Ian & Stuart's Australian Mac: Not for Sale/Another.not.for.sale (Australia).iso/hold me in your arms/Nexus/nexus.nets/mtn.faq

Text File | 1994-04-06 | 16KB | 328 lines

**************************P r e s s     R e l e a s e**********************
For Immediate Release

                                For Further Information
                                Anthony Riddle
                                Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
                                1(612)331-8575
                                <[e-mail]>
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Minneapolis Telecommunications Network Announces:
                *Freedom And Liberty* Available On-Line

All across this country, people are abuzz with excitement about a new
Information Super-Highway.  There'll be a million new ways to communicate,
we'll have virtual reality and work from home, there'll be fantastic riches
made and our kids will all be smarter.

Yet, many people will be standing beside this so-called Super-Highway and
watch as life passes them by.  Who will make the on-ramp available to those
who cannot afford the high-cost of connections?  Who will make this
Information Superhighway accessible to the poor, to the disenfranchised?
Who will teach them?  Who will hold the hands of public service
organizations as they slowly discover how their constituents might best
benefit from the information they post?

The Minneapolis Telecommunications Network (MTN) recognizes and understands
its traditional and unique role in transferring communications technology
to the public.

MTN is now on-line with a first-in-the-nation Public Access Center Internet
Node.  MTN will provide access and training to communities and individuals
who would otherwise be left out of the new information age.

The system is supported by two donated Sun 3 computers which have been
named *"Liberty" and "Freedom"* respectively.

Thusfar, over 70 community-based organizations have signed on to participate.

MTN has a long history of training and outreach in the community, having
trained more than 4000 people in the Twin Cities to create their own
television programming.  MTN cablecasts more than 20,000 of community
produced programming every year.

The Internet is a series of wires and computers paid for by the federal
government in the late 1950's for use by the defense department.  Later,
its use was expanded to include researchers and educational institutions.
Commercial traffic has never been allowed.  Now, however, in a time of
great public interest, access to this publicly subsidized system may be
limited to those who can afford the rates of commercial gate-keepers.

"It is understandable that someone wants to build a mall beside every
on-ramp to this highway," said Anthony Riddle, Executive Director of MTN.
"But should you have to pay the mall owner for using a public highway?  No.
 The mall-owner should be paying taxes to support the highway that brings
business to his or her door."

MTN recognizes the overwhelming public demand for access to the information
age.  MTN recognizes the wide variety of needs that will develop and be met
by other services.  MTN recognizes the tremendous business opportunity for
providers of commercial access if they are able to develop services which
use the Internet for support.  MTN is developing ideas which will allow MTN
promote the work of commercial providers.

The server consists of two donated Sun 3 computers and 3+ gigabytes of hard
drive.  The connection to the Internet will be 56k for the first year.
There will be 16 accessible modem ports.

This project is made possible through generous support of the John D. and
Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

###
**********************************
FAQ's
(Frequently Asked Questions)
Originally sent to Minneapolis City Council
**********************************
Is MTN Seeking City Funding for This Connection?
No.
As a matter of fact, the budgeting for this project is entirely dependent
upon funding from sources other than the City.  We have already received a
$50,000 grant and donation of two computers worth $35,000 each.  We expect
this project to be self-sustaining within the year.

Our commitment is to expand service to the community rather than reduce one
area to expand another.
**************************************
What is the Internet?
The Internet itself is a national backbone of wires, fibers and other
links, controlled by computers and wholly subsidized by Defense and
Educational departments of the government.  There are nearly ten-thousand
networks attached to this government-subsidized backbone- public and, only
recently, for-profit.
**************************************
Will City Government Benefit Directly?
Yes.  All City Departments will be connected through the Office of
Telecommunications (OTC).  OTC will be assigned accounts to distribute
throughout City Government.  Getting the City Council on-line will be a
priority.  Your accounts are being programmed today.  If you are the least
bit uncomfortable with using computer communications or this particular
system, personalized instruction is available to you at your convenience.

