[Sican] An excellent article about CAP
Gareth Shearman
shearman at victoria.tc.ca
Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:36:13 -0700
--Apple-Mail-10-451678424
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset=UTF-8;
delsp=yes;
format=flowed
This is an excellent article about the Community Access Program. It =20
was written by Marita Moll, one of the Board members of =20
Telecommunities Canada, our national association.
It was published in the current issue of "Straight Goods"
http://www.straightgoods.ca/index.cfm
CAP in crisis: from high priority to policy limbo
Canada's much-vaunted Community Access Program dwindling away for =20
lack of federal funds.
Dateline: Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Reposted: Monday, April 09, 2007
by Marita Moll
After years of dwindling funding, from $25 million in 2005 to $8.8 =20
million in 2006, the federal government's well-established digital =20
divide initiative =E2=80=94 the Community Access Program (CAP) is on =
life =20
support. CAP co-ordinators and volunteers waited in vain for some =20
sign in the recent budget that "Canada's New Government" was prepared =20=
to stabilize their minimal funding levels. Silence was all they heard =20=
beyond the whoosh of public servants quickly disappearing behind the =20
closest firewall. Thousands of these sites, rural and urban, are now =20
stranded in policy limbo wondering what happened to a 10-year-old =20
national policy priority to connect all Canadians to modern =20
communications tools. Funding ran out on April 1st. But having been =20
left stranded like this before, they are still waiting and hoping.
In a pre-budget press release, the Pacific Community Networks =20
Association pointed out that governments around the world are =20
investing in public internet for communities using a vision and model =20=
originally developed in Canada. "As the rest of the world continues =20
to recognize the economic benefits gained by investing in community =20
internet, successive Canadian governments have slowly suffocated CAP =20
by reducing its funding. .... CAP is a successful program with a =20
proven economic and social impact. It cuts across nearly every =20
community in Canada." In fact, for years, the government of the day =20
trotted out this program at every international event available. And =20
no wonder =E2=80=94 all the numbers show that it has been an impressive =20=
success.
=EF=BF=BC
There are more CAP centres in Canada than there are Tim Horton's.
Since its inception in 1994, on shoestring budgets and with the help =20
of thousands of volunteers, CAP sites have assisted millions of =20
citizens in all provinces and territories to participate fully in the =20=
digital world =E2=80=94 to look for jobs, contact government agencies, =
stay =20
connected to family and friends in different regions and countries =20
and generally become familiar with computer technologies.
"If the funding to our CAP site is cut, the individuals who don't own =20=
a computer will be left at a severe disadvantage. In today's world it =20=
is imperative that a person have access to a computer and the =20
internet," writes a CAP site administrator in northern BC, on the CAP =20=
and Community ICT blog set up to discuss this issue.
"For example, we have some elderly people who have no idea how to use =20=
the computer but want to keep in touch with grandchildren; we help =20
them navigate their way around e-mail."
CAP has been good value for money. Federal sources have estimated =20
that there is a 20/80 split in the investments in these sites with =20
the 80 percent representing money and resources leveraged within the =20
community itself. A 2001 GPI Atlantic survey of rural CAP sites in =20
British Columbia indicated that the benefits extend far beyond the =20
provision of internet access and computer skills training. "CAP sites =20=
play an important role in strengthening rural communities, enhancing =20
communication and reducing isolation, facilitating inclusion of =20
youth, seniors and disadvantaged groups, promoting equity and =20
providing opportunities for education, employment and local =20
learning." It also showed that CAP volunteers contribute an estimated =20=
630,000 hours of voluntary time each year to British Columbia's rural =20=
CAP sites. "These volunteer hours are worth $9.5 million annually and =20=
are the equivalent of 330 full-time jobs," says the survey report.
Not supporting a program like this seems akin to starving the goose =20
that laid the golden eggs. Yet there's a real risk that Industry =20
Canada's 10 year $600 million investment in the "Connecting Canadians =20=
Agenda" will soon be lost forever. CAP advocates have delved into the =20=
intricacies of the "estimates" posted on Industry Canada's website =20
and discovered that $9.9 million has been set aside for this program =20
in 2007-2008. But the same document says that the government is =20
presently "reviewing the future of the program." Last week, the word =20
from Industry Canada about the future of this project is that "the =20
federal government is committed to CAP and there will be an =20
announcement shortly." Meanwhile, thousands of committed workers hold =20=
their collective breaths wondering why they can't be accorded the =20
courtesy of a direct and timely response from their government on =20
this issue. "We have organizations that need to make plans," says one =20=
co-ordinator, " =E2=80=94 organizations that answer to boards of =
directors."
Without these community services in place, who will bridge the =20
digital divide? If progressive Canadian politicians and policy makers =20=
want to find out who is bridging it now, they should visit their =20
closest CAP site. They wouldn't have to travel too far. There are =20
more of these sites in Canada than there are Tim Horton's outlets. =20
There is no registration fee and all services are usually free. There =20=
might even be coffee =E2=80=94 although that may require a donation.
