The #Nextcloud server for the Federated Video Co-op Initiative is now fully online.

This marks a major step toward building the kind of organization we set out to create.

From the beginning, the core requirement was clear. Our infrastructure has to be open source. It cannot rely on Microsoft or Google. It cannot depend on any service with vendor lock-in. And it must be hosted entirely in Canada from top to bottom. That meant choosing a platform we can operate ourselves on Canadian hardware under Canadian law with no hidden dependencies. Nextcloud fits that mandate perfectly.

Here’s what this entails:

Nextcloud now serves as the central home for our governance work, documentation, file storage, onboarding, collaboration, project management, and video conferencing. It also includes an excellent email client.

For communication, we are currently testing Nextcloud Talk. At first glance it covers most of our needs. If it ends up falling short, Mattermost is our fallback option. Regardless of where we land for chat, Nextcloud remains the backbone for everything else.

One important clarification. The Signal group chat will not be retired. It continues to serve an important role for quick coordination and informal updates. Nextcloud is the system of record. Signal remains the fast lane for day-to-day back-and-forth.

Everyone who volunteers on an advisory basis will receive a Nextcloud account. These seats are free during the testing period. After three months, there will be a $5/month hosting cost per seat. This keeps the service sustainable and fully operated on Canadian infrastructure rather than relying on the large US tech stacks we are deliberately avoiding.

Most documents within Nextcloud will be made public once finalized. Exceptions will be limited to privacy and monetary matters. For transparency, we now have an open directory where the community can see our publicly viewable documents as they evolve:

https://cloud.fedeo.org/s/Wdt8LDMaE64gaXF

Now that the server is up and running, email updates will resume.

#VideoCoOp #OpenSource #CommunityOwned #Fediverse

I’m organizing the Federated Video Co-op (working name), a Canadian-hosted, member-owned co-operative focused on federated video services. By request, I’m publishing two documents that outline where the project is headed and what needs to be done next.

Roadmap:

This document lays out the full sequence of steps needed to move from foundational principles to incorporation, democratic governance, and eventually a public launch.

https://docs.proton.me/doc?mode=open-url&token=0869CVSJEC&linkId=Xbn_0yKosOxzmuY52kjYogaGp4w_Iy9_BJgSkS4s_DL6qAVYih47fXHBcxDNpklOsLe6GduU_vrnftyUGob04g%3D%3D#eB5Cp3WoeY7n

Bylaw Drafting: Task Plan:

This is a comprehensive task list detailing everything required to produce a legally review-ready set of bylaws, including decisions about the name, domains, and communications channels.

https://docs.proton.me/doc?mode=open-url&token=4Q3JA2D7W4&linkId=qa-kqbuBFHDiq7kWzoiEIK_VaNK2wFpoII61r_rZNjVm5sftCZ74w_Pt3fMIMRTGVZvfzG5U5A1YzNhyHIjF_A%3D%3D#OIUVVX8XvcSY

Both documents are being shared publicly so anyone following the project can see the structure, expectations, and decision points involved. Transparency is essential to how this co-op is being built, and having a shared reference helps ensure that contributors, supporters, and future members all understand how the process unfolds.

If you’re interested in federated video infrastructure, co-operative digital governance, or community-owned alternatives to corporate platforms, you’re welcome to read along and ask questions as the work continues.

#VideoCoOp

Quick heads-up—a fuller update about the proposed co-op will be shared later tonight.

The Steering Committee has agreed that we won’t define ourselves by any single platform. PeerTube will be our starting point, but not our identity.

To reflect that broader vision, we’re changing the working name from PeerTube Co-op Initiative to Federated Video Co-op Initiative.

#PeerTube #cooperative #digitalcommons #VideoCoop