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What IS Community Networking?

Community Networking is best defined by the elements that make it up.

• Public Access to electronic networks
• Creation and maintenance of local content
• Public training for users
• Technical support
• Combination of electronic and face-to-face interaction
• Premium placed on collaborations

Many networks combine individual public access workstations with computer centers. The applications Community Networks provide are as varied and different as the networks. Some provide any mix, or all, of these:

• Dial-up access
• Public-access computers
• Computer Technology Centers (with all of their varied traditional services, such as literacy training, basic computer training, after-school tutoring, etc.)
• Workforce training
• Citizen engagement
• Community and Economic development
• Nonprofit support services, including office networking, software training, technical support, etc.
• Small business incubation
• Web site hosting for nonprofits and governments
• Web site development
• High-technology aggregation
• Technology and strategic planning services and support, especially for nonprofits
• Experimental development with new technologies, such as wireless, e-books and so forth
• Reduce isolation (social, interpersonal, geographic, economic)