We correct the proof of the main $\ell$-independence result of the above-mentioned paper by showing that for any smooth and proper variety over an equicharacteristic local field, there exists a globally defined such variety with the same ($p$-adic and $\ell$-adic) cohomology.

In this article we study various forms of $\ell$-independence (including the case $\ell =p$) for the cohomology and fundamental groups of varieties over finite fields and equicharacteristic local fields. Our first result is a strong form of $\ell$-independence for the unipotent fundamental group of smooth and projective varieties over finite fields. By then proving a certain ‘spreading out’ result we are able to deduce a much weaker form of $\ell$-independence for unipotent fundamental groups over equicharacteristic local fields, at least in the semistable case. In a similar vein, we can also use this to deduce $\ell$-independence results for the cohomology of smooth and proper varieties over equicharacteristic local fields from the well-known results on $\ell$-independence for smooth and proper varieties over finite fields. As another consequence of this ‘spreading out’ result we are able to deduce the existence of a Clemens–Schmid exact sequence for formal semistable families. Finally, by deforming to characteristic $p$, we show a similar weak version of $\ell$-independence for the unipotent fundamental group of a semistable curve in mixed characteristic.

We address the question of lifting the étale unipotent fundamental group of curves to the level of algebraic cycles and show that a sequence of algebraic cycles whose sum satisfies the Maurer-Cartan equation would do the job. For any elliptic curve with the origin removed and the curve , we construct such a sequence of algebraic cycles whose image under the cycle map gives rise to the étale unipotent fundamental group of the curve.