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Topics:
Civic Communication
Community
Networks Sidebar 1
A
Participatory Medium
September
28, 1993
Tom Grundner, the
originator of the Cleveland Free-Net and the National
Public Telecomputing Network (NPTN) describes computing
networking as a "fourth
media" [15]. "It's not radio,
It's not television,
It's not print, but it has characteristics of all three."
He goes on to say that the main distinction is that community
networks are interactive. People can interact with each
and with the issues
of the day. Community networks promote participation
in the following ways.
Community-based.
Since the systems are community based, the participants
have aspirations, needs, and issues in common. The
shared nature of the system promotes participation because
everybody is involved.
Reciprocal. Any potential
"consumer" of information, commentary,
issues, or questions is a potential "producer" as well.
Compare this to television news programs where an organization
numbering in the hundreds dispenses its version of the
news to people numbering in the tens of millions. In the
United States this
consumer-producer ratio is steadily shrinking.
According to Ben Bagdikian [3],
"twenty-three corporations
control most of the business in daily newspapers, magazines,
television, books and motion pictures."
Contribution-based.
Forums - both moderated and unmoderated - are
based on contributions from participants. Any input to the
forum becomes part
of the forum itself - a record which can be printed,
distributed further, or acted upon.
Unrestricted. Anyone
can use the community network. Furthermore,
users have maximal freedom from control on their postings.
There are usually limitations on postings that are harassing,
libelous, or criminal, however.
Accessible and Inexpensive.
The systems are readily accessible from
a variety of public as well as private locations.
Furthermore, the systems are free of charge or have a very low
charge.
Modifiable. Since
software is the substrate for community networks,
they are (at least potentially) modifiable in several ways.
Users can actually design or co-design new user interfaces
or services. The openness of the Internet substrate,
for example, has promoted the development of numerous
wide area information servers such as gopher, WAIS, and
WWW, while encouraging ongoing evolution.
Community
Networks Sidebar 2
Electronic
Access
Not available.
Community
Networks Sidebar 3
Organizations
Not available.
Community
Networks Sidebar 4
National
Public Telecomputing Network
September
28, 1993
After the
success of the Free-Net model in Cleveland, people from
all over the world began to make inquiries about establishing
Free-Nets in their cities. Soon there were other Free-Net sites
in
the Midwest. The idea that Free-Nets could be established in a
number of cities linked into a broader network became
institutionalized into NPTN - the National Public Telecomputing
Network - under the guidance of Tom Grundner, the originator of
the
Cleveland Free-Net. NPTN is a nonprofit organization that helps
develop free, public-access community systems and helps to
integrate them into a common network. NPTN also helps to develop
and make available "network-quality" information and services
via
"cybercasting" to all NPTN affiliates. Currently there are over
20
NPTN affiliates who coordinate operational Free-Nets and over
60
organizing committee" that intend to establish Free-Nets in their
cities. The NPTN "Blue Book" [16]
is an excellent introduction to
Free-Nets and describes the vision, the motivation, and the actual
tasks involved in building a Free-Net.
The "Academy One" program designed to promote K-12 education using
networking technology is an important example of an NPTN service.
Academy One events have included "Kid Trek", for young science
fiction writers, "Teleolympics" where scores of local athletes
are
compared with those from other locations using the network, and
"Project Common Ground" "to improve the environment and to foster
a
student voice in the affairs of their communities."
Community
Networks Sidebar 5
Community
Network Survey Information
Not available.
Community
Networks Sidebar 6
Clearinghouse
for Community Network Information
Not available.
Community
Networks Sidebar 7
Research
Issues for Community Networks
September
28, 1993
Community
networks can be a focus for academic research. For
example, faculty members from several schools and colleges at
the
University of Washington identified six broad areas for research.
Developing collections of courseware, information, and
services that can be made available electronically and
effectively accessed and used by large numbers of community
members.
Developing
user interfaces and information retrieval methods
that promote effective access to a wide variety of information
types (including text, graphics, voice, video, and datasets)
from remote sites.
Exploiting
existing wide area information servers for sharing
of information over a wide area as well as working with
prototypes and next-generation information sharing
applications.
Conducting
research on usage patterns and individual and
collective on-line behavior.
Developing
and evaluating models for effective learning and
collaboration over distances.
Developing
policy frameworks and analysis methodologies.
Community
Networks Sidebar 8
Principles
of the Seattle Community Network
September
28, 1993
The Seattle
Community Network (SCN) is a free public-access
computer network for exchanging and accessing information. Beyond
that, however, it is a service conceived for community empowerment.
Our principles are a series of commitments to help guide the
ongoing development and management of the system for both the
organizers and participating individuals and organizations.
Commitment to Access -
Access to the SCN will be free to all.
We will provide access to all groups of people particularly those
without ready access to information technology.
We will provide access to people with diverse needs. This may
include special-purpose interfaces.
We will make the SCN accessible from public places.
Commitment to Service -
The SCN will offer reliable and responsive service.
We will provide information that is timely and useful to the
community.
We will provide access to databases and other services.
Commitment to Democracy -
The SCN will promote participation in government and public
dialogue.
The community will be actively involved in the ongoing
development of the SCN.
We will place high value in freedom of speech and expression and
in the free exchange of ideas.
We will make every effort to ensure privacy of the system users.
We will support democratic use of electronic technology.
Commitment to the World Community -
In addition to serving the local community, we will become part
of the regional, national and international community.
We will build a system that can serve as a model for other
communities.
Commitment to the Future -
We will continue to evolve and improve the SCN.
We will explore the use of innovative applications such as
electronic town halls for community governance, or electronic
encyclopedias for enhanced access to information.
We will work with information providers and with groups involved
in similar projects using other media.
We will solicit feedback on the technology as it is used, and
make it as accessible and humane as possible.
Community
Networks - Sidebar 9
The
Art of Conversation
1. Remain
silent your share of the time (more rather than less).
2. Be attentive
while others are talking.
3. Say what
you think but be careful not to hurt other's feelings.
4. Avoid
topics not of general interest.
5. Say little
or nothing about yourself personally but talk about
others there
assembled.
6. Avoid
trying to instruct.
7. Speak
in as low a voice will allow others to hear.
Henry Sedgewick's
seven rules quoted in [Oldenberg REF]
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