🚀 go-pugleaf

About 15 people attended the RTP FreeNet meeting of October 20 in the
Perkins Library at Duke.

After a round of self-introductions, a few short informational items were
discussed. 
  -- Howard McGinn (State Librarian) has resigned
  -- Hallman conducted a Special Interest Group (SIG) session at NC-CAUSE
(a meeting primarily of computer center people from the UNC campuses) on
the RTP FreeNet. About 10 people attended.
  -- Bill Hutchins is participating in a State K-12 effort 
called SCHOOLTECH. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

FUNDING/STAFFING 

Chair: Kevin Gamble 
Co-Chair: Dan Eddleman

Jeff Surles reporting

Committee defined 2 goals: 1) Make a business plan 2) Identify
funding sources to effect the business plan, which should be
reviewed by an executive committee.

Eddleman suggested the usefulness of identifying interest areas
of prospective funders, e.g. education, health care, arts and
humanities, first amendment rights and the need to cooperate with
the Data committee to match those interests with available
databases on the FreeNet.

The committees had been asked to formulate individual mission
statements, and there was some discussion about this, leading to
a discussion about the overall mission statement of the proposed
FreeNet.

Tom Magnuson reported that PIN had decided on a simple mission
statement: To provide public access to public information via
computers and modems.

That "how and why" the mission could/should be accomplished
should be stated for prospective funders was suggested. The
phrase "to provide a gateway to information" was a phrase offered
from Jeff Surles.

There was some discussion about whether the proposed Triangle
FreeNet was competition for available services like Compuserve,
Prodigy, and UNC's EBBS. Again it was pointed out that the
purpose of the Triangle FreeNet is to provide access to free
public information sources with an emphasis on local, community
interests - something the other services do not provide.

Judy Hallman responded that she will post PINs mission statement
to the mailing list and newsgroup, as well as try to obtain an
electronic copy of NPTN's starter kit, known as the "Blue Book"
for posting.


HARDWARE/SOFTWARE/NETWORKING/FACILITIES

Chair: John Whitehead (temporary)
Co-Chair: Dan Eddleman
(Crabtree, who was chairing this committee is no longer in the local area)

Various people reporting

Whitehead will check with Paul Jones on the status of setting up a
listserv for this group.

This committee has had only one meeting; more need to be scheduled. 

Hallman has sent a letter to IBM asking for an RS6000. 

The best prospect for a prototype arrangement at this point is an offer
from Bill Evans and Roy Crabtree to use Evans' personal SCO Xenix-based
system, tcsrtp.  Greg Woodbury is also working with Evans to develop the
prototype.  Evans was not present at this meeting. 

Woodbury is writing a FAQ on Unix BBS software (Frequently
Asked Questions with answers) for Usenet and therefore will be
able to offer a comprehensive list of possible systems
configurations. Woodbury would like to have a copy of the Blue
Book to match specs with the information he has.

Hallman again pointed out that the Freeport software, available for
$850/year, seems to be favored by those who have reviewed it, and that
perhaps purchase of this software might be the first target for the
Funding Committee. 

Cincinatti's Tri-State Online was discussed. A fee of $100 per
user is required for this system.

Hallman will send to Whitehead and Woodbury copies of the information she
has on the FreePort and CIX (Cincinatti) software.

Bill Hutchins suggested that WCU's MicroNet software (Unix-based,
runs on micro) should be reviewed. Tom Hocking is the local
contact for MicroNet. Hutchins will contact the folks at WCU.

HANDSNET offers software for $350/year per user site, and has
both commercial and non-profit pricing offerings.

Hutchins pointed out that PIN wrote complete software
specifications over a year ago, and that these should be reviewed
and published for comment. Woodberry's FAQ should be helpful in
matching available systems to the specs.

Preferred site locations include Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, NCSU,
First Flight Center in RTP, UNC Center for Public TV and MCNC,
but there are no commitments from any site at this time. It is
possible to distribute the equipment at various physical
locations, for example, put a modem bank at RTP to take advantage
of the 549 prefixed wide area circuit and locate the software
serving computers at other sites.

Hutchins knows someone who is designing a 68040 based modem
server for UUNET which may be in prototype by March at a
projected price of $500. He will remain in contact with the
developer to pursue possible negotiations with the FreeNet.

As this committee is key to getting at least a prototype set up
for demonstration, the final comment from the group was that it
needs more leadership and organization.


DATA

Chair: Tom Hocking
Co-Chair: Chris Tully

Chris Tully reporting

This committee should identify and contact potential information
providers and needs to work closely with the Funding committee.

Public information which is needed the most, yet is hardest to
get to, should be a primary target for inclusion in the FreeNet.

Magnuson suggested that the committee make a list of possible
information sources and contacts and request samples. Key
questions might be: Is the information useful? Usable? If useful
but not usable in its current format, how might one negotiate
with the provider for a useable format? Once a source is
identified the User Interface committee should review it to
determine how it might be best delivered to the end user.

All data does not need to reside on a single machine; it can be
stored at various sites and "windows" to the original source set
up through various software/hardware mechanisms.

Hallman distributed to the Data committee at a previous meeting a
list of potential information providers and contacts identified by PIN,
and she gave Tully a file of sample documents.  Hutchins noted that PIN
designed a form to use when querying providers which records such
information as the existing format and platform - and other questions one
needs to ask in order to get complete information. Hallman will send a
copy of the form to Tully. The list and form can be used as a starting
point for the committee, updating and adding entries. 

Hallman pointed out that there are 3 basic types of information
structures to consider for the FreeNet. 1) files 2) bbs messaging
3) Q&A. Information in files can be retrieved on demand, by
topic. Messaging offers open discussion forums by topic. Q&A
topic forums are moderated by an "expert."

Masashi Miyake suggested there was interest from the
Japanese community for Japanese/American cultural exchange
forums. He mentioned a couple of possible funding sources he
might contact, but needs a better definition of the communities
which would be served by these forums. The Japanese community is
also interested in the international electronic mail exchange
which might be possible through the FreeNet.

There was also some discussion about the intrusion of commercial
postings on the FreeNet. Some of those present at the meeting
thought FreeNet subscribers would provide a "self-monitoring"
mechanism to effectively curb attempts at unsolicited
advertising.


USER INTERFACE

Chair: Pat Langelier
Co-Chair: Mike Grubb

Various people reporting

This committee felt it was difficult to design menu interfaces
without knowing what kind of data would be served. They have
decided against the "city" metaphor used by Cleveland and some of
the other FreeNets.

Suggestions from the meeting attendees included concentrating on
how to offer online help, how to limit the number and types of
essential commands to a few keystrokes, and envisioning the
typical user as someone who doesn't regularly use a computer.

Hallman has suggested to Langelier that she help test new documentation
the UNC Office of Information Technology is preparing to set up the
listserv for the User Interface group. 

PUBLICITY

Chair: Michael North
Hallman will contact North to find out who