Building Community in the New Millenium Community Information Networks A Penn State Cooperative Extension and Outreach Initiative Bill Shuffstall Extension Agent

A New Age ä “ Information Technology” ä Driven and defined by digital tools ä Human interaction with appliances more natural ä Info is a commodity

Impact Similar to Industrial Age ä Geographic location & distance irrelevant ä Benefit small business & individuals more than big business ä Emphasis on life-long learning

Typical Communities ä Post-industrial economy ä Facing transition to “Information Age” ä Large corporations & universities high tech ä Small bus., local gov., schools, majority of adults low tech ä Nation & State governments & national economy well into transition

Implications for Communities ä Threat - Digital Divide ä inner cities ä rural communities ä Opportunity ä develop Community Information Network ä share benefits of digital appliances

Community Information Networks Wagner and Kubicek Are run by and for the local community, are to serve a clearly defined geographic region, are to address the needs of day-to- day life, are to represent the local culture and strengthen the cohesion of the local community, are provided at no or little cost to the individual.

Community Information Networks Association for Community Networks Community networking occurs when people get together to solve a problem or respond to an opportunity. A community network is a community owned and operated information and communication service that can amplify and support community networking.

Benefits: Community ä Residents/organizations make transition ä access to tools & training ä Efficient use of community resources ä Increased access to education and training ä Economic development ä Others

Benefits: individuals & groups within a community ä Individuals and families ä Local and county officials ä Community groups ä Education administrators and teachers ä Business ä Media

Benefits: Families and Individuals ä Increased opportunities to develop self & family ä Better education & jobs - adults & children ä Broader range of: - entertainment - work -education & training opportunities ä Increased involvement in community ä Opportunities to volunteer IT skills

Benefits: Education ä Provide education & prep for 21st Century jobs ä Enhance teachers’ job & status ä Enhance administrators’ role & status ä Improve home - school communication ä Build collaboration: other schools, colleges, business, government ä Increase ability to deliver workforce training & continuing education ä Reduce IT costs through sharing

Benefits: Not for Profits ä More effective internal & external communication ä More effectively advertise mission & goals ä Serve community by being volunteers teachers ä Increase volunteer interest ä Increase members & donors ä Improved ability to fulfill service mission ä Reduce IT costs through sharing

Benefits: Business ä Local, area, national global access & exposure ä Improve local economy ä Overcome geographic isolation ä Improve access to government & industry contracts ä Reduce advertising costs ä Basis for current & new businesses to address future markets ä Electronic fund transfers

Benefits: Local Government ä Improve communication with public ä Expand hours of service ä Increase public feedback ä Reduce work ä Achieve positive impact on budgets, jobs, local economy ä Accept payments electronically ä Improved access to info from other governments ä Reduce IT costs though sharing infrastructure

Benefits: Media ä Gain access to new, powerful, inexpensive media ä Be a player in the life of the “Virtual Community” ä Ability to expand from local to regional & beyond ä Daily presence in community

CIN Components People Network Infrastructure Info Services Information created by people, network facilitates info sharing Largely invisible, but make communication between people possible Computers & info services store content for access by people Most important: network is a tool to enhance communication

Community Information Network Initiative Process that transitions communities into the “Information Age”

Potter County ä 16,000 pop ä 5 Schools ä 50% St. Land ä Manu & Ag ä Adelphia

Potter County Community Network ä 3 rd year of project ä Task force ä ä Tech Center in N Potter School (plans to open 2 nd in Austin School) ä Volunteer Webmaster ä Annual IT Summer School ä Coudersport Boro going online – Co. Agencies next ä Training for individuals & organizations

Philosophy for Success ä Focus on people not technology ä All residents have opportunity to access & learn to use tools of information age ä Integrate learning into daily life ä Maximize involvement ä Minimize project cost ä Reflects the community

ä Project champion(s) ä CIN Task Force ä Education on use not technology ä Show don’t tell ä Focus on community infrastructure ä Use library or community center ä ID and support local ISPs ä Community support through shared vision Elements of Successful CINs

Project Champion ä Advocate importance and benefits of information technology community leader ä librarian ä teacher ä other ä Charismatic ä Knowledgeable ä Speak in plain, ordinary language

CIN Task Force ä 10 to 20 people who understand benefits & importance ä administrators ä parents ä board members ä business leaders ä community leaders ä Willing to share tasks & responsibilities to achieve goals

Education on Uses/Benefits for: ä Individuals and families ä Government ä Civic organizations ä Media ä Education ä Business

Show, Don’t Just Tell ä Large-scale demonstrations ä Small-group hands-on training ä Tailored presentations for civic organizations ä Hands-on training for key individuals

Community Tech Center ä Place to use network (public building) ä Library ä School ä Community college ä Free public access ä High speed connection ä Computers/software ä Assistance

Focus on Community Infrastructure ä What is available ä Fiber ä Internet service providers (ISPs) ä ISDN ä Cable modem ä etc. ä Start with what is there ä Plan for fastest infrastructure

Identify and Support Local Internet Service Providers ä Crucial to long term community economic health ä Respond quickly to changing technologies ä Important to rural areas (competition & service) ä Increases access options & methods

Community Support ä Shared vision ä Key local players willing to cooperate on community network ä local government- business ä libraries- media ä schools & colleges- agencies ä Others?

Making It Happen “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

Assistance ä Community Information Network Initiative ä CIN Rapid Response Team Penn State Cooperative Extension and Outreach