The UK Government is investing £10 million to pilot the idea of connecting homes in disadvantaged communities (e.g. inner city and suburban estates, rural communities and villages) to the Internet. The Department for Employment and Skills (DfES) says about its Wired Up Communities programme: 'The objective is to assess how individual access to the Internet can transform opportunities for people living in the most disadvantaged communities by developing new ways of accessing learning, work and leisure services.' Key points Homes are being connected using a variety of technologies (e.g. standard telephone lines, broadband technology, digital TV). This will 'enable them to access a wide range of local and national services and to develop links with local schools'. The pilots are testing: the impact on different types of communities the most appropriate technologies what facilities should be offered the potential for private sector involvement how the initiative can complement other Government initiatives how new technology can help break down barriers which people face in getting and keeping a job how to encourage community ownership of the WUC initiatives how new technology can be used to develop home/ school links More about Wired Up Communities The official DfEE Wired Up Communities web site More on the above overview, with news, links, contact details and press notice We are contributing to a WUC Online Resource for WUCs being developed by Halcyon Consultants, who havebeen in the lead in advising the WUC pilots. Contact Rob Campbell for more information. Making the Net Work ideas for WUCs Our early suggestions on how the WUC pilots might benefit from UK and other experience in developing online communities