1 What CNs can gain from and offer to the Private Sector Fiorella De Cindio University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy Foundation RCM, Rete Civica di Milano A.I.Re.C. Lombardia Milan, February 11, 1999 Workshop on CNs for the Local Economy Development

2 a Community Network is: an easy-to-use on-line environment designed to promote communication, cooperation and Services development among citizens, non-profit organizations, governmental institutions and private companies thus guaranteeing the right of on-line citizenship to all.

3 The 3 dimensions of a CN Civic Network Services provided by Services provided by Local Government Institutions Local Government Institutions Free Net Services conceived, designed and managed by Citizens and Citizens and no-profit Associations no-profit Associations Commerce Net Services provided by the Services provided by the Private Sector Private Sector CN's development and sustainability is a process that requires a good balance of such dimensions

4 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

5 RCM: major goals to stimulate the local government institutions to be open to the private sector to be a "reusable" experience (in smaller towns) A.I.Re.C. (Association of CNs) Lombardia

6 CNs in AIReC Les maisons font la ville, mais les citoyens font la cité J.J. Rousseau, Du Contrat social P. di SONDRIO ONDE MANTOVA RCCR INSIEME RCB RC LARIANA PANGEA RECSANDO RCM RC NOVARA RC BIELLA

7 AIReC experience All CNs in AIReC are based on the same principles: No simple City Web Accessibility by free/modem and by fee/ISP Citizens certification (and recognition) Local netiquette Interactivity and participation to all citizens for free

8 the vision (1) The Community as a resource for itself The CNs as a resource for the community to sustain, enhance and support with a public (civic) network (rete pubblica) the redesign of the res publica through the involvment of all the community in a new kind of citizenship/democracy

9 the vision (2) the vision (2) CN as a virtual town that: interleaves the real town supports it to communicate and cooperate extends it offering new spaces for debating enhances it through better on-line services strengthnens the local community identity opens it to the outside world and to the future

10 the vision (3) Citizens are not user are not clients are owners of a sovereignty

11 RCM: the Free Net citizen accounts Conferences (Forum) Moderators - 3 Coordinators elected by the Moderators (ASSI) dayly logins to the FCIServer (BbS) dayly accesses to the Web Server

12 RCM: the Civic Net 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

13 RCM: the commerce Net 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.)

14 Emerging of Business Communities (Business Week, Il Sole 24Ore, Net Gain) (1) The characteristics of CN/RCM fit quite well with the characteristics of the BCs (as outlined in Net Gain) (2) Whitin RCM do exist subcommunities oriented towards specific fields of interest (travels&tourism, politics, books,...)

15 Crossfertilization between CNs&BCs BC can gain from CN/RCM existence (development) of such subcommunities CN/RCM can gain from BC sustainability

16 Warning From the Survey 1998 by RUR/CENSIS, on Digital Cities in Italy: about 1000 citizens answers, 552 from RCM Question: What about advertising in the CN? 38.4%Yes, it allows CN funding 3.6%Yes, it offers a further service 41.0%No, it betrais the spirit of the Net