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The Texas Community Resource Center (CRC) project is a non-profit program created to advocate and help develop benefits of Internet technology for Texas communities, especially those communities in rural and underserved areas.
The fundamental CRC objective is encouragement and support for locally directed Internet projects in Texas; the primary strategy is using the many resources already available from public and private organizations, supplementing those existing resources, where needed, with planning and consulting services as well as financial support.
Many Texans recognize the value Internet technologies can offer their communities; given sufficient technical and financial support they could build lasting local Internet resources. CRC helps locally-led projects discover and obtain the assistance they need, including help available from various existing programs and newly developed CRC services.
Participating communities are offered CRC assistance in designing and building or enhancing their own Internet-based capabilities, choosing among options such as public access terminals, local online information networks, telework centers, training (users and maintainers), plus long range telecommunications planning. CRC will also assist with strategies for obtaining funding and other support needed for Texas communities to sustain and expand their local Internet capabilities.
CRC is designed to complement programs like the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF). While TIF grants focus mainly on schools, CRC works with entire communities, including both private and public involvement. One service offered by CRC is assistance with TIF project planning and grant application development.
Stage One CRC services are already underway as Microsoft, Time-Warner, Smart Technologies and Sun Microsystems have provided support needed for a powerful statewide "server farm" computer system offering direct high volume access to the Internet. Currently more than three hundred non-profit organizations are hosted or linked free of charge through this new system.
Expanded CRC project services are being made possible by public interest funding from GTE Southwest, Inc. This initial project support is being used to provide catalyst funds needed to launch locally-directed online technology-based projects. Additional organizations have pledged their support as the CRC project strives toward a statewide fundraising goal of one million dollars.
Sponsoring agent for this project is the Metropolitan Austin Interactive Network (MAIN), a 501c3 Texas non-profit corporation.
Contact information:| Metropolitan Austin Interactive Network P.O. Box 684591 Austin, TX 78768-4591 http://www.main.org | Gene Crick, president gcrick@main.org 512/303-1021 fax 512/321-3163 Rt. 2, Box 47-A Cedar Creek, TX 78612 |
Although CRC services made available to participating communities will
include standardized elements, communities applying can select the precise
components they want for their own projects. CRC assistance is available
for:
Proposals submitted are encouraged to be scalable, specifying desired elements with indication of preference. CRC funds would be distributed among approved proposals; those selected may be offered only partial funding, due to the number of eligible applicants.
Internet access terminals will be located in publicly available
locations, like community libraries. Typical systems include:
COMMUNITY ONLINE RESOURCE INFORMATION SITES
Some participants may apply for support in developing online community
service resource sites, providing locally relevant government,
charitable and other public interest information on the World Wide Web.
The Internet's largest example of this local online resource is
available at MAIN's website: http://www.main.org.
STATEWIDE ONLINE RESOURCE INFORMATION SITES
Community network and resource initiatives are being developed across
the country. CRC has worked to build good relations and communication
with many people working in this area; our planners will gather and
benefit from their information to build Texas leadership in
telecommunications-based community services.
Obviously, learning from the experiences of other efforts will help CRC save time and avoid mistakes in delivering the most effective services. Thus our information plans already include active efforts to keep abreast of relevant technologies and policies anywhere they may arise. Project planners stay current via email and telephone, supplemented with personal communications at convocations and example project sites.
Information gathered (and developed) by CRC will be maintained on our statewide online website, available to be shared by other community network resource planners in Texas and anywhere else.
TRAINING, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
It is valuable and worthwhile to have a computer available for public
Internet access. But this powerful resource is even more valuable when
it is supported by a core of enthusiastic users and trainers - people
who have been shown how to use the Internet to enrich their lives.
Thus the most enduring benefit of this CRC project may well be the
efforts to acquaint and involve the community with telecommunications
tools. Topics for this community outreach might include:
CRC-sponsored trainers will develop curricula and programs, presenting them to interested community groups, using web-based multimedia presentation methods. These tools will be supplemented by development of online support sites and a printed "Guide to Community Internet Resources" - created specifically to provide fundamental information for towns and cities considering, installing, sustaining or upgrading local Internet capabilities.
