Volunteer to help northern and isolated communities get broadband access! Communities - request technical assistance with Rural Broadband proposals. Introduction: Technical assistance Rural Broadband proposals - Volunteer project CompuCorps Mentoring is a Canadian charity which develops and manages computer volunteer programs, provides low cost consulting services and software for charities. We believe that all community groups and charities should be active participants in our network society. But how can this happen if they are located outside major centres and do not have proper internet capabilities? We have received requests to assist communities with their applications and business plans to implement community based broadband under the Rural Broadband initiative of Industry Canada announced on September 5, 2002. Description: Industry Canada's Broadband for Rural and Northern Development Pilot Program provides initial funding for business plans of $105 million through a competitive process to bring publicly available broadband access to Canadian communities, with priority given to First Nations, northern, remote and rural communities which are currently unserved by Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or cable modem service. The broadband initiative is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to ensuring broadband access for all Canadian communities by 2005. Brief summary of work to be completed: Even if you haven't had the chance to learn about fibre optic, wireless or satellite network systems with your current IT skills you could help out, receive training from CompuCorps and receive a certificate of assistance provided. Both the applications and business plans require an analysis of the existing community telecommunications infrastructure, the community need and commitment and an equally weighted examination of both the fibre optic and the wireless options for each community involved. Applications for business plan funding must be completed by October 31, 2002 (or by March 1, 2003) and the development of comprehensive community business plans will start in December 2002. Technical environment: We need to research and explain the current telecom infrastructure in each community. This would include the local ISP's, the type of data and internet access available to local institutions (schools, hospitals, municipal offices and band council) and the monthly costs of data and internet access. As well all the local telephone, cable and wireless providers have to be included. Project plan: Volunteers could be responsible for the technical components - fibre and wireless – for the applications or business plans (or community needs analysis) or could act as the project manager for the particular community in coordination with a local committee of volunteers. A volunteer would likely assist a community without actually being present there – i.e. virtually. Communities could include over 400 rural, remote northern or native locations. Interested in getting involved? Thank you - please e-mail us at: info@compucorps.org
1040 Somerset Street W, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4L3  |  Email: info@compucorps.org  |  Tel: (613) 234 - 8988  |  Fax: (613) 234 - 6016