Community
Networks

by Malabika Das

Network Notes #28
ISSN 1201-4338
Information Technology Services
National Library of Canada

March 31, 1996

I. Introduction

Community networks are often identified by a variety of names including: community-based computer networks, community computing, community telecomputing, community bulletin boards, civic networking, public access networks, telecommunity systems, community information systems, CivicNet, and Free-Net ¹. Although the names differ, at the heart of each is a "community network" -- a central computer that is dedicated to storing, retrieving, and relaying information to other computer networks via modems and telephone lines. Users accessing a community network must dial in with their computers and log on (either as a guest or a registered user) before accessing information of interest.

Essentially, a community network provides an open place for individuals, organizations and institutions to communicate, interact, and exchange information and ideas with each other. Most community networks draw on a wide range of subject expertise in many areas and provide the community with access to electronic mail, bulletin boards, and discussion groups. The emphasis for such networks is on local issues and local interests. Some networks also provide their users with access to the Internet; however, this service is not always guaranteed. Provision of Internet service may be too expensive and may not match the goals of a community network (which is to focus on local topics).

Because a community network may be viewed as a service to its community, the network's impact often depends on its content and organization. This Network Notes will briefly describe the design, purpose, and content of community networks. Future Network Notes will examine the concept of a "Free-Net" and its relationship to a community network.

II. Current Designs & Purpose

Community networks often have similar goals -- the technological choices made when designing the system have a strong influence on who uses the network, how and why they use it. The most important technological and policy choices that can shape a community network include ²:

• System capacity -- this is represented by the amount of memory and the number of simultaneous users the system can support;

• Accessibility -- this is the number of public terminals made available (e.g., free access in public space) and the cost of implementing private terminals;

• Information content -- this involves commercial content (e.g., advertising) versus non-commercial content (e.g., public announcements);

• Editorial control -- this is represented by complete control (e.g., the system owner controls the standards and content) versus a common carrier system (e.g., the users of the network determine the content);

• Ownership -- this may be private, public, nonprofit, or a combination of the three;

• Financing -- this may be public, commercial, subscription or a combination; and

• Architecture of the communications channels -- this may be one-to-one (e.g., e- mail provides instantaneous communication with minimal regard to hierarchy), one-to-many or broadcast (e.g., one source posts information for many people to view), or many-to-many (e.g., such as an ongoing electronic discussion group on how to improve neighborhood safety).

Other characteristics of community networks include their low budgets, emphasis on local ownership, and maintenance by volunteers. Often, these networks rely on donations (such as cash, equipment, or volunteer time) to assure their survival. Moreover, involvement of citizens at the local level ensures that content on these networks is uniquely relevant to the needs of the local user community.

III. Content

Community networks offer a variety of information and communication resources that are of interest to the local community. For example, they provide access to social service agencies and professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants; they offer the means to discuss civic issues publicly through electronic conferences or forums; and they offer e-mail to participants ³. The following is a sample list of the types of information currently available on community networks ⁴:

• Bus schedules

• City legislation/regulations

• Class schedules

• Employment opportunities

• Events calendars

• Health information

• Index to local newspapers

• Library catalogues

• Motor vehicle renewals

• World and national news

IV. Examples of Community Networks

The following examples briefly identify three communities that have chosen to implement the concept of community networking. Each network or system selected is specific to that community. Therefore, it specifically serves the needs of its users; many other communities are choosing to model their networks after these examples.

Community Memory (Berkeley, California)

Community Memory was the world's first community network system. It was created to address the growth of digital information and was conceived as a tool to help strengthen Berkeley community ties and to provide online access to those individuals without ready access to information technology ⁶. Essentially, the system's goal was to provide "strong, free, non-hierarchical channels of communication" to revitalize the community; this was done by setting up terminals throughout the community, including libraries and laundromats ⁷. Some interesting points to note about this system are its:

• unique source of funding -- terminals are coin-operated. They may be read without charge, but require 25 cents to post an opinion and a dollar to start a new forum;

• anonymous use -- users are not required to use their own names and they do not have to register to use the system;

• lack of central authority to establish what information is available. Thus, topics are mostly local issues; and

• lack of support for outside information. Information is not imported from other sites, such as Internet newsgroups.

Cleveland Free-Net (Case Western University)

The Cleveland Free-Net was the first "Free-Net" community network developed in response to a growing need to disseminate electronic information. Originally started as a bulletin board service (or an electronic question-and-answer forum) devoted to medical topics, it grew to such proportions that the developers of the system decided to expand the Free-Net to include other topics of interest to the community. All Free-Nets use a city metaphor (where buildings represent certain functions) to orient their users; however, these metaphors vary according to each community's needs. For example, the Cleveland Free-Net uses "The Government Center" as an area to place information about federal, state, and local governments. Here, users will find such items as the Constitution and similar documents, a list of names and telephone numbers of federal, state, or county representatives, a list of government hotlines, national weather reports, etc.

Some points to note about this system are its:

• availability -- it is universally available, 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Access to the network is limited only by computer down-time and the number of ports available;

• accessibility -- it is "free" if one accesses the system with one's own computer and modem. For non-computer owners, Free-Nets generally have terminals available in public places such as libraries; and

• appropriateness or suitability for clientele -- this is represented by the extent to which a Free- Net is meeting community information needs.

Big Sky Telegraph is more specific than the previous two models; its focus is to overcome some of the problems of rural areas related to sparse population and long distances between communities. Originally started as a method of supporting community development in the rural West, the network also helped reduce the isolation of rural teachers by linking rural schools and libraries. Big Sky Telegraph strives to use appropriate technology to demonstrate a "low cost, low tech, high imagination, scaleable networking model" with an emphasis on education, economic opportunity, and self-sufficiency ⁸. Essentially, this community network models itself on a telegraph metaphor; information is sent from one person through the phone lines (e.g., to a certain distance) to another individual, who may respond by broadcasting a reply or by sending an e-mail back to the sender. Hence, information is viewed as a two-way communication device. Some other points to note about this system are:

• basic services are free; however, one must pay for e-mail ($50/year) and full Internet access is available for educationally-affiliated subscribers only;

• there is editorial control. All material must be suitable for the Kindergarten to Grade 12 environment (K12); and finally,

• it is run mostly by volunteers; however, there are also a few paid workers who are responsible for administrative duties.

2. Guthrie & Dutton (1992); cf. Beamish, A. 1995

3. Beamish, A. 1995. Communities on line: Community-based computer networks. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Located at: http://alberti.mit.edu/arch/4.207/anneb/thesis/toc.html

4. Toms, E.G. 1994. Free-Nets: Delivering information to the community. Public Libraries, 33, 311-315.

5. Cisler, S. 1993. Community computer networks: Building electronic greenbelts. Located at: Anonymous ftp: ftp.apple.com /alug/communet..

6. Schuler, D. 1994. Community networks: Building a new participatory medium. Communication of the ACM, 37(1), 39-51

7. Ibid.

8. Schuler, D. 1994. Community networks: Building a new participatory medium. Communication of the ACM, 37(1), 39-51.