Several departments have already had discussions with us to determine
effective uses of the system including interoffice communications,
communications with departments in other municipalities, posting of
information for constituents and interaction with citizens.  This should
create cost savings and and new efficiencies.
*************************************
Is MTN giving away a Commercial Product?
No.  MTN's Internet connection is through MN Regional Net (MR.NET), a
nonprofit corporation in the State of Minnesota.  MR.NET is governed by a
board of directors whose members are a variety of the leading public and
private universities and colleges, public and private research foundations,
government agencies and commercial businesses.
************************************************
Is MTN Competing with Commercial Providers?
No.  MTN cannot offer any for-profit connections without the permission of
the business providing the service.  Commercial services such as Prodigy,
America On-line or Lexus must be obtained by payment to commercial
providers.  MTN offers no such services.  It is the task of each for-profit
company to attract business by offering unique services which cannot be
found already in the public sector.

The principle in our contract with MR.Net which MTN is bound by agreement
to follow is:

                "The National Science Foundation Backbone [Internet]
services are provided to support open research and education in and among
US research and instructional institutions, plus research arms of
for-profit firms when engaged in open scholarly communication and research.
 Use for other purposes is not acceptable."

All services provided by or reached through the Community Internet Node are
created by Universities, nonprofits and community groups and individuals
free of charge.
*******************************************************
Will MTN be the Main Provider of Access to the Internet?
Impossible to conceive.  We want to be the point of first contact for those
who need us.  The demand for services is so high no one group can fill it.
The real concern is that of being overwhelmed.  The U of M was at one point
buying 500 modems per week to keep up with demand.

MTN has a particular traditional niche in working with the technologically
dispossessed.  There will be waiting lines for public access.  For that
reason, most people and groups will outgrow us.  We hope to teach folks,
excite them with possibility and spin off those who who have means to
commercial providers who will have different, more personalized services.
There's room for everybody.
**********************************************
Will MTN Work With Commercial Providers?
Yes.  We expect to generate business for commercial providers through
training and heightened awareness in the public.  We have made arrangements
with several providers to place their application information on our
service.  We have even discussed discount coupons from commercial providers
to anyone who passes MTN classes.
*******************************************
Will MTN Work with Other Nonprofits Providing Services Via Internet?
Yes.  Would it do you any good to be the only person with a phone?  No.
Universal service is what makes your phone connection valuable.  You can
call (almost) anybody today.

The same holds true for networking.  Any service you put up today is made
all the more valuable by whatever connection I put up tomorrow.  The
possibility of interaction multiplies.  The Libraries, the Public and
Private Schools, the Colleges and Universities all have plans for expanding
services and connections to the Internet backbone.  We are working
together.
**************************************************
Is the Community Internet Node Subsidized by the Cable-Company?
No.  These efforts are funded by:
1)  A $50,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
 We currently have several other grant applications outstanding, including
two in collaboration with KFAI and Minneapolis Public Schools.
2)  The donation of two Sun 3 Workstations originally valued at $35,000
each by a local computer manufacturer.
3)  Abundant volunteer energy from the computer community of the Twin Cities.

No MTN services are subsidized by the cable-subscribers.  MTN is funded by
the people of the entire City of Minneapolis whom Paragon must pay for the
use of public right-of-ways owned by cable-subscribers and non-subscribers
alike.  The franchise fee is not a subsidy, but a cost of doing business in
the city.  Use of those funds are entirely within the purview of City
officials and may not be earmarked by Paragon.
********************************************
Is This Project Unusual?
No.  It is progressive, future-oriented and valuable.  But there are many
similar projects in the works around the country.  They all take forms
which correspond to local conditions.  Some of them are:

In Northern California a similar Public Access project is providing access
to services using the Internet for $5 per month to the public.  Even at
this low price, they have set aside 500 free accounts for distribution to
citizens with financial difficulty.

In the Portland, Oregon area the cost for public access to the Internet is
$6 per month for individual accounts.  In Portland, as in Northern
California, there is an emphasis on outreach into the community, education
and affordable connection.  Space, resources and education are provided to
non-profits to help them use the Internet to serve their constituents.

