Introduction
The context for NCF’s focus for 2003 includes NCF’s mission statement and traditions, the wishes of current members (who are NCF’s owners) and potential members, and the desires of NCF sponsors and partners.
NCF’s mission statement
The National Capital FreeNet is a free, computer-based information sharing network. It links the people and organizations of this region, provides useful information, and enables an open exchange of ideas with the world. Community involvement makes FreeNet an important and accessible meeting place, and prepares people for full participation in a rapidly changing communications environment.
Current wishes of NCF’s member-owners and potential
members
Information collected from a survey of NCF’s members in
February 2000 (http://www.ncf.ca/ncf/survey/)
and from other sources indicates that NCF’s member-owners are diverse, but there are large numbers who are thought to want
one or more of the following:
Services:
·
Most
members want NCF to continue in its niche as a low-cost, fair value internet
service provider, and generally accept that this means less than
state-of-the-art equipment and less than commercial grade of services.
·
Most
members want reliable dial-up access (no busy signals, no interruptions, no
time limits), but recognize that low-cost implies possible modem-sharing at
peak periods.
·
Most
existing members and probably all new members want PPP (which enables internet
services, such as web browsing, email, personal names, instant messaging, streaming
media, newsgroups, etc)
·
About
one thousand existing members enjoy the simplicity and community feel of
FreePort-based services (text access, which can be used with even the most
modest computers).
·
Storage
for personal web pages and files.
·
No
advertising, no spam.
·
New
services such as POP email and webmail – without advertising.
·
Improvements
of NCF's "people-helping-people".
·
A
place to become involved in the community by discussion in a public forum.
·
A
place to collaborate (private, with friends, or publicly), eg., file exchange,
instant messaging, discussion.
·
The
ability to use (potentially expensive) software packages over the network
without having them installed on one’s own computer (“Internet Desktop”)
Organizational
Tone and Image:
·
Most
members want a good atmosphere online (in newsgroups, web pages, instant
messaging, etc).
·
Most
members want to be part of (a member of) an organization perceived to be
"good" and "reputable". To be proud of being part of
NCF. To be proud of an email address or home page linking the member to
NCF. To be part of an organization that has a reputation for "doing
good things".
·
To
feel like their donation is well-spent and earned. To feel good about
donating. That people care about NCF.
·
To
feel that NCF provides people with an opportunity to volunteer, thereby improving
their skills and having an avenue for contribution. To feel that their
contributions are effective, appreciated and rewarding.
In
2000, NCF secured two multi-year agreements that fund new services for NCF
members and the National Capital region.
One agreement is with Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) and the
other is with Industry Canada, via the Ottawa Centre for Research and
Innovations (OCRI), as part of OCRI’s “SmartCapital” project. By the terms of the agreements, both of
these projects must complete in 2003.
In
2002, membership declined slightly from 6,800 to 6,610 members. NCF was not able to earn sufficient
donations from members in 2002 to cover operating costs, had all staff been
working on operations. As in 2001, NCF
was able to avoid shortfalls by “lending” a portion of its staff to the
SmartCapital and HRDC contracts. But
fewer hours working on NCF operations may have contributed to lower maintenance
and system performance, possibly leading to member dissatisfaction and lower
donations. There were significant
problems with modem and email reliability during periods of 2002, and modems
were usually congested during days and evenings.
WebMail
and Internet Desktop, two products of the ongoing SmartCapital and HRDC work,
were pre-released in 2002 and are operating, but packaging and integration with
existing NCF services needs to be improved to attract more usage. At the end of 2002, both projects are behind
schedule.
The basic strategy in 2003 remains as it was in 2002: To use the products of the SmartCapital and HRDC projects to put NCF into a state that earns sufficient donations from members and sponsors to cover NCF’s operating costs. NCF must give current and potential members reasons to be members and support NCF with their donations, and must give current and potential sponsors (including institutions, corporations, govts, and individuals) reasons to support NCF.
NCF’s focus in 2003 is to
provide its members with
reliable low-cost dialup
access to basic internet services,
extend the range of NCF’s
services to members and the community, and
to organize help for people
new to using the internet.
Provide internet access;
help improve internet
literacy;
operate an internet ‘public
commons’;
for residents of the National
Capital region.
“Reliable
low-cost dial-up access” means modems that are available (not busy) and provide
functional connectivity, either PPP or text.
Keeping costs low helps reduce the “Digital Divide” and helps improve
internet literacy. To keep costs low,
NCF generally operates access technologies that are two or three years behind
state-of-the-art (which in 2003 means 56K digital modems), and promotes
resource sharing (eg., modem sharing) so that more people can get benefits from
existing equipment. Among NCF’s
corporate sponsors are commercial ISPs, who are pleased to help NCF by
equipment donations, etc. NCF must
operate enough modems to serve the number of members required to sustain NCF
with their donations.
“Basic
internet services” include web browsing, email (client-based or browser-based),
web page hosting, newsgroups and web-based discussion groups, and support for
client-based services such as instant messaging.
“Extend
the range of our services to members and the community” includes: 1) Internet Desktop, which allows members to
learn about and use PC-based software, such as Microsoft Office and Corel Draw,
without having to install it on their system; 2) WebMail, which allows access
to email using a web browser; 3) Extended Access, where a partner organization
donates phone lines for internet access outside office hours; 4) Web-based
communication and collaboration tools to make the ‘community building’ aspects
of FreePort available to web-based members.
(Much of NCF’s popularity in the early 1990’s was due to features of the
FreePort software, which provided a text-based interface to community-fostering
services. Although many people still
love and use FreePort, the majority of today’s internet users use web
browsers. In 2003, NCF will provide
community-building applications for people using web browsers, enabling NCF to
function as a sort of ‘public commons’ for the National Capital community.)
“Organizing
help for people new to using the internet” means setting up programs by which
NCF supporters (volunteers) and community agencies can help people overcome the
barriers of getting online, including help with computers, software, modems,
internet tools, and documentation. This
activity helps people in the community and earns NCF a positive profile and
image, and support from sponsors/members.
Implementing
services and programs in a professional way, even if those services are less than state-of-the-art, earns NCF a
positive image.
Volunteers
help NCF help others, and as a bonus, often acquire or develop skills. NCF coordinates in-kind support from
professionals, corporations, institutions, and governments.
The
value of the HRDC and SmartCapital projects to NCF members and the National
Capital community is considerable. NCF
will coordinate the activities of sponsors, members, and project partners to
bring long-term sustainable benefits to NCF member and their community.