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Nature and roles for community networks in the information society

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Abstract

This paper draws on the authors more than 10 years of involvement in the action research experience of the Milan Community Network. It discusses the roles that community networks play in the Information Society: starting from a neat characterization of “online community”, community networks are presented as ICT learning communities, as local online communities and as complementary to Digital Cities. Finally, critical insights into institutional aspects of community networks are considered from the perspective of their sustainability.

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Notes

  1. Although we prefer the term network society (see Castell 1996) to emphasize the role the net plays in shaping the society nowadays, in this paper we use the term Information Society which is the expression adopted by the European Union and several other international bodies, including the United Nations (e.g., within the WSIS, the World Summit on the Information Society).

  2. www.retecivica.milano.it.

  3. Actually:

    • the core attributes number 1, 2 and the non-core attributes number 1 can be grouped in point 1 (to notice that core attribute number 2 is less stringent here)

    • the core attributes number 4 can be grouped in point 2;

    • the core attributes number 3, 5 and the non-core attributes number 2, 3, 5 can be grouped in point 3;

    • point 4 introduces the technological infrastructure;

    • the possible controversial non-core attributes number 4, 6, 7 are not explicitly mentioned.

  4. From a post by Steve Cisler within the GCNP (Global Community Networking Partnership) mailinglist.

  5. Unfortunately, KMS (knowledge Management Systems) are still very expensive and, because of this, generally out of reach for a CN.

  6. Worldwide examples of CNs rooted into dispersed areas are: the initiatives of several rural Indian regions (see Blattman et al. 2003), Austin Freenet (www.austinfrre.net)—Texas is the second USA rural region, after Alaska—OYK—North Karelia community network (www.oyk.fi) in Finland, and—in Italy—VOLI (the Comunità Montana della Valcamonica network).

  7. We are not saying that online discussions can substitute face-to-face meetings: we have simply observed that, while the traditional socialization places (including bars, trade unions, etc.) loose part of their role due to the changes in people working lifes, the net in general, and a community network locally rooted in particular, can offer a (partial) alternative to the loss of socialization places.

  8. We use here the term Digital Cities as a synonym of the city web site, in the same way as it has been used in the yearly Survey made by CENSIS—the most important Italian social survey body (see, for instance RUR, DFP, Formez and Censis 2003).

  9. All these possibilities for the public sector are reported in a document presented in 2000 by the President of Young Entrepreneurs (see: Garrone 2000).

  10. (Schuler 1996) discusses several organizational alternatives putting them in relationship with alternative funding policies.

  11. In 2007 the citizens participants were about one hundred, schools members were six and non profit association were nine.

  12. This shift from local to global can of course be motivated and defended on the basis of considerations about the world globalization. However, it is our opinion that this often hides the difficulties encountered in managing Community Networks and guaranteeing their sustainability.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the community members who collaborated in redefining the RCM mission and the RCM staff who supported our work with their tenacious, continuous and indefatigable efforts. We also want to thank the editor of this issue and Doug Schuler for their comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Community Informatics Laboratory, Department of Informatics and Communication, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Comelico, 39-20135, Milan, Italy

    Fiorella de Cindio & Laura Anna Ripamonti

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  1. Fiorella de Cindio
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  2. Laura Anna Ripamonti
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Correspondence to Fiorella de Cindio.

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de Cindio, F., Ripamonti, L.A. Nature and roles for community networks in the information society. AI & Soc 25, 265–278 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-009-0261-y

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