.  Human rights, security, privacy, and sustainability considerations

   Consistent with [RFC8280] and [RFC9620], this section identifies how
   the operational practices described here can be understood as
   affecting human rights outcomes through their influence on access,
   agency, sustainability, and autonomy at the device and infrastructure
   layer.

7.1.  Human rights

   Device availability and governance affect:

   *  The ability of individuals and communities to access and benefit
      from the Internet;

   *  Autonomy and self-determination through repairability, reuse, and
      local capacity;

   *  The right to privacy and data protection in shared or reused
      devices;

   *  Environmental justice in communities impacted by resource
      extraction and e-waste.



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   Device availability and governance affect rights-related outcomes
   through operational risk vectors, including:

   *  Limited availability of functional devices leading to constrained
      access and informational agency;

   *  Inadequate data sanitization creating exposure to unauthorized
      data disclosure;

   *  Non-repairable or vendor-locked devices reducing autonomy and
      local self-determination;

   *  Inequitable disposal practices contributing to environmental harm
      for vulnerable groups.

   Circular device management practices mitigate risks associated with:

   *  Data leaks resulting from inadequate data sanitization;

   *  Surveillance risks arising from persistent identifiers, firmware,
      or misconfigured software;

   *  Exclusion caused by vendor lock-in or non-repairable hardware;

   *  Unsafe, informal, or inequitable disposal of electronic waste.

   By documenting operational practices that address these dimensions,
   this document contributes deployment-based evidence to ongoing IRTF
   efforts to integrate human rights considerations into Internet-
   related research and practice.

7.2.  Security

   Security risks include compromised devices, malicious firmware,
   insufficient data erasure, unauthorised access to inventories, and
   forged device histories.  These risks can undermine trust in reuse
   and reduce access sustainability.

   Security risks include:

   *  Tampered with or compromised devices;

   *  Malicious firmware;

   *  Insufficient data erasure;

   *  Unauthorized access to device details in inventories and
      registries;



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   *  Forged or altered device histories.

   These risks can undermine trust in reuse ecosystems and shared
   devices, and directly reduce access sustainability.

   Recommended mitigations include:

   *  Verified testing and refurbishment workflows;

   *  Secure firmware reinstallation and configuration baselines;

   *  Cryptographic or tamper-evident logging where appropriate;

   *  Role-based access control for lifecycle systems;

   *  Periodic auditing and peer-review among participating
      organisations.

7.3.  Privacy

   Reuse systems should apply:

   *  Data minimization and least-privilege access;

   *  Local-first and decentralized architectures;

   *  Strong sanitization and verification practices;

   *  Transparent documentation of data handling;

   *  Encryption for sensitive metadata where stored or transferred.

   Device identifiers should be abstracted or scoped appropriately when
   feasible to reduce long-term cross-context correlation risks.

7.4.  Environmental and sustainability

   Circular device management reduces [Roura2026]:

   *  Demand for new hardware;

   *  Raw material extraction;

   *  CO₂ emissions, land and water polution from manufacturing;

   *  e-waste in vulnerable communities;





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   while increasing economic inclusion: build financial opportunities,
   increase economic independence, and create sustainable income
   sources.

   Reuse and refurbishment (after secure sanitization) SHOULD be given
   priority over disposal.  By enabling safe refunctionalization of
   devices that would otherwise be discarded, communities reduce e-waste
   and environmental harm, consistent with circular economy principles
   and L.1081 guidance that supports reconditioning over destruction
   [ITU-T-L1081].

8.  Deployment case studies (Informative)

   This section describes deployments by [EREUSE] in Spain, [EKOA-UNLP]
   and [TAU-RAEE] in Argentina, and [HAHATAY] in Senegal, that
   illustrate how these practices are applied in diverse contexts.

8.1.  Catalonia and Madrid (Spain): eReuse.org ecosystem and social
      enterprises

   The eReuse.org ecosystem coordinates reuse circuits that connect
   donors (public and private organisations), social refurbishers,
   recyclers, community organisations, and beneficiaries [EREUSE].
   Typical operational characteristics include:

   *  Intake of unused devices through institutional donation channels;

   *  Structured diagnostics, refurbishment, and grading by social
      enterprises;

   *  Digital lifecycle traceability through open-source inventory
      tooling, supporting transparency and accountability;

   *  Allocation of refurbished devices to individuals and organisations
      through models that may include subsidised pricing, sponsorship,
      and collective access arrangements;

   *  Measurement approaches that support reporting of environmental and
      social outcomes (e.g., devices reused, avoided e-waste,
      beneficiary reach).

   eReuse deployments also experiment with collective access and
   ownership: devices may remain part of a shared pool and be
   redistributed as needs evolve, rather than being permanently assigned
   to individuals, increasing reuse cycles and long-term availability
   [Roura2025].





