In planning your online initiative you will need many technological and other tools.... and it may be that quite a few of them are already in your area.

The project leader should assess the full range of resources already available - in schools, libraries, community centers or other locations. The problem may lie in the access to and co-ordination of these resources rather than simply in the lack of new equipment or of new facilities. Access points and equipment are not the only resources that should be considered. Community information, training, technical and other support services, and the presence of tech champions within the community should also be taken into account.

A thorough audit would look at:

• public access sites
• discounted or low-cost dial-up access opportunities
• sources of technical support (tech assistance & training) (include virtual, phone, and on-site support - plus online information) (include volunteer, intern, and low-cost sources)
• training labs
• hardware & software recycling opportunities / laptop lending programs
• community web sites or portals (commercial, e-government, or voluntary sector) (Explore integrated approaches)
• online I & R databases or databases that could be made available online
• community publishing resources (hosting, website design and development)
• community voicemail
• community asset mapping initiatives
• e-democracy efforts / online fora and conferencing
• videoconferencing sites
• under-used broadband capacity that could be shared with the community
• local tech champions
• local institutions and facilities willing to open their walls
• sources of e-commerce support
• community information brokers /knowledge managers /facilitators
• local mechanisms for awareness - building (local media, special events, conferences, PR and promotional materials)
• tech policy development and advocacy opportunities (both online and off-line)
•  community-of-interest networks outside the locality that could provide resources
• community networking or social exclusion funding sources for start-up/demo projects
• potential resources for long term sustainability

Questions to ask:

• where is there duplication?
• what do each of these need to be more effective?
• where are the gaps in service?
• where are there opportunities for collaboration?
• what structure needs to be in place in order to use these resources in an integrated, ongoing way?

Exercise - do a matrix of providers against these services.

Terry Grunwald