MTN & Portals
From:
Catherine Settanni
Date:
2007 Nov 12 16:57 UTC
Short link
Hundreds of Minneapolis residents cited the critical need for local,
community-based Internet content to be made available via the USI Wireless
Minneapolis network as part of the Community Benefits Agreement
process/meetings held in 2006-2007.
The "Civic Garden"(Portal Project) provides for this resource, FREE-- to all
who can get the wireless signal (or have a wireless modem). This is for ALL
city residents, not just USI Wireless Network or other Internet subscribers,
and is a great way to introduce Internet use to new users (especially new
Immigrant families who currently don't use the Internet for a variety of
reasons).
USI wireless is fully supporting the project as per the contract, by providing
the server, access to the login page, and technical support. In addition,
they've contributed 20K in additional funds to help get the interim portal
pages built out in advance of the December launch. The contract does not call
for USIW to provide any financial support. It should also be noted that this
private company is essentially offering a free level of Internet service to all
Minneapolis residents, which is incredibly valuable. They have NO editorial
control or say over any content decision-making related to this project; the
sites included were selected as a result of community surveys (collected both
on and off-line) over the past 24 months.
Actually, the contract does not say who should pay for the Portal project, or
where the money will come from--but it does say that any revenues that derive
from it must be used to support the further development of the Portal/Civic
Garden, and train community content producers.
It's important to understand that the Portal project was identified as a
critical component of the Community Benefits Agreement(CBA). Residents who
participated in CBA efforts represent a diversity of disenfranchised
communities who understand that social and economic inclusion now depend on
"digital inclusion"-- which the Minneapolis Digital Inclusion Task Force
defined as including (free) access to online community content and resources.
.