In Santa Monica, California the Public Electronic Network set the way for
community networking in the early 1980's.  More than 700 computer terminals
were placed in public locations and the entire citizenry of the city were
offered individual accounts.  This system allowed personal email, access to
government information, community conversation and interaction, direct
contact with elected and appointed officials and conduct of city business.

In Cambridge, Massachusetts Continental Cablevision provides an Internet
connection to the home via cable for about $72 per month.  They do not,
however, offer classes or community support.
******************************************
Why Should Public Access Centers Get involved With Computer Communications?
MTN recognizes and understands its traditional and unique role in
transferring communications technology to the public.  We recognize that
computers don't talk to people, people talk to people using telephones,
computers, television equipment- whatever means is available and
appropriate.

MTN has a long history of training and outreach in the community, having
trained more than 5000 people in the Twin Cities to communicate with their
neighbors using television equipment.  MTN cablecasts more than 20,000
hours of community produced programming every year.
**************************************************
What community organizations will be involved?
Many Community and Governmental organizations have expressed an interest in
these services.  Seventy organizations have expressed such an interest to
date. We receive new requests daily.  Below are listed only those which we
expect to bring on-line in the next two months.

Alliance for Cultural Democracy
American Legion Vietnam Veterans Assistance Program
Cable Access St Paul
Cable Arts Consortium
City of Minneapolis/Office of Telecommunications
City of Minneapolis/Equipment Division
City Pages
Colors Magazine
COMPAS
CTV North Suburbs
Equal Time Newspaper
Information Alternatives
Hennepin County Extension Service
Hennepin County International Trade Office
Insight News
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Intermedia Arts
La Prensa de Minnesota
Local Cable Programmers for MN
Main Street Theater
Management Assistance Project
MetroNet
Metro Waste Control
Midwest Media Artist Access Consortium
MIGIZI
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Minneapolis Police Department
MN Advocates for Human Rights
MN Association of Crime, Intelligence and Analysis
MN Children's Museum
MN Citizens On-Line
MN Equal Access Network System
MN Historical Society
MN News Council
National Association of Media Educators
Native Arts Circle
Pioneer Press
Twin Cities Free-Net
Unix Users of MN
Virtual University
The Urban Coalition
Cable Television Show by Minnesota Citizen's On-line

************************************************
What types of services will be offered through the Community Internet Node?
                        *Training*
Regular Classes
Beginning in Spring, MTN will be offering classes to the general public on
use of the Internet.  We will develop a range of classes for many levels of
expertise.  We have a tremendous history of grassroots training in
technical areas and expect that experience to serve the community well.

Special Group Classes
MTN has traditionally offered specially tailored workshops to meet the
needs of community groups performing outreach services.

                        *Services*
Organizational Terminal
We are actively seeking to place terminals for public use at appropriate
organizations willing to support this effort by offering times and means
for the public to use their facilities.

Organizational Accounts
Organizations with computer facilities will be considered for accounts for
use by staff and/or service communities.

MTN Terminals
MTN will maintain terminals on-site for free use by the public on a
first-come, first-served basis.  Some training and technical support will
be available to terminal users.

Information
Our node will support information providers within our community.
Organizations will be encouraged to provide information using Gopher or
other programs.  Such information can be made available to local, national
or international audiences.

Freenets
In structuring the system, we expect to be able to fully support the
efforts of several freenets around town who have long needed and access
point for implementing their plans.

Organization of Other Cities
We have developed plans to reach into other cities currently having
difficulty with initial connection to the net.  We will do this through
Public Access facilities throughout the region.

Individual Accounts
A limited number of individual accounts will be available for members of
the community.  This will be determined by system capacity and
appropriateness.
******************************************************
Will the Citizens of the City be Happy With the Service, Will Life In Our
Community Be Improved, Will our Neighborhoods Be Drawn Closer Together, Can
City Council Learn More About This System?

Yes.  Yes.  Yes.  And Yes, anytime you want.  Just give us a call.
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