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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, on the
other hand, been working to create electronic neighbourhoods 
that reflect the priorities and  interests of their communi- 
ties.  At  this  conference,  electronic  networkers and the
voluntary sector will come together to explore common ground
and develop a unified voice with which to express their con-
cerns.  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, The 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

9:45-10:15   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

10:15-10:30  Break

10:30-12:00  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.                                 
               "Tollgates or an Open Road?"
                         (invited)

               Response:  Marita Moll, Jay Weston

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.

Confirmed Speakers:

                Karen Adams, Executive Director, Canadian
                Library Association

                Marc Belanger, Coordinator, Technical
                Office, Canadian Union of Public Employees;
                initiator of SoliNet

                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; Treasurer, 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,
                Communications, McGill University

                Kirk Roberts, co-founder of The 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

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