Community Networks: History and Update

Presented by Alaina Kanfer

alaina@ncsa.uiuc.edu

http://www.ncsa.edu/edu/trg

Prepared for Learning Community 2000 Task Force

Community Networks: History and Update

What is the Internet?

Exponential Growth of the Internet

Free-Nets: A Way to Connect the Public (1980’s)

The concept catches on: (1990’s)

Everyone is doing it! (Today)

Not everything is coming up roses for community networks.

WHY Build Community Networks?

CONNECTIONS!

What audiences are community networks reaching?

What content are communities putting online?

Who is putting information online?

Cities that incorporated online by registering their domain name had more information.

Cities with more information are less likely to become ghost towns.

How to avoid becoming a Ghost Town in Cyberspace?

Community Network Networking Resources

URL’s