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What is Freedom to Connect?

Freedom to Connect (F2C) was a conference focused on internet policy, broadband access and the future of communications networks. The site at Freedom to Connect documents the 2015 edition, held March 2–3 in New York City.

What it covered

Rather than a trade show, F2C was a discussion-oriented gathering. Typical topics included:

• Broadband deployment and competition
• Network neutrality and regulation
• Community and municipal networks
• Open internet advocacy and digital rights

Who it was for

The audience was mainly policy analysts, advocates, telecom researchers, technologists and journalists — people who follow how connectivity is governed and funded. It is less suited to general consumers seeking service plans, and more useful to those tracking the arguments and people shaping access policy.

Trade-offs

The format favoured conversation and context over product announcements, so it may be valuable for understanding debates but not for hands-on technical training. Because the site centres on a single 2015 event, it functions as an archive of that moment rather than an ongoing organisation or current news source.

When and where does Freedom to Connect 2015 take place?

Freedom to Connect 2015 is scheduled for March 2 and 3, 2015, in New York City (NYC). The event is presented by Freedom to Connect, whose site serves as the conference's information hub.

For attendees, this means a two-day program in a major East Coast tech and media center, which typically makes the event accessible by air, rail, and local transit. The NYC location also places it near a dense community of internet policy advocates, network engineers, and communications researchers who often participate in this kind of gathering.

If you are planning around it, treat March 2–3 as the core dates and check the official site for the specific venue, daily schedule, and registration details, since those logistics are not included in the supplied information. The site is best suited to people deciding whether to attend, arranging travel, or following the conference remotely.

Who organizes Freedom to Connect?

Freedom to Connect is organized by the Freedom to Connect project itself, associated with David Isenberg. The site Freedom to Connect presents the event as a two-day gathering held on March 2 and 3, 2015, in New York City. It is best understood as a small, discussion-oriented conference about internet policy, open networks, and communications regulation rather than a large commercial trade show.

Its audience typically includes technologists, policy advocates, academics, regulators, and journalists who follow broadband competition, network neutrality, and digital civil liberties. Because the event is organized around talks and conversation, attendees usually value direct access to speakers and other participants over a large exhibition floor.

The main trade-off is scale versus intimacy: a focused program may make it easier to meet people and follow a coherent theme, but it generally offers fewer vendor booths, product launches, and broad industry sessions than a major convention. The 2015 New York City edition, as described on the site, is suited to people who want substance and debate rather than spectacle.

What topics are discussed at Freedom to Connect?

Freedom to Connect (F2C) is a conference focused on internet policy, broadband access and the future of communications networks. Based on its program, discussions typically center on:

• Broadband access and affordability — expanding high-speed internet to underserved communities.
• Network neutrality and open internet rules — regulatory and technical debates.
• Municipal and community networks — local alternatives to incumbent providers.
• Spectrum policy and wireless — how airwaves are allocated and used.
• Surveillance, privacy and security — civil liberties in networked systems.
• Media and telecom regulation — the role of agencies and legislation.

The audience is mainly policymakers, advocates, researchers, technologists and industry professionals rather than general consumers. Sessions often combine policy analysis with practical case studies, so attendees can compare approaches across regions and markets.

A trade-off worth noting: the event's policy-heavy, advocacy-oriented framing suits people who want deep regulatory context, but it may offer less hands-on technical training than a developer or engineering conference. The 2015 edition was held March 2–3 in New York City, as reflected on Freedom to Connect. For broader context on internet governance debates, resources such as Electronic Frontier Foundation and Internet Society cover related themes.

Who typically attends or speaks at Freedom to Connect?

Freedom to Connect (F2C) was a discussion-oriented conference focused on internet policy, broadband access and the future of communications networks. Its audience typically included people who work at the intersection of technology, regulation and public interest.

Typical attendees

• Internet service providers and network engineers
• Telecom and media policy analysts
• Civil liberties and digital rights advocates
• Government regulators and legislative staff
• Academic researchers and journalists covering technology

Typical speakers Speakers were usually practitioners rather than pure marketers: broadband entrepreneurs, municipal network builders, FCC officials or former officials, consumer advocates, and technologists working on open standards and network neutrality. The format emphasised debate and candid conversation, so participants often included people with opposing views on regulation and competition.

Why this mix mattered Because F2C was small and discussion-driven, it suited people who wanted direct exchange with policymakers and industry peers rather than a large vendor expo. Attendees could expect sessions on broadband deployment, spectrum, privacy and the economics of connectivity.

For context on the broader policy conversation, see Electronic Frontier Foundation and Public Knowledge. The event itself was listed at Freedom to Connect.

Is Freedom to Connect open to the public?

Yes, Freedom to Connect is presented as an open public conference rather than a private or invitation-only gathering. The site describes a two-day event held on March 2 and 3, 2015, in New York City, and its framing as a conference about internet freedom, broadband policy and communications suggests anyone interested in those topics could take part.

For a general audience, that openness matters in a few practical ways:

• Attendees can expect a mix of policy advocates, technologists, journalists, researchers and industry people rather than a single closed membership.
• Speakers and panellists typically appear in public sessions, so the discussions are meant to be heard and reported on.
• Access is usually handled through registration or ticketing rather than by invitation, though the site does not spell out prices or attendance limits.

The trade-off is that an open format can feel broad and discussion-heavy, which suits people who want debate and networking more than hands-on training. Those seeking a small, curated or vendor-specific programme may find it less focused. Because the site does not publish detailed attendance rules, prospective attendees should treat "public" as the general intent and confirm specifics directly.