For this report, TLC joined Philly Community Wireless on an install in Kensington to learn more about their work .
Author: Andy Stutzman
October 31, 2025
It’s a well known fact that high-speed internet access is expensive. There are programs that help make it affordable, however, as many Philadelphians struggle with subscription fatigue, even $10-15 a month is unaffordable. Philly Community Wireless (PCW) tackles this issue by working with local communities in North Philadelphia to provide free wireless access to both private residences and public spaces.
PCW was founded over five years ago by a group of community organizers, including current Executive Director Alex Wermer-Colan, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially starting out in the Norris Square neighborhood and expanding out to Fairhill and Kensington, PCW has been working with community leaders to identify public spaces and residential buildings to provide free wireless access. Over six years ago, PCW partnered with the internet service provider (ISP) PhillyWisper to provide broadband access through a fixed wireless solution using a line-of-sight transmission beamed from high rises in the area. PhillyWisper donates the bandwidth and install support allowing PCW to create what are commonly referred to as mesh networks.
I was grateful to assist PCW with an installation in Kensington to provide wifi to the community members served by a local non-profit organization. Volunteering with PCW is easy and it doesn’t require prior IT experience, though it can be helpful. I signed up for a quick virtual meeting with Leanne
Pryzbylowski, PCW’s Community Outreach Manager, where we reviewed the mission of the organization, the type of work involved, and the expectations of volunteers. This process allows for both potential volunteers and PCW to see if they are a good fit for each other. After reviewing the volunteer forms and connecting with their Slack community, I was asked to assist with the install. I met Leanne and PCW’s Technician, Eugene Ryoo, at their office within the Norris Square Neighborhood Project. We reviewed the safety protocols, the tools required for the job, and the equipment being used. Joining us were volunteers Chelsea Davis and Andre Mauro, and PCW’s apprentice Francisco Oquendo.
Chelsea, an IT major at Penn State, and Andre a local programmer, have been volunteering with PCW to both assist the community and learn new skills. Francisco, having grown up in Kensington, is in an apprenticeship program with the Urban Technology Project.
Our install that day was in Kensington at a multi-tenant row home alongside the Market-Frankford el. Row homes, especially with multiple units, are often some of the most difficult installs. The buildings are usually older and renovations over the years can further complicate the ability to run cables and mount equipment. This install proved to be on the more difficult side of projects that PCW encounters. The project involved the installation of a LiteBeam antenna by PhillyWisper as well as several access points and a network router. However, accessing the third-story rooftop required a series of four different ladders and permission from the neighboring building to use their rooftop as a throughway. And, running the necessary cables proved a challenge with an older building facade and a low ceiling basement full of spider webs. This challenge was not for the faint-of-heart, but the PhillyWisper technicians Kara and Lindsay, along with our volunteers didn’t shy away from the work.
I wasn’t sure of where I could be most helpful, but I worked with the PCW leaders to strategize on how to handle the difficulty of the installation. I soon found myself climbing multiple ladders and pulling up the equipment and supplies needed to install a radio, wireless access point, and router on the rooftop. As the install progressed, we pulled various lengths of ethernet cable and Francisco patiently taught me how to crimp the RJ45 clips to the raw cable. Francisco proved to be a remarkable teacher. He closely inspected my work and gave me tips that made the task so much easier. Francisco’s eagerness to learn and share his skills with others is a testament to the team at PCW and the leadership at the Urban Technology Project.
As witnessed by my first volunteer experience, each installation requires a level of nuance. They also have to negotiate roof access with developers and building owners, coordinate schedules with PhillyWisper, and rally volunteers for the day. All of which can take much longer than expected. However, the success that PCW has seen overshadows all of these challenges. This includes the incredible impact they’ve had in public spaces, especially with local community gardens. Working with groups such as Iglesias Gardens and Open Kitchen Sculpture Garden, PCW provides access to the community to research plants, install internet dependent monitoring devices, and training programs. It also allows for public areas to become digitally connected third spaces where community members can safely gather and spend time.
Since my experience, I’ve begun attending PCW’s weekly virtual volunteer meetings. The volunteers on the call were all extremely techy (birds of a feather). They were also passionate about their work, with one volunteer enthusiastically sharing his own skills with making new ethernet cables. The nature of the call truly showed how much of a grassroots organization they are. Whether it’s the grit of their volunteers, their community-centric purpose, or their passion to connect people, there’s something innately “Philly” about PCW.
One of the frequent questions the organization has is around security. Is a free wireless network secure? PCW states on their website that the network is secure, but the public should use the same precautions they would use when accessing any public wifi network at the library or a cafe. They also offer security in that they do not track or sell any data from users of their network. PCW only tracks the number of connections and traffic patterns to make sure the network is being utilized and to track any potential issues with installed network equipment. Their policy to safeguard user privacy is also why they value their partnership with PhillyWisper who also promises to not track or monetize user data. PhillyWisper states on their website, ”We believe that privacy is a basic right that our customers are entitled to.”
Seeing the response from local community members has been very rewarding for PCW. This includes their impact in gardens where youth farm stands use the access for their point-of-sale system, installing PurpleAir monitors to provide real-time data on air quality, and where access allows the community to interact with cultural installations by Villa Africana Colobó.
The Technology Learning Collaborative is proud to have PCW as a member and to share the incredible work they’ve accomplished. If you’re interested in volunteering your time, contact Leanne Przybylowski to learn more. Volunteering can be assisting them with installs, organizing equipment and supplies, or assisting at community outreach events. You can also support the organization through a financial contribution. Learn more about Philly Community Wireless through a 2022 documentary produced by Big Picture Alliance.