BC Community Networks - Sparwood/Fernie Pioneer's Wisdom

Wisdom from Sparwood/Fernie's Pioneer

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Contact Info:

Brian Grainger, Rocky Mountain Info Net
Telephone: 425-7801 (server site), 425-2423 (Chamber of Commerce), 425-2605(h)
E-mail: briain.grainger@rmin.net
HomePage-- coming soon
Interview Notes:

Public documents to share might include some legal forms and technical literature. Brian is in the middle of configuring major improvements to the CommunityNet thanks to Industry Canada CAP funding. Send him an e-mail in early May/96 and he can prov ide some WP documents for the BC Community Networks Resource Site.
Current Equipment includes: 486/66 PC with 8 MB RAM, 350 MB hard drive and a modem pool of one. The system uses Wildcat BBS software running under IBM's OS/2 operating system. 130 people can use the service because the system is based on using an of f-line reader. A $40/month PlanetConnect subscription provides satellite downloads of 5000 newsgroups and shareware. Internet e-mail is provided via a UUNet Canada twice/daily dial-up connection to Vancouver which costs $20/month.
In April-May/96 Equipment is being upgraded to: Dual Pentium 133 with 32 MB RAM (expandable to 512 MB), CD-ROM, OS/2 Warp ServerAdvanced, NetAnywhere (to drive initial 5 modem pool), 56 Kbps Internet connection.
Costs for Internet connections are getting more competitive. $1100/month for 56 Kbps and $2300/month for 128 Kbps gives you dedicated FrameRelay to UUCP in Toronto, including total install and capital costs (based on one year service commitment).
There are no commercial Internet Service Providers in the local area. Rocky Mountain Info Net will charge $25 set-up fee and there will be charges for Internet access, but access to local information will remain free.
Brian is prepared to write up a short document summarizing key lessons learned -- subject to funding to cover his time. Key lessons learned include: "Don't believe BCTel" and "UUNet provides the best rates".
Organizational Start Date = September/93. Operational Start Date = February/95 ($5000 BC grant).
There are currently 130 people registered on the network.
Paid staff is part-time System Administrator. There are 10-12 core volunteers.
The local Chamber of Commerce is supportive. Line Creek Resources has donated 8 IBM PS/2s which will be used for public terminals in libraires and Tourist Information Centres. Information Providers include the Municipality, Recreation Department, Co llege, Healthy Communities Project, Hospital, and several Small Businesses.
Brian's Wish List is Encourage Public Organizations to use local Internet services!

Government should encourage public organizations to get their network access through locally based community networks and commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Don't re-invent the wheel building separate networks for different municipal, provincial, and federal government services operating in the local area.
Get more grass roots people from outside the lower mainland involved in the BC Electronic Highway Advisory Council.
Funding needs to be provided for training and people costs -- not just for technology capital costs.