LONG TERM GOALS
An essential aspect of true project success is long term viability,
including economic sustainability and technical flexibility. The plan for
the funded project should also consider continued operation after the grant
period.
SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING
One of the most important goals of this program is the "leveraging" of the
basic CRC endowment to help meet anticipated needs and interests of
communities statewide. Assisting this goal is support provided by the
Governor's Office including services of a Grants Team to assist this
project and its participants in locating additional funding. This allows
CRC to expand the scope of the potential project benefits and to help
develop continuing support for resources established by this project.
TECHNOLOGY PLANNING
A daunting challenge for local telecommunications planners is the rapid
expansion of technological options. CRC will help communities assess their
needs and select the most effective solutions. For example, most rural
Internet terminals installed will probably be Pentium-based systems with
POTS modems/lines. But long-term system design may, when appropriate,
provide for subsequent upgrade to more advanced telecom services upon
availability.
For example, a library community center might install two public access Internet systems, each with analog modems. After ISDN service becomes available, they might effectively expand the system by installing one BRI, routing hardware (or a Trancell style adapter) and Ethernet cards.
The administrative agency for the Community Resource Center is the Metropolitan Austin Interactive Network (MAIN) - a recognized national leader in public interest telecommunications projects. MAIN is an IRS-approved 501c3 organization, chartered as a Texas non-profit corporation, affiliated with and approved by numerous government and private organizations.
As the nation's largest regional community Internet web project, MAIN provides free web services for Central Texas area non-profits, hosting or linking more than 300 local community interest groups. The MAIN site URL is http://www.main.org. Another MAIN-related activity, the Community Resource Center (CRC) program, has installed the first free public Internet access in 25 Texas cities and towns. These community terminals offer Internet capability to any interested person without charge.
Sponsors and major contributors of MAIN's award-winning programs include Advanced Micro Devices, Applied Materials Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Sun Microsystems, 3M Corporation, Texas State Library, Time Warner/Austin Cablevision, Wallingford Electronics and others.
CRC project policies and benefits will be guided by the CRC Council, a senior advisory group, including leaders from government, commerce, and public interest sectors. The CRC project operations will be directed by the MAIN/CRC Board of Directors and implemented by the CRC administration officers and staff.
ADMINISTRATION, OVERHEAD/INDIRECT COSTS, AND FISCAL CONTROLS
The CRC program is designed as a model project, conforming to highest standards for administration and control.
A Program Coordinator will supervise all CRC program operations, including benefit evaluation and reporting. MAIN has confirmed availability of an Internet-skilled public service administrator with prior experience as an attorney and State of Texas regulatory division manager.
A Finance Director and Comptroller will maintain regulation and internal accounting for CRC program operations. CRC has reached agreement for the services of an experienced senior fiscal administrator. The former Chief Financial Officer of one of the state's largest school districts, this expert accountant knows large scale budget management of a non-profit organization.
Indirect project costs, including accounting and audit, will fall within published State of Texas standards. (Overhead costs of every MAIN-related project to date have never exceeded than state guideline totals.)
Where applicable, MAIN will follow the Uniform Grant and Contract Standards for State Agencies, OMB Circular A-110 and OMB Circular A-122 in administering the funds. The funds will be audited in accordance with OMB Circular A-133, Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Non-Profit Organizations. The Texas State Library has agreed to consult with MAIN, assisting in the CRC grants administration and accounting procedures.
CRC project administration will incorporate all appropriate accounting and audit procedures, overseen by CRC comptroller, state administrators, bank trust officers, and experienced professional auditors. Since this effort can serve as an example of community service cooperation among public, private, and non-profit entities, it is particularly important to fully meet every standard for project control.
CRC funds will be deposited in federally insured accounts. Preliminary fiscal plans include a brokered deposit account in a major urban bank, a limited access account in a rural bank, an interest bearing transfer account, and an operations checking account. All accounts will be fully insured by FDIC, with appropriate restrictions on withdrawals.
Central offices will be established for the Community Resource Center Project. A location in downtown Austin is currently being considered. Online information will be maintained on the CRC statewide web server.
In addition to proposal and disbursement documentation, participating communities will be required to file quarterly status reports detailing project progress toward objectives, total expenditures, and financial balances, including matching funds information. A final project report will be required of participating CRC communities at the end of the project period.
