Frequently Asked Questions

How can we start a Community Network?

Several very good planning guides are available for groups creating CNs. They include:

The Community Network Planning Guide from the Blacksburg Electronic Village, Virginia. Includes a "Checklist for Success," slogans like "Education, not technology!", and a list of suggested target groups from which to recruit users.
Missouri Express Resource Guides. Detailed guides for groups starting community networks. Advice on "Developing an action plan," "Partnering for success," "Deciding what is worthy community information," "Developing guidelines and policies," and "Developing a financial plan," among other things. Clear narrative, detailed task checklists, generous interlinking among the guides, and bibliographies of both print and online sources make this an indispensable resource.
Center Start-up Manual from CTCNet. A step-by-step handbook for starting a Community Technology Center. Format is largely Q&A (How long will it take to create a CTC? What will the steering committee do? Where should the CTC be located? How can a CTC reach its target audience?), with very detailed answers. Specific examples of actual CTC projects, sample forms and schedules, and templates for a business plan are just some examples of the level of detail involved.
Action Plans for Starting Community Networks provides annotated links to planning documents and articles, many from other Community Networks. This is part of the project "Educational Partners: Enhancing Internet Use in Rural Illinois."

During the CN-planning process, your group should work through the following questions, which were suggested by Susan Myrland of Interactive Media Management:

People

Who will lead the project and be its champion?
Who will be the day-to-day administrator?
Who are the project beneficiaries? What skills do they have? What do they need?

Process

What information needs are you filling? How do you know?
Who will provide the content? Will it be provided on a website, email, print, or all of the above? What language(s) or reading level does it need to be in?
How will the system operate (both the technical system and the management system)?
How will you provide ongoing training for your staff and your clients?
How will you publicize the project in order to reach out to new users and establish your legitimacy?
How will you adapt to changes in the environment (technology, marketplace, legislative)?
How will you evaluate progress? How will you know when you've succeeded?

Technology

How will you provide access - dial-up, public terminals, dedicated lines, or all of the above? Will you do this internally or contract with an Internet Service Provider?
Who will provide and maintain hardware and software? Will it be donated or new?

And, for all of the above, how will you support the project financially? (Click here for an answer to this one)

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