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8.2.  La Plata (Argentina): EKOA/UNLP programmes integrating
      refurbishment, training, and outreach

   EKOA at the National University of La Plata (UNLP) operates
   university-linked initiatives that integrate refurbishment, training,
   and outreach [EKOA-UNLP].  EKOA manages its own production plant for
   refurbished technological equipment.  Observed characteristics
   include:

   *  Involves students, faculty, non-teaching staff, researchers, and
      extension practitioners linked to university ecosystems, who
      perform activities within and outside the e-waste management and
      refurbishment plant, including diagnostics, repair,
      refunctionalization, and data sanitization.

   *  Refurbished devices are distributed to schools at all levels,
      community kitchens and food distribution centres, NGOs, hospitals,
      health centres, fire brigades, social organisations, university
      students, Indigenous communities, migrants, older adults, and
      other vulnerable communities.  Devices are typically delivered
      under loan-for-use (commodate) or chain-of-custody arrangements.

   *  The plant serves as a reception and training site for students
      from technical secondary schools and university students, who
      engage in training activities, work-based learning experiences,
      and student's projects.

   *  The plant is also a training space for cooperatives of urban
      recyclers, empowering youth and adults with practical skills
      across the device and WEEE management chain.

   *  Training activities are organised with equitable participation
      across genders.

   *  Environmental responsibility is integrated through secure channels
      across the WEEE management chain and promoted to donors and
      beneficiaries of refunctionalized devices.

   *  Device reuse is generally linked to digital literacy programmes
      and territorial initiatives that provide benefits to the wider
      community (e.g., hospitals, fire brigades, public services).

   *  The initiative includes environmental education projects aimed at
      primary and secondary schools.







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8.3.  Hahatay (Senegal): Device availability and inclusion in rural and
      peri-urban contexts

   The Hahatay initiative addresses device scarcity in rural and peri-
   urban contexts where new hardware can be unaffordable or unavailable
   [HAHATAY].  Observed characteristics include:

   *  Sourcing and reusing devices as a practical prerequisite to
      meaningful connectivity;

   *  Integration with community programmes that support digital
      literacy and community benefit;

   *  Emphasis on locally appropriate maintenance and operational
      continuity.

   These contexts highlight the importance of aligning access-network
   plans with device availability and repair capacity to avoid stranded
   infrastructure.

8.4.  Rosario (Argentina): TAU/RAEE and territorial programmes in villas

   TAU/RAEE operates a community-embedded ecosystem in and around
   Rosario [TAU-RAEE].  A specialised cooperative (TAU) carries out the
   technical processes of diagnostics, repair, data sanitization,
   refurbishment, and e-waste management, while community centres and
   territorial programmes focus on access, accompaniment, and local
   participation.

   Observed characteristics include:

   *  A cooperative of young workers (TAU) manages the e-waste and
      refurbishment plant where diagnostics, repair, and data
      sanitization are carried out.

   *  Community centers do not perform the technical refurbishment
      themselves, but act as access and coordination points.

   *  Training programs empower youth and adults with practical skills.

   *  Refurbished devices are redistributed to schools, families,
      cooperatives, and social organizations, generally under cession-
      of-use schemes rather than as permanent donations, including
      maintenance and replacement, to preserve traceability.

   *  Inclusive pedagogical approaches prioritize women and
      underrepresented groups.




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   *  Environmental responsibility is integrated through safe recycling
      channels.

   *  Device reuse is connected to digital literacy programmes.

   These community-driven refurbishing and connectivity efforts embody
   community-centred meaningful connectivity: devices and networks are
   locally governed, refurbishment and reuse are collective, and
   infrastructure is shaped by community needs and practices, not by
   vendor-driven or top-down deployment.  [GISW2024]

   This model demonstrates how circular device management can be
   sustainably embedded in informal settlements and marginalized
   communities.

   This case illustrates a division of labour model that can be
   replicated: specialised refurbishers/cooperatives ensure technical
   integrity and sanitization, while community organisations ensure
   access, inclusion, and community-centred governance.

