1. 1 The Italian experience: Milano and Bologna Leonardo Sonnante e@cn, RCM and AIReC Sheffield, September 2nd, 1999 EACN UK Launch Conference COMMUNITY NETWORKING FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM

2. 2 CNs in Italy A comprehensive and reliable picture on Community Networks does not exist Community Networks (Reti Civiche), Digital Cities, Telecities, City Web, Servizio Telematico Pubblico

3. 3 From a survey by Censis, Assinform, RUR Digital Cities in Italy, Report 1998 More than 1.100 digital cities in Italy but... There isnt a clear distinction among different experiences 450 local government institutions with a public web site many web sites for tourists Digital cities in Italy

4. 4 Community is a secondary aspect and the largest part of them doesn't support it Interactive services but poor citizen participation Modena, Siena: certification payments access to public acts and public databases CNs promoted by PA CNs are conceived as a public service provided to the city, so:

5. 5 Free of charge civic network on Internet, promoted and managed by the Municipality ruling and developing territory administrative innovation right of information as a socially-due service rationalization of offices and sectors activities and actions Iperbole, CN of Bologna

6. 6 Giving access is not enough... Next step: giving interactive services Message routing Fora of discussion area Digital Signature Training courses on ICT for citizens (Telematic Literacy and Formation Centre for Digital Bologna) Spaces for parties/political groups during elections Iperbole interactive services

7. 7 RCM: the design principles strongly inspired by U.S. free nets (Cleveland, Seattle, etc) computer professionals as enablers of the social actors slogan: You are the network bottom-up development the CN as a "gymnasium" for learning the basics of the net

8. 8 RCM: the design principles Citizens and no-profit Associations Citizens and no-profit Associations Local Government Institutions Local Government Institutions Public libraries Public libraries Health services Health services Schools Schools Private Sector Private Sector CN as a tool for supporting communication, cooperation and services in the whole local community

9. 9 RCM and citizens 7000 citizens accounts 400 local discussion groups 300 moderators selected among the users 3 coordinators elected among moderators Daily accesses: 50.000 to the FCIS Server (BBS + Web) 15.000 to the main Web Server

10. 10 RCM and Institutions Services provided by Municipality, County, Region, Chamber of Commerce Active Citizens become inspirers/designers of on-line public services Cf. "A Citizen-driven Civic Network as Stimulating Context for Designing On-line Public Services" Casapulla G., De Cindio F., Gentile O., Sonnante L. PDC98, 5thParticipatory Design Conf., Seattle, WA USA, Nov., 1998

11. 11 RCM and Private Sector Few (but significant) experiences: AMSA, AEM, Du Pont, Cybermercato, Apple, I.Net, La Sana Dispensa, Librerie Mondadori, Week-end a Firenze Conferences (forums) like: - The on-line expert answers: lawyer, fiscal-expert - Buy&Sell(Work, home, computers, etc.)

12. 12 RCM: outstanding features being a means for stimulating the dialogue between local government institutions and citizens being open to the private sector being a "reusable" experience (in smaller towns) A.I.Re.C. (Association of CNs) Lombardia

13. 13 AIReC approach Different promoters (Municipalities, University, Citizens Associations, a company) and technologies but all CNs in AIReC share the same principles, that enforce the sense of community: Free access Citizens certification (and recognition) Local netiquette Interactivity and participation Free email to all citizens

14. 14 CNs in AIReC CNs:neither subjects, nor users, nor clients, but sovereign citizens CNs:neither subjects, nor users, nor clients, but sovereign citizens P. di SONDRIO ONDE RC MANTOVA RCCR INSIEME RC LARIANA RECSANDO RCM RC NOVARA RC BIELLA RCBEST