Archives: Expert Predictions

Community networks can benefit the government by providing the training necessary for citizens to access government information electronically. Local experts can assist the general public in accessing information and services through the convenience of e-mail. These government services most important for a given community can be tailored through customized on-line menus for enhanced ease of access by the public. A community network can potentially provide a single point of access for local, state and national government services, accessible with the help of friendly local on-line public servants.

Self-teaching or mentored lessons could be accessible locally to teach the skills necessary to enjoy increasing benefits from the local and distributed telecomputing and the various levels of Internet access. Menus customized for the local community can provide local “fingertip” access to the best resources on the Internet.

the greater cost of the Internet is not the connection, but the training required to fully benefit. Friendly, responsive, on-line librarians and mentors will be key to the successful implementation of any community network. Public and federal employees must learn how they can utilize the efficiencies of electronic mail to provide such responsiveness to citizens. Public service participation in on-line interaction should be encouraged by all citizens and government employees.