605 South Olympia #74 Kennewick, Wa 99336 Phone: 509 586-6481
e-mail: TCFN@Delphi.com Tri-Cities Free-Net: 509 375-1111
Community Networking (e.g. Free-Nets) benefits everyone
in a community - schools, universities, public libraries, city
and county governments, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, economic
development, small business, and individuals. Three years ago,
when we first started what is now the Tri-Cities Free-Net, there
were no grants available for community networking. Now, there
are a growing number of opportunities from local, state, and federal
programs, corporate donations, and philanthropic organizations.
In Washington, for example, both Whatcom and Kitsap counties
have community networks started through Library (LSCA) grants;
the Spokane Free-Net (TINCAN) just received $305,000 in federal
funds (NTIA/TIIAP grant).
The RECA Foundation became a member of the NPTN (National Public
Telecomputing Network) and changed the name of the "Tri-Cities
On-Line" to the "Tri-Cities Free-Net" in 1994.
Affiliation with this international organization of Free-Nets
has opened up a whole new world for the Foundation. We have realized
a nearly eight fold increase in income and charted a new course
toward becoming a major player in community computing in the Pacific
Northwest. Late in the year we spearheaded an effort to apply
for a state LSCA (Library Services and Construction Act) grant.
The result: The Richland Public Library, The Mid-Columbia Library,
the Max E. Benitz Memorial Library at Washington State University
Tri-Cities; the Friends organizations supporting these three libraries;
and the Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland public school districts
are joining together to apply for a grant of up to $68,900 to
create a community-wide information service that would provide
free, public Internet access to public library branches and selected
school classrooms. The application will be submitted during the
first week of 1995.
The LSCA grant application is just a start. The Foundation will
also take the lead in forming a team to apply for an NTIA/TIIAP
(U.S. Department of Commerce Program) grant in 1995. Preliminary
work shows a strong interest in design and implementation of a
wide area community network similar to Spokane's TINCAN network.
Our bid will likely cover SE Washington (including a link to
TINCAN), NE Oregon, and 4-5 counties in Idaho. We will also continue
to solicit operating funding from the local community as well
as revisit those corporate giving programs and other philanthropic
organizations that are now supporting community networking.
Ronda Evans
President
The RECA Foundation maintains an ongoing forum on the Tri-Cities Free-Net ("A> Administration Building" selection from the TOP menu). Annual Reports, project and program information, and running dialog with the community are all available. Use any computer/modem to call (509) 375-1111 [8N1, up to 14.4 Kbps]. The Foundation has also developed a presentation that is available on request:
What is the RECA FOUNDATION? We are a Washington non-profit
organization, exempt from federal income tax as described in section
501©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and classified as a
publicly supported nonprofit organization.
The Foundation has operated the Tri-Cities Free-Net (online
community network) as a demonstration project and research and
development platform since 1992. The Foundation is a member of
the National Public Telecomputing Network (NPTN) and one of the
many Free-Nets that are growing world-wide. Basically, community
networks are the public libraries of the information highway.
NTIA/TIIAP Grant Process. Last year the National Telecommunications
Information Administration (U.S. Dept of Commerce) made $26 Million
available for telecommunications projects. This year's program
will award up to $64 Million. The grant applications are due
in May with awards made in October. Last year's successful applicants
were mostly community network oriented. This year has a similar
focus with heavy emphasis on interstate and commercial/government/non-profit
collaboration. This grant does require matching funding which
can include "in kind". The Spokane area Free-Net (TINCAN)
was awarded $305,000 last year to start a 7 county network (6
in Wa, 1 in Id) of Free-Nets - nearly all the matching funds were
"in kind". Our vision for this year is to provide some
basic data telecommunications linkages in the 12 - 16 county area
in SE Wa, NE Or, and parts of Id. Identifying and interconnecting
existing and planned networks (K-12, colleges, universities, government,
public libraries, community networks, etc.) is a major part of
this process. The end result would be all residents having free,
local phone access to the network and to the Internet.
RECA Foundation/Free-Net Presentation. The presentation
includes a very brief introduction and history of the community
computing history, the NPTN, and the projected future of community
networking. Next, a 15 minute video is shown. "Community
Computing: If it plays in Peoria" was produced by the NPTN
and gives an excellent overview of community computing featuring
the Heartland Free-Net. A question and answer period follows
the video.
Presenter: Bruce McComb, Executive Director
Ronda Evans President. Owner, Senior's Choice - Personal Consultant for Seniors.
Darwin Perkins Vice President. Network Program Manager, Boeing Computer Services.
Bruce McComb Secretary, Executive Director, and full time volunteer System Operator (SYSOP) for the Tri-Cities Free-Net.
Therese Howe Marketing Manager, Print Plus.
Sharon Grant President, Grant Consulting and counselor.