Marita Moll is a co-investigator with the Canadian Research Alliance =20
for Community Innovation and Networking (CRACIN) and a member of =20
Telecommunities Canada, an alliance of CAP and other community =20
networking initiatives.
Related addresses:
URL 1: www.cracin.ca
URL 2: www.tc.ca
URL 3: ict-cap.blogspot.com
--Apple-Mail-10-451678424
Content-Type: multipart/related;
type="text/html";
boundary=Apple-Mail-11-451678424
--Apple-Mail-11-451678424
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Type: text/html;
charset=WINDOWS-1252
<HTML><BODY style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; =
-khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><P align=3D"center" =
style=3D"text-align: auto;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; ">This is an excellent article =
about the Community Access Program.=A0 It was written by Marita Moll, =
one of the Board members of Telecommunities Canada, our national =
association.</P><P align=3D"center" style=3D"text-align: =
auto;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><DIV style=3D"text-align: left;">It was published in =
the current issue of "Straight Goods"</DIV><DIV style=3D"text-align: =
left;"><A =
href=3D"http://www.straightgoods.ca/index.cfm">http://www.straightgoods.ca=
/index.cfm</A></DIV></P><P align=3D"center" style=3D"text-align: =
center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Tahoma" =
size=3D"6"><SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
24px;"><B><BR class=3D"khtml-block-placeholder"></B></SPAN></FONT></P><P =
align=3D"center" style=3D"text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Tahoma" size=3D"6"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 24px;"><B>CAP in crisis: =
from high priority to policy limbo</B></SPAN></FONT></P><P =
align=3D"center" style=3D"text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Tahoma" size=3D"5"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 18px;"><B>Canada's =
much-vaunted Community Access Program dwindling away for lack of federal =
funds.</B></SPAN></FONT></P><P align=3D"right" style=3D"text-align: =
right;text-align: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
color=3D"#808080" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 10px;">Dateline: Tuesday, =
April 03, 2007</SPAN></FONT><BR></P><P align=3D"right" =
style=3D"text-align: right;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
color=3D"#808080" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 10px;"> Reposted: Monday, =
April 09, 2007</SPAN></FONT></P><P align=3D"justify" style=3D"text-align: =
justify;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"3"><SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><I>by Marita Moll</I></SPAN></FONT></P><P style=3D"text-align: =
auto;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"3"><SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;">After years of dwindling funding, from $25 million in 2005 to =
$8.8 million in 2006, the federal government's well-established digital =
divide initiative =97 the Community Access Program (CAP) is on life =
support. CAP co-ordinators and volunteers waited in vain for some sign =
in the recent budget that "Canada's New Government" was prepared to =
stabilize their minimal funding levels. Silence was all they heard =
beyond the whoosh of public servants quickly disappearing behind the =
closest firewall. Thousands of these sites, rural and urban, are now =
stranded in policy limbo wondering what happened to a 10-year-old =
national policy priority to connect all Canadians to modern =
communications tools. Funding ran out on April 1st. But having been left =
stranded like this before, they are still waiting and =
hoping.</SPAN></FONT></P><P style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px =
0.0px"><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;">In a pre-budget =
press release, the Pacific Community Networks Association pointed out =
that governments around the world are investing in public internet for =
communities using a vision and model originally developed in Canada. "As =
the rest of the world continues to recognize the economic benefits =
gained by investing in community internet, successive Canadian =
governments have slowly suffocated CAP by reducing its funding. .... CAP =
is a successful program with a proven economic and social impact. It =
cuts across nearly every community in Canada." In fact, for years, the =
government of the day trotted out this program at every international =
event available. And no wonder =97 all the numbers show that it has been =
an impressive success.</SPAN></FONT></P><BR><IMG =
src=3D"cid:CA3AAB3A-65E7-4129-B27C-5F7370DD015A@bccna.bc.ca"><TABLE =
width=3D"700.0" cellspacing=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" style=3D"width: =
700.0px; margin: 0.0px 20.0px 0.0px 20.0px; padding: 4.0px 0.0px 4.0px =
0.0px"><TBODY><TR><TD valign=3D"middle" style=3D"width: 9.0px; =
background-color: #2b5718; padding: 0.0px 4.0px 0.0px 4.0px"><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Arial; =
min-height: 18px; "><BR></DIV></TD><TD valign=3D"middle" style=3D"width: =
10.0px; padding: 0.0px 4.0px 0.0px 4.0px"><P style=3D"margin: 0.0px =
0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"4"><SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
16px;">=A0</SPAN></FONT></P></TD><TD valign=3D"middle" style=3D"width: =
669.0px; padding: 0.0px 4.0px 0.0px 4.0px"><P align=3D"justify" =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 16px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Tahoma" =
size=3D"4"><SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
16px;"><B>There are more CAP centres in Canada than there are Tim =
Horton's.</B></SPAN></FONT></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P =
style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px"><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Since its =
inception in 1994, on shoestring budgets and with the help of thousands =
of volunteers, CAP sites have assisted millions of citizens in all =
provinces and territories to participate fully in the digital world =97 =
to look for jobs, contact government agencies, stay connected to family =
and friends in different regions and countries and generally become =
familiar with computer technologies.</SPAN></FONT></P><P style=3D"margin: =
