NCF in 2003

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.

 

 

Context:  Year 2002 at Year-End

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.

 

NCF’s Focus in 2003

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.