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COMMUNITY ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY
TAKE CHARGE OF THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY!
Ottawa, May 7-9, 1995
We're told that the information highway is the key to our
high-tech future, but community-based groups and non-govern-
ment organizations have not been consulted by business or
government about how they would use it or how it can be
adapted to meet their needs and budgets. Here's your chance
to think your way forward into this gap in public policy!
Community and public access electronic networks have been
working to create electronic neighbourhoods that reflect the
priorities and interests of their communities. At this con-
ference, electronic networkers and the voluntary sector will
come together to explore common ground and develop a unified
voice with which to express their concerns. The event will
build solid bridges between long-time users and designers of
cyberspace, and those less familiar with this new terrain.
The conference will also be an educational opportunity for
those looking for the substance behind the information high-
way hype, wanting pointers on using online services or seek-
ing to learn how their organization can tap the vast infor-
mation resources already available on electronic networks.
We will proceed on the assumption that common sense and
plain language are perfectly adequate tools with which to
address these issues.
Onsite terminals will be available throughout the conference
for FREE tutorials and practical use.
____________________________________________________________
Preliminary Agenda
Community Access to the Information Highway
____________________________________________________________
Sunday, May 7 - Day 1
The View from Here: Where We Are Now
7:30-12:00 Registration
9:00-9:30 Welcome and Purpose Mitchell Beer
Agenda and Process Dennis Lewycky
9:30-11:30 Panel: Perceptions of Reality on the 'Net
Who is charting the information highway?
Mark Surman on the Electronic Commons
Leslie Regan Shade on Gender
Valerie Collicott on People with Disabilities
Keith Kelly on Culture
Response: Susan Scruton
11:30-1:00 Lunch with Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Ursula Franklin
"A Critical Overview of Electronic Networks"
1:00-3:00 Panel: Life in the Electronic Public Space
Models for community networks.
Marc Belanger, Solinet
Michael Gillespie, Blue Sky Freenet
Kirk Roberts, Web
Marty Thompson, Ingenia
Response: Garth Graham
3:00-3:30 Break
3:30-5:00 Concurrent Discussion Sessions
What content will voluntary sector groups be
looking for on the Internet? What are the key
issues related to public or community access &
infrastructure? What can be learned from
existing community and public access networks?
5:00-7:00 Technical sessions for seasoned Internet users
Basic tutorials for beginners
7:00-9:00 Sponsored wine and cheese reception
(pending sponsor)
____________________________________________________________
Monday, May 8 - Day 2
Visions of the Future: How Various Sectors See It
7:30-12:00 Registration
9:00-9:45 Reports of 1st day's concurrent discussions
9:45-10:45 Community Visions
Labour's View: Jean-Claude Parrot, VP,
Canadian Labour Congress
The Consumer's View: Irene Seiferling,
President, Consumer's Association of
Canada
Response: Andrew Reddick
10:45-11:00 Break
11:00-12:00 Industry Visions
The Hon. Claude Forget
Rainer Paduch, President, fONOROLA
(invited)
Paul Temple, VP, Regulatory and Public
Affairs, Rogers Cable System
(invited)
Response: David Sutherland
12:00-1:30 Lunch with Keynote Speaker:
Karen Adams, President,
Canadian Library Association
"Libraries as Public Access Points"
1:30-3:00 Concurrent Discussion Sessions
What are the roles and responsibilities of
policy-makers in ensuring voluntary sector
access to Internet services? What support will
non-profit groups and their members require?
3:00-3:30 Break
3:30-5:00 Concurrent Discussion Sessions
Principles into Practice: What should the
information highway look like?
____________________________________________________________
Tuesday, May 9 - Day 3
What We Need to Do Now: Steps Into Tomorrow
9:00-9:45 Reports of 2nd day's concurrent discussions
9:45-10:30 Keynote
Jocelyne Cote-O'Hara, President and CEO,
Stentor Telecom Policy Inc.
(invited)
10:30-11:00 Break
11:00-12:30 Concurrent Discussion Sessions
Bridging the Gaps: Policy options and
opportunities. What should be done to maintain
an information highway accessible to all?
12:30-2:00 Lunch at restaurant on-site (participants pay)
2:00-3:45 Concurrent Discussion Sessions
Recommendations to government and action
plan for non-profit groups. Suggestions and
ideas for partnerships.
3:45-4:00 Break
4:00-5:00 Plenary: synthesis and summary conclusions.
TBA by InfoLink
Next Steps: discussion with a panel of
representives of key segments and debate open
to the floor.
