Table of Contents
Previous Chapter
Table of Contents
Previous Chapter
1. Currently Free-Net is community based in its administration, resources, and content. It is aimed at low-end computer users. It addresses entry-level services. It develops computer literacy, and promotes the notion of connectivity. Victoria's Free-Net is the oldest Free-Net in Canada. It is funded by donations in kind, contributions, and small grants and administered by volunteers.
2. Once the users are up-to-speed they require more throughput (bandwidth), more on-line time (compared with the usually 30 minutes per day allowed by the Free-Nets), and more services. History has shown(1) that Free-Nets serve to increase the demand for more advanced commercial services.
3. It began with the launching of the paper "Building a Federal Science and Technology Strategy" on June 28, 1994 and ended with a National Conference in Ottawa, October 12, 1994. One of the three broad objective, Quality of Life, discussed in these documents calls for universal access to the growing body of public information. Without this access proper and effective decision making is not possible for Canadians.
4. taken from May 1994 through September 1994. The draft report of this consultation recommends "that the government assist in the development of Free-Nets throughout the province to promote community information networks; increased computer literacy, and new employment opportunities."(2)
Table of Contents
Next Chapter
Foad Shodjai shodjai@sfu.ca Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology (CPROST) Simon Fraser University Vancouver, BC, CANADA