9.  Replication guidelines

   Organisations seeking to replicate these practices should consider:

   *  Establishing partnerships among donors, specialised refurbishers,
      community organisations, and (where relevant) access-network
      operators;

   *  Deploying open-source, interoperable inventory tooling to enable
      traceability and accountability;

   *  Developing training pathways (diagnostics, software installation/
      configuration, repair, sanitization, responsible e-waste
      handling);

   *  Selecting appropriate governance models, including collective
      access to devices where it improves equity and sustainability;

   *  Aligning device availability with connectivity provision and local
      access conditions;

   *  Defining privacy and security controls, including sanitization
      verification and role-based access to inventories;

   *  Establishing impact reporting for environmental and social
      outcomes to maintain trust and continuous improvement;

   *  Comply with WEEE management and re-functionalisation regulations.



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10.  IANA considerations

   This document has no IANA actions.

11.  Acknowledgements

   The authors thanks the participating communities and organisations
   whose operational experience informed this document, including
   eReuse.org, with Solidança [SOLIDANCA] and ReutilizaK as member
   social enterprises, EKOA/UNLP, TAU/RAEE, Hahatay, and the community
   organisations and beneficiaries involved in deployment, training, and
   reuse circuits.

   The authors also acknowledge the contributions of Juan Flores
   (Reutilizak), Daniel Florin (Solidança), David Franquesa
   (eReuse.org), Sergio Giménez (hahatay.org), and Pedro Vilchez
   (eReuse.org), whose practical experience and insights informed the
   development of the practices described in this document.

12.  References

12.1.  Informative References

   [RFC8280]  ten Oever, N. and C. Cath, "Research into Human Rights
              Protocol Considerations", RFC 8280, DOI 10.17487/RFC8280,
              October 2017, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8280>.

   [RFC9620]  Grover, G. and N. ten Oever, "Guidelines for Human Rights
              Protocol and Architecture Considerations", RFC 9620,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC9620, September 2024,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9620>.

12.2.  Informative References

   [COMMODATE]
              Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "Commodate",
              <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commodate>.

   [EKOA-UNLP]
              Universidad Nacional de La Plata, "EKOA programme
              website", <https://ekoa.unlp.edu.ar/>.

   [EREUSE]   eReuse.org, "eReuse.org initiative website",
              <https://ereuse.org/>.

   [GISW2024] Association for Progressive Communications (APC),
              "Meaningful connectivity: What does 'meaningful' mean in
              the context of the Internet?", Series Global Information



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              Society Watch (GISWatch), 2024, <https://gisw.org/en/
              internet-governance-civil-society-participation-internet-
              rights/what-does-meaningful>.

   [HAHATAY]  Hahatay Network, "Hahatay community initiatives website",
              <https://hahatay.network/>.

   [ITU-T-L1081]
              International Telecommunication Union, "Recommendation
              ITU-T L.1081: Good practices for the sanitization of the
              information storage media in end-of-life ICT user
              devices", July 2025,
              <https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-L.1081>.

   [ITU-UMC]  International Telecommunication Union, "Universal
              Meaningful Connectivity Framework",
              Publisher International Telecommunication Union, 2022,
              <https://www.itu.int/itu-d/sites/projectumc/home/
              aboutumc/>.

   [Ostrom1990]
              Ostrom, E., "Governing the Commons: The Evolution of
              Institutions for Collective Action", Publisher Cambridge
              University Press, 1990.

   [Roura2025]
              Roura, M., Navarro, L., and R. Meseguer, "Reuse of ICT
              devices as commons: a property rights and governance model
              for collective access", Journal ACM Journal on Computing
              and Sustainable Societies, 2025,
              <https://doi.org/10.1145/3770067>.

   [Roura2026]
              Roura, M., Navarro, L., and R. Meseguer, "Assessing the
              impacts of computer reuse for digital inclusion from
              product information", Journal Cleaner Production Letters,
              Volume 10, Article 100123, 2026,
              <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clpl.2025.100123>.

   [SOLIDANCA]
              Solidança, "Solidança social enterprise website",
              <https://solidanca.cat/>.

   [TAU-RAEE] TAU/RAEE, "TAU – Gestión de Residuos de Aparatos
              Eléctricos y Electrónicos", <https://tau.org.ar/raee/>.

Authors' Addresses




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   Leandro Navarro
   ISOC.CAT
   Barcelona
   Spain
   Email: leandro@ereuse.org


   Mireia Roura
   eReuse.org
   Barcelona
   Spain
   Email: m.roura@ereuse.org


   Eduardo Rodriguez
   TAU/RAEE
   Rosario
   Argentina
   Email: eduardorodriguez@tau.org.ar


   Viviana Ambrosi
   EKOA/UNLP
   La Plata
   Argentina
   Email: viviana.ambrosi@ekoa.unlp.edu.ar

























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