LincolnNet Visit

View the powerpoint presentation on the LincolnNet Visit

Overview

In the fall of 1995, Governors State University received a grant from the US department of commerce to support the development of a public information and communication network for the metropolitan region south of Chicago. The main products of this project are the LincolnNet, and internet based system and Lincoln InfoLine, telephone based system.

Purpose & Vision

#1 What was the need(s) for a community network? What are the benefits?

Needs? This regional electronic network grew out of the needs from a project called RAP 2000+ (Regional Action Project). The network focuses on improving communication across the region. Another focus of the project was to improve the image of the south metro area and awareness that the south metro is a community rather than just many little towns.

Benefits? They feel that they have made a significant impact on regional issues and concerns and have increased regional communications. They give free access and storage on the web server for any area non-profit organization. A telephone network (called InfoLine) is also available for all citizens.


#2 What is the mission of your community network? Vision? Purposes? Long range plan? Definition? Any print materials to share?

Structure & Organization

#3 What is the governance structure? Are there division (education, government, business, health care, etc.)? Who are the organizers?

During the RAP 2000+ project there were the following divisions:

  1. Communication, Partnership, and Image Action Team
  2. Economic and Social Diversity Action Team
  3. Education and Training Action Team
  4. Environment and Resource Action Team
  5. Health and Well-Being Action Team
  6. Jobs and Economic Development Action Team
  7. Transportation, Land Use and Regional Planning Action Team

These action teams are no longer meeting, instead the Governors State University has taken the leadership role for the project. Their staff consists of approximately 10 university staff members and graduate students.



#4 Who are the contact people for any of the following:

Web presence? Each information provider maintains their own pages

Community bulletin board?

Telephone system - suzzane prescott

#5 How do you recruit community leaders who are willing to "champion" the cause of the network on behalf of all citizens?

Through the RAP 2000 project , they had hundreds of area citizens, business partners, educators, and more who were involved in the 18 month project related to regional planning.


#6 What role does the Chamber of Commerce serve?

Very little, although they have a web page.


#7 Who were your early pioneers and partners? How did you recruit and expand to new participants?

The early pioneers were all of the members of RAP 2000. During the development of the LincolnNet project they recruited various special interest groups to participate.

#8 What applications are available for the following partners and who are the contact people for each area:

Government- information about local government , contact information

Education -

Social Services

Health Care - HIV Hotline, listing of mental health services, zip code based directory of other health services.

Recreation - listing of area park and recreations systems

Library - listing and contact information about local libraries.

Employment - Job Net, arranged by county, it is a listing of the employment offices

Funding

#9 How is your network funded? Any tax? Fees? Grants? Foundations? How do you sustain your network?

LincolnNet and Lincoln InfoLine are both funded by a grant from the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program from the National Telecommunications and Infrastructure Administration (NTIA)

Their grant funding is running out and they are currently looking for funding from a local community trust and/or the MacArthur Foundation.

Training & Support

#10 What training is provided? By whom? Volunteers or salaried staff? Any printed materials to share?

Staff from GSU (Governors State University) handle the technical support.

When a group or individual contacts them wanting to be an information provider, the following happens……

  1. the information provider is sent (by mail) a packet containing information on settings for dial up access, HTML material, and how to step up their e-mail program.
  2. If they still have questions, they can call or email the helpdesk at the University, which is handled by a graduate student.
  3. If they still have problems, they can sign up for a ½ help session that is run once a month.

They also run two separate classes for producing web pages and uploading web pages on to the server.

#11 What technical support is provided? By whom? Volunteer or salaried staff? Any printed materials to share?

Users have the following options…..

  1. call into the university to speak with graduate students at the help desk
  2. send e-mail to the help desk at the university


Web Presence

#12 Who handles your web page updates? How often are they updated? Are there any requirements for maintaining a presence on your community web site?

Karyn Purvis handles all of the web page updates, and then each information provider updates their own pages. On the telephone system, each information provider can enter their password through the system, and then vocally record their information as often as needed.

Do you use volunteers? How are they recruited? Trained?

No

Do you have a salaried staff? Who? What are there responsibilities?

Yes, but not full time. The staff for LincolnNet is also paid staff for the University. Their responsibilities are divided between technical support, training, and web page development.

Infrastructure

#13 What geography does your network encompass? What are your boundaries? How were they determined? Who is the network provider? ATM, fiber, POTS, ISDN, etc.? Are they overlaps or conflicts?

There is a T-1 that runs into the university, and then they have dial up access which is available for the information providers.

Miscellaneous

#14 What has been 3-5 of your greatest successes/results?

#15 What have been your greatest challenges? What did you do that you would never do again?