Similarly, the CRC administration will file initial, quarterly and final reports, giving comprehensive overview of the project status, progress and impact.
These administrative reports will reflect not only financial information but also include an assessment of the impact and benefits of the project on the communities served.
A fundamental principle of the CRC project is working with other groups and agencies to assist participating communities. This program collaboration allows local projects to draw on the many resources and expertise of other state and local organizations, both public and private.
Based on preliminary planning contacts, many organizations around the state are eager to give help to the CRC project. Some promising examples of potential supporters and partnerships include:
TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
Officials at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission have endorsed
and offered substantial support for MAIN and this project, from initial
planning and training to final evaluation.
The State Library has extensive experience in administration of public interest Internet grant programs, perhaps the most of any public or private agency in the state. Their sharing of valuable resources like grant administration and accounting expertise are important and valuable assets for the CRC project.
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
The Governor's Office has also agreed to assist this project. A State
Grants Team from the Governor's Office of Budget and Planning will help
each participating community locate funding sources and prepare effective
grant applications.
This expert team will also work with the central CRC project administration to locate additional funding to supplemental the fundamental GTE endowment. Our fundraising target is to leverage the initial $250,000 grant into a total of one million dollars for the project and its communities.
TEXAS TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY INSTITUTE
CRC will be working with the Texas Telecommunications Policy Institute
(TTPI) to develop effective statewide policies and programs designed to
build powerful telecommunications resources for local communities. TTPI,
sponsored by the University of Texas System and the IC2 Institute, will
provide information resources and expert guidance as CRC helps communities
establish and implement the policies they want to direct their networks.
TEXAS RURAL COMMUNITIES, INC.
Texas Rural Communities, a non-profit organization dedicated to development
of rural Texas, has offered to provide substantial assistance in promoting
CRC project benefits and objectives in communities across Texas. Using
their long established channels of communication within rural communities,
the TRC organization makes it possible for CRC teams to quickly identify
and communicate with local leaders who may be interested in participating
in building their own community Internet capabilities.
TELECOMMUTING/TELEWORK ORGANIZATIONS
The Texas Telecommuting Advisory Council and the national Telework
organization have agreed to partner in the development of demonstration and
application projects linking smaller and more remote communities to larger
sales and skills markets. Local economic planners can reach far beyond
their own areas, establishing productive links around the world.
Planning for a pilot telework project is underway, aimed at building a model which will illustrate some benefits Internet tools offer for local economic and workforce development benefits. Businessess and workers can use flexible, non-polluting telecom technology to find jobs, locate personnel and expand community employment in a healthy, effective manner.
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS
Member companies of the Texas Internet Service Providers Association have
offered to provide high-bandwidth Internet presence and physical location
for the CRC host/server Internet system. These contributors are also
willing to provide skilled system planning and administration services.
BOATMEN'S/NATIONSBANK
Several Central Texas banks have offered to donate and provide financial
planning and management services for the CRC project. Trust officers have
designed preliminary banking plans to guarantee security of project funds,
including brokered time deposits and shorter term working accounts, all
fully insured by the FDIC.
TIME-WARNER
Typical of the corporate support we anticipate for the CRC project is the
Time-Warner Corporation. The Time-Warner organization has offered MAIN a
matching "challenge grant" to spur donations from other groups interested
in promoting community-centered non-profit Internet development.
Time-Warner is a supporting partner of the new Community Resource Center Internet "Server Farm" - a powerful multi-platform facility with broad bandwidth connectivity located directly on the Internet backbone.
SMART TECHNOLOGIES
This respected Texas corporation has provided funds and hardware needed
to launch the CRC server computer system. In addition, SMART has also
agreed to host and administer these machines at their new Network Access
Point facility, providing CRC a direct high-speed link to the Internet.
This computer facility will support both Unix and Microsoft NT systems,
using Sun and Pentium processors to offer support for public interest
organizations statewide.
SUN MICROSYSTEMS
For more than a year, Sun Microsystems has been a sponsor of MAIN online
operations. Sun donated MAIN's first server computer, including complete
operating system software. This Sun box, recently expanded with added
memory and additional disk storage, still serves MAIN customers daily.
MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Microsoft has donated complete software systems for the CRC project
operations. This comprehensive contribution includes multiple copies of
their NT Operating Systems software (for the NT-servers in the CRC
facilities) and other Microsoft products for CRC project operations.
These donated Microsoft products are being custom configured for CRC as a public service by a licensed Microsoft product development team. The donor of this service, Digital Voodoo Corporation, was a partner in the Windows 95 product launch and other official Microsoft development efforts.
TELECOMMUNICATION CONSULTANTS
Several nationally recognized telecommunications experts, affiliated with
private corporations and advanced telecom technology organizations, have
agreed to provide skilled consulting services for communities in the CRC
project, particularly for the long range technical planning needed to
create an enduring and flexible technology design.
Those listed above are only a few of the groups likely to be part of the cooperative CRC project. For example, we hope GTE Southwest will be an active partner as well as the founding sponsor of this public interest program.
GTE could provide valuable support within many participating communities, including local leadership, promotion and publicity. Other GTE divisions might also contribute assistance and information about relevant products and technology - including cellular support for CRC travelling outreach and training teams.
Similarly, organizations like the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas Educational Network (TENET) could provide excellent liaison with interested students, teachers and parents throughout the state.
COMMUNITY-CENTERED NETWORKS
A fundamental goal of the Community Resource Center program is making
benefits of Internet technology available to the whole community. This
effort will be unique as Texas' first non-profit initiative designed to
engage the entire community, offering them a comfortable introduction to
the Internet and involving anyone interested in positive use of online
technology.
MAIN's experience shows that local community telecommunications projects are most successful when significant initiative and leadership come from within the community to be served. This project will help interested individuals and organizations in Texas communities work together in creating locally-centered Internet projects for CRC grants and other funding.
Local input and support for these Internet projects can come from a wide spectrum of individuals and community organizations, including schools, libraries, government and other public groups. One example: economic development organizations could use online tools for workforce and employment assistance or for promotion of new commercial enterprise. Or historical and genealogy researchers may support a project to use volunteer labor to put County birth and other records on the Internet.
CRC will begin with an active outreach promotion to enable eligible communities to understand the possibilities, to acquaint them with the types of support available, and to help them develop collaborative grant applications.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
The CRC project is designed to complement Telecommunications Infrastructure
Fund grant programs authorized under HB2128. CRC will serve not only K-12
students, but all interested citizens; public access terminals cam be
located in sites available to anyone, like libraries and community centers.
Local educational officials will be included from the start in making a
comprehensive plan for bringing online tools to the entire community.
CRC teams will work with all interested parties (TIF-eligible organizations, vendors, and local groups) to help them prepare effective proposals, including joint projects, to submit for TIF grant funding.
One of the most rewarding uses of online tools is serving needs of special groups within the larger local community. For example, special CRC programs emphasize the fullest possible access for citizens facing unusual challenges.
The visual nature of World Wide Web (graphical interface) technology offers unique benefits to deaf Texans. For the first time, many of them will be able to use sign language online to "talk" with each other. In 1996, CRC began this program by sponsoring American Sign Language classes for public Internet access staff and other interested community members. With cooperation from the Texas School for the Deaf and county deaf services, certified ASL experts taught how to comunicate with non-hearing people who want to learn and explore the net.
Assistance programs for the blind and visually-impaired are also part of CRC. Information and support are available for blind people who want to discover and use voice-translation tools for access to computers and Cyberspace. A related program helps make large format video display and software drivers available for those who have difficulty viewing normal monitors and fonts.
Just as people who share affinity can communicate via the Internet, those with special needs can locate and interact with others who understand. Forums and resource sites can give information and support for almost any human need or challenge, from suicide prevention to dealing with illness.
An important goal is assisting net users with physical handicaps to learn where they can obtain tools and services to aid in access and mobility. In similar spirit, people who want to deal with agoraphobia, infertility, or any other situation should be able to use CRC projects to quietly share facts and insights with others, yet not be required to give up legal rights to privacy protection.
VOTER INFORMATION SITES
The MAIN/CRC website has begun offering voter information pages on the
World Wide Web (http://www.main.org). In conjunction with The League of
Women Voters and the Electronic Frontier Foundation of Austin, this new
Internet project currently provides details of elections and candidacies
throughout Central Texas. There is no charge nor restriction for this
non-partisan "voter's guide" service, available to all valid candidates.