0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px"><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"3"><SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;">"If the funding to our CAP site is cut, the individuals who don't =
own a computer will be left at a severe disadvantage. In today's world =
it is imperative that a person have access to a computer and the =
internet," writes a CAP site administrator in northern BC, on the CAP =
and Community ICT blog set up to discuss this issue.</SPAN></FONT></P><P =
style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px"><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;">"For example, we =
have some elderly people who have no idea how to use the computer but =
want to keep in touch with grandchildren; we help them navigate their =
way around e-mail."</SPAN></FONT></P><P style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px =
13.0px 0.0px"><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"3"><SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;">CAP has been good value for money. Federal sources have estimated =
that there is a 20/80 split in the investments in these sites with the =
80 percent representing money and resources leveraged within the =
community itself. A 2001 GPI Atlantic survey of rural CAP sites in =
British Columbia indicated that the benefits extend far beyond the =
provision of internet access and computer skills training. "CAP sites =
play an important role in strengthening rural communities, enhancing =
communication and reducing isolation, facilitating inclusion of youth, =
seniors and disadvantaged groups, promoting equity and providing =
opportunities for education, employment and local learning." It also =
showed that CAP volunteers contribute an estimated 630,000 hours of =
voluntary time each year to British Columbia's rural CAP sites. "These =
volunteer hours are worth $9.5 million annually and are the equivalent =
of 330 full-time jobs," says the survey report.</SPAN></FONT></P><P =
style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px"><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Not supporting a =
program like this seems akin to starving the goose that laid the golden =
eggs. Yet there's a real risk that Industry Canada's 10 year $600 =
million investment in the "Connecting Canadians Agenda" will soon be =
lost forever. CAP advocates have delved into the intricacies of the =
"estimates" posted on Industry Canada's website and discovered that $9.9 =
million has been set aside for this program in 2007-2008. But the same =
document says that the government is presently "reviewing the future of =
the program." Last week, the word from Industry Canada about the future =
of this project is that "the federal government is committed to CAP and =
there will be an announcement shortly." Meanwhile, thousands of =
committed workers hold their collective breaths wondering why they can't =
be accorded the courtesy of a direct and timely response from their =
government on this issue. "We have organizations that need to make =
plans," says one co-ordinator, " =97 organizations that answer to boards =
of directors."</SPAN></FONT></P><P style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px =
0.0px"><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Without these =
community services in place, who will bridge the digital divide? If =
progressive Canadian politicians and policy makers want to find out who =
is bridging it now, they should visit their closest CAP site. They =
wouldn't have to travel too far. There are more of these sites in Canada =
than there are Tim Horton's outlets. There is no registration fee and =
all services are usually free. There might even be coffee =97 although =
that may require a donation.</SPAN></FONT></P><P style=3D"margin: 0.0px =
0.0px 13.0px 0.0px"><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"3"><SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><I>Marita Moll is a co-investigator with the Canadian Research =
Alliance for Community Innovation and Networking (CRACIN) and a member =
of Telecommunities Canada, an alliance of CAP and other community =
networking initiatives.</I></SPAN></FONT></P><P style=3D"margin: 0.0px =
0.0px 13.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Arial; min-height: 15.0px"><BR></P><P =
style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px"><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Related =
addresses:</SPAN></FONT></P><P style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px =
0.0px"><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;">URL 1: =
</SPAN></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.cracin.ca/"><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;"><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
color=3D"#1E3E11">www.cracin.ca</FONT></SPAN></FONT></A><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;"> =
</SPAN></FONT><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"3"><SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"3"><SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;"> =
URL 2: </SPAN></FONT><A href=3D"http://www.tc.canada/"><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;"><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
color=3D"#1E3E11">www.tc.ca</FONT></SPAN></FONT></A><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;"> =
</SPAN></FONT><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"3"><SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"3"><SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;"> =
URL 3: </SPAN></FONT><A href=3D"http://ict-cap.blogspot.com/"><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;"><FONT =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
color=3D"#1E3E11">ict-cap.blogspot.com</FONT></SPAN></FONT></A></P><P =
style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Arial; =
min-height: 15.0px"><BR></P><P style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 6.0px 0.0px; =
font: 13.0px Arial; min-height: 15.0px"><BR =
class=3D"khtml-block-placeholder"></P></BODY></HTML>=
--Apple-Mail-11-451678424
Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64
Content-Id: <CA3AAB3A-65E7-4129-B27C-5F7370DD015A@bccna.bc.ca>
Content-Type: image/gif;
x-unix-mode=0666;
name=greendot.gif
Content-Disposition: inline;
filename=greendot.gif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--Apple-Mail-11-451678424--
--Apple-Mail-10-451678424--