Core Principles for Community Networking

Towards the Radical Center...

I think at times that we forget or stray from the core principles that are often unstated, but, nevertheless, critical to community networking. I believe that the community networking community needs to concentrate on these core principles and make them a more prominent part of what we do and say. As many of you know, I feel that there is a struggle for the soul of cyberspace and our work has never been more critical. The following list captures some of the principles that, I feel, we must endorse. Each item on the list is important and each item is something the average person can both understand and support.

• Universal access to communication infrastructure
• Strengthenig civic society and civic values
• Focus on the underserved, economically disenfranchised
• Fundamental right to privacy
• Opposition to media concentration
• Support of diverse, alternative, and marginalized voices
• Partnerships with civic organizations and instituions
• Commitment to strong democracy
• Freedom of speech and expression
• Access to government information
• Build the systems on local needs using local people and organizations as co-developers

Community networking is a potentially an important civic asset, like public education, free fire and police protection, and public libraries. For that reason I believe that it is our duty to establish an unabashedly idealistic program and build a strong and active constituency around it. Without this dedication, it's just a hobby...

I am anxious to hear your reactions - both positive and negative - to these core principles. Thanks!

--- Doug Schuler (click here to send a note.)

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