____________________________________________________________
Process
* The onsite terminals will be online from 8:00 a.m daily
* Tutors will be available, especially during peak hours
* Private sessions may be arranged
* If sufficient interest is shown at registration, one or
more of the concurrent sessions in the first period will
be devoted to a structured demonstration of material on
the Internet of interest to the voluntary sector
* The concurrent discussion session groups on the first
two days will be pre-selected based on familiarity/
experience with the Internet
* The discussion groups on the third day will be pre-
selected based on interest area within the voluntary
sector
* An online forum for discussion of conference issues -
before, during and after the event - will be set up
* Caucus rooms will be available at various times (times
to be announced)
* Display tables in the lobby will be run by sponsors and
invited others
* Overnight, rapporteurs will develop syntheses of major
discussions, panels and presentations for distribution
in hard copy and on the Internet at the beginning of the
second and third days
* Proceedings will be produced for all participants and
for a nominal fee to other interested parties
* Participants are urged to familiarize themselves with
the agenda and endeavour to move quickly between
sessions: the schedule is tight and we're relying on
the co-operation of all to ensure that it flows
smoothly
* Coffee breaks throughout the event, and lunch on the
first two days are being provided for the price of
registration; lunch on the third day will be served
at the conference site, but will be paid for
separately by registrants
____________________________________________________________
Conference Steering Committee:
Andrew Chisholm, Friends of the Earth
Garth Graham, Coalition for Public Information
Ivan Hale, One Voice, the Canadian Seniors Network
Marita Moll, Public Information Highway Advisory Council
Andrew Reddick, Public Interest Advocacy Centre
Susan Scruton, Canadian Council on Social Development
Dave Sutherland, TeleCommunities Canada
____________________________________________________________
General Information
Location: Tudor Inn Hall
3750 Bowesville Road
613 739-4287
(just N. of airport, off Hunt Club Rd.)
Fee: $95.00 + GST until April 20
$130.00 + GST after April 20
$150.00 + GST at the door
Subsidies: * 30 Subsidized spaces available @ $50.00
* Request special subsidized registration
form
* Subsidies will be allocated on first-come,
first-served basis, according to receipt
of completed form
Accommodations:
Travelodge Hotel, 402 Queen St.
613 236-1133
$67 single / $69 double
Quality Hotel, 290 Rideau St.
613 789-7511
$72 double or single
Mention that you are registered for the
"Community Access to the Information
Highway" conference.
Shuttlebus service has been arranged between
the hotels and the conference site.
Airline: The conference is registered with Canadian
Airlines under reference number 2541. Use
this number to qualify for preferential
rates. Canadian Airlines' toll free number
is 1-800-665-5554.
Confirmed Speakers:
Karen Adams, Executive Director, Canadian
Library Association
Marc Belanger, Coordinator, Technical
Office, Canadian Union of Public Employees;
initiator of SoliNet
Valerie Collicott, Artemis Consultants
The Honorable Claude Forget, co-author of
*The Media and the Muse*
Dr. Ursula Franklin, distinguished scientist
advisor to government on science policy
Michael Gillespie, VP, Blue Sky Freenet,
Manitoba; Secretary, Telecommunities Can.
Keith Kelly, National Director, Canadian
Conference of the Arts
Jean-Claude Parrot, Exec. VP of Canadian
Labour Congress; member of the Information
Highway Advisory Council
Leslie Regan Shade, doctoral candidate,
McGill University
Kirk Roberts, co-founder of Web, Executive
Director of Nirvcentre
Irene Seiferling, President, Consumers'
Association of Canada
Mark Surman, author and community cable
and network activist
Marty Thompson, co-ordinator of Community
Access, Ingenia
Speakers representing the Stentor Group,
Rogers and fONOROLA have also been invited.
Proceedings: Text proceedings of all sessions, including
concurrent discussion groups, will be
available both online and in hard-copy.
>------------------------Cut Here--------------------------<
(print form and mail or fax)
REGISTRATION FORM
(please print)
[] Sign me up to participate in a conference on community
access to the information highway!
Name/Title .................................................
Agency/Organization (if applicable) ........................
Address ....................................................
City ............... Province .......... Postal Code .......
Telephone:(w) (.....)............. (h) (.....)..............
Fax: (......)............... Email .........................
Registration fees:
[] $95.00 + GST (before April 20)
[] $130.00 + GST (after April 20)
Method of payment:
[] Cheque (by mail; cheques payable to InfoLink Consultants)
[] Mastercard [] VISA
Credit Card Number: .............. Expiry date .............
Name of Card Holder: .............................
Signature: .......................................
(A limited number of subsidized spaces are available for
students/unemployed/limited income. Call for information.)
Please indicate any special needs we should be aware of:
[] Physical challenges (please specify) ....................
[] Food Allergies (please specify) .........................
[] Other ...................................................
What Internet applications/uses are you interested in
exploring in tutorials?
[] Logging on [] Email/Usenet [] Gopher/Veronica
[] FTP/Archie [] World Wide Web
[] Other (specify) ...................................
* Mail completed registration form to:
Community Access to the Information Highway
c/o InfoLink
P.O. Box 4892, Station E
Ottawa, ON, K1S 5J1
OR
* Fax completed registration form to:
1-613-235-0155
* For more information:
1-800-265-3973
in Ottawa: 594-5960
email John Thurston, ag264@freenet.carleton.ca
or Mitchell Beer, ac779@freenet.carleton.ca
-- John Thurston, PhD, Mgr., Emerging Technologies, InfoLink ag264@freenet.carleton.ca / thurston@globalx.net Voice: (613) 737-9648 / 594-5960 Fax: (613) 235-0155 26 Stamford Private, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1T 3J3 ----------------- Gabriel A. Hegyes SAN Coordinator 2014 Throckmorton Hall Kansas State University Manhattan, KS 66506-5504 Phone: (913) 532-5776 FAX: (913) 532-6315 ghegyes@oz.oznet.ksu.edu INTERNET *************************************************