As part of the comprehensive CRC initiative, this prototype information project could be expanded to included statewide election candidacies. The model could also be used for communities interested in creating voter guides for local elections.
DEMOCRACY.NET
The proposed "democracy.net" project offers an experiment in online
democracy, using telecommunications and multimedia technology to provide
a simple means by which living government can be shared and observed;
and an open participatory forum where all sides of an issue can be
debated and explored.
Currently, democracy.net hosts live, interactive cybercasts of national Congressional Hearings and online forums with key policy makers and industry leaders. In addition, democracy.net works with the Internet community and the Congressional Internet Caucus to expand access to legislative information via the Net, enhance the use of electronic mail for constituent communication, and prepare an extensive review of methods of online political communication and an analysis of the effectiveness of these methods. (For more information see http://www.democracy.net.)
As part of the Texas CRC initiative, democracy.net proposes to make available both realtime (live) and archived proceedings of Texas state government. Selected key executive and regulatory meetings and hearings would be presented over the Internet with live audio, live pictures, and interactive chat. Then, in 1999 the floor proceedings of the 76th Texas Legislature will be available across the state.
For enduring value, all these proceedings would be archived on the CRC democracy.net site for students, teachers, or any interested citizens, to review whenever they wish.
Students who wish to "virtually" attend the proceedings would be able to listen to live audio, watch pictures from the floor, and chat with other Internet users about what was going on. Other stages of the project could include the integration of user participation between users on the net and members of the legislature.
A joint project with the Center for Democracy and Technology and the Voters Telecommunications Watch, the mission of democracy.net is to explore ways of enhancing citizen participation in the democratic process via the Internet, provide Internet users the opportunity to lend their voices to critical Internet policy debates, and to illustrate the potential of the Internet to impact the democratic process in a constructive way.
The Texas democracy.net project would require computer equipment for each chamber, including a web camera and encoding computer, plus an archive storage computer system. The chat and the interface to the chambers would run from http://texas.democracy.net/. The project would require a staff person on call during the legislative session and other recorded events. This person would also have responsibility for managing the archive and moderating the chat systems.
Preliminary CRC timelines and guidelines are necessarily approximate; detailed specifics of service calendars and budgets will be developed as the Council and Board of Directors determine project scope and assess community requirements for this project.
Project period: two years.| Months 1 - 3 | Planning, Promotion, and Release of RFP for Planning andTraining Grants |
| Months 4 - 5 | Evaluation, Grant Awards and Scheduling of Publicity andPlanning Meetings in Local Communities |
| Months 6 - 11 | Phase One - Local Planning Projects Statewide Online Resource Projects |
| Months 12-14 | Release of RFP for Implementation Grants |
| Months 15-16 | Evaluation and Grant Awards for Implementation Grants |
| Months 18-23 | Second Phase - Local Project Implementation |
| Month 24 | Final Evaluation and Audit Reports |
ELIGIBLE CRC PROJECT APPLICANTS
Applications for CRC project participation are allowed and invited from
groups in any Texas community. Some programs, like project reference
information, will be provided to every applicant. Resources for some
other CRC services, including physical hardware and technical services,
are limited and will be distributed on a competitively evaluated basis.
Cooperative projects are encouraged, involving people and groups from throughout the local community. The primary project applicant must be an accredited non-profit group or project.
While local CRC projects may include all segments of the community, only non-profit groups may directly receive funds or equipment purchased by grant funds, unless specifically authorized otherwise. Community funds match, where applicable, is 40% of project costs; up to 20% of this matching funds requirement may be met with "in kind" contributions.
BUDGET GUIDELINES
Specific service choices and cost information must be determined before
presenting a detailed CRC project budget. Tentative estimates divide
the project's funded activities among three major areas:
Funds allocated for particular areas from the original GTE endowment may be replaced by additional funds from other contributed funds. This flexibility ensures that benefits to be delivered are the first priority while the CRC "seed money" is used for maximum effect.
A minimum 90% of the funds for this project will be deposited as trust accounts and will only be disbursed after a complete Strategic Plan, including detailed budget and time guidelines, has been drafted and approved by the board.
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