Three Ways to Revive Community Networks

Hint: There's not much time...

Background: A couple of years ago I wrote an essay called " Three Ways to Kill Community Networks", which, according to reports, has been distributed as a cautionary tale to community network developers in the US and in Canada.

At the Telecommunities Canada meeting in Edmonton (1996) I presented the murderous methods as well as three suggested antidotes which I've listed below. I hope they are also useful!

Three Ways to Revive Community Networks

Think of Community Networks...

As unfinished works
- Think creatively
- Get user feedback continually
- Introduce new technology
- Work with people working with other media
- Never give up!
As community projects
- Develop collaborative and integrative projects
- Stress civil society and civic values
- Partnerships with civic organizations
- Build a community of community network developers
- Build systems that support local needs with local people
As part of a social movement
- Build on shared principles
- Support universal access
- Focus on the underserved
- Oppose media monopolies
- Support diverse, alternative, and marginalized voices
- Don't be afraid to compete
- Don't be afraid of politics

Note: Extended play version is currently under development.

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