SCN: Big Community Networks study

[Doug Schuler]

Here is some news on a less depressing note than our 
festering legal infection...

-- Doug


   For Immediate Release
   June 22, 2000
   Contact: Morrie Goodman (202)482-4883
   Ranjit de Silva (202)482-7002
   Art Brodsky (202)482-0019
   
   COMMERCE SECRETARY DALEY ANNOUNCES CONTRACT AWARD FOR STUDY ON
   VIABILITY OF COMMUNITY NETWORKS
   
   Study is one of several Administration initiatives to close the
   digital divide.
   
   WASHINGTON -- Commerce Secretary William M. Daley today announced the
   award of a $100,000 contract to the Center for Civic Networking of
   Friday Harbor, Wash., to study the sustainability of community
   networks, often the only means by which communities without access to
   information technologies can get information on health, public safety
   and community services.
   
   The contract is one of several Clinton/Gore administration initiatives
   designed to help close the nation's digital divide, the gap between
   Americans with access and those without access to information
   technologies -- tools critical to economic success and professional
   advancement.
   
   "Community-based organizations can help us achieve our goal of closing
   the technology gap because each community knows best how to reach and
   connect its citizens," Secretary Daley said in announcing the contract
   award. " Often, community networks are the only way communities
   without ready access to information technologies can access
   information on health, public safety, community services, or economic
   development," he said. "This project will provide crucial information
   on how to keep community networks viable," he said.
   
   The project will focus on locally-based, non-profit or public sector
   entities specializing in public access networks supporting civic
   participation, community economic development, health and human
   service delivery, and the arts. Topics to be addressed include
   "Creating Demand Aggregation" and "Managing Organization Change,"
   among others.
   
   The contract, which was signed today, was awarded by Commerce's
   National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The
   project's goal is to provide information about how existing community
   networks adjust to the changing environments in which they operate,
   thus helping them to remain effective and robust.
   
   NTIA's [1]Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) awards grants for
   model projects demonstrating innovative uses of network technology,
   and has accumulated a significant body of knowledge about the creation
   and management of network technology. The present contract is the
   fifth in a series of contracts awarded by TOP for research and
   evaluation on the diffusion of telecommunications and information
   technology applications in the public and non-profit sectors.
   
   NTIA serves as the principal adviser to the executive branch on
   domestic and international telecommunications issues.
   
   The [2]Center for Civic Networking (CCN) is a non-profit organization.
   
   
   ###
   
   
   Ranjit de Silva
   Director, Public Affairs
   National Telecommunications & Information Administration
   U.S. Department of Commerce
   14th & Constritution Avenue NW
   Washington, D.C. 20230
   Tel: (202) 482-7002
   Fax : (202) 219-2077
   Internet: RdeSilva at ntia.doc.gov

References

   1. http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/top/index.html
   2. http://civic.net/ccn.html

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