The Internet
The Internet is a worldwide communications network for sending, storing and receiving information - like a cross between a library, canada post and the telephone system.
The Vancouver Community Network owns and operates a free, publicly accessible, non-commercial computer utility in the Lower Mainland of B.C. which provides a public space on the internet.
- Vancouver Community Network, online 1994, first as Vancouver FreeNet, changed name in 1996.
- Cleveland started in '86, FreeNet trademark became restricted.
- Non-profit society, charitable status - July '96, Federal Court of Appeal - landmark decision.
- AGM in November, Board of Directors (Alison - Chair), committees, accountable to members.
We try to create a publc space, outside of state or corporate control, on the internet for people and groups to meet and organize around their shared concerns.
Funding
- Mostly from memberships and donations (we encourage users to join us!)
- Also project grants: TVW, CAP, CLN, Volnet, City, Gaming, Vancouver Foundation
Technical
Server @ VPL, Sunsparc 20 & Sun IPX, T1 connection shared with VPL, 3 modem sets.
In practice we:
- Help new users get online affordably, and with ease (especially those with access barriers: women, poor people, and others)
- Provide Public Access terminals for those without computers, Library, community centres, etc. (phone line costs are prohibitive)
- Emphasise community information (from non-profits) online Community Pages
Provide affordable training, phone-line support and personal help
- Volunteer opportunities: Board/committees, Public Access, User/Training Support, Community Content Development, Administration
Users
5700 individuals, 800 groups, 600 Langara students; all different dial-in, time online.
- Email: - individual to individual/group messages - private - like mail/phone - can 'cc'
- Newsgroups - discussion groups on topics of interest - public - hobby group newsletter.
- Web - information posted in pages - library - receive - mainly one way - read/look
- Dial-in graphics, FTP, telnet, disk space
Registration: - 2 components - both electronic and paper
- Online: login as guest, register with real name, loginID short, follow directions
- Signature acknowledging User Agreement, picture ID or pre-printed cheque
Membership
We encourage everyone to join, $25/year. However, if you have a low income it's $15, and if you can't afford that, we'll take a donation - we depend on your honesty to pay what you can afford - even if you don't give us anything you can still use the system - though we can't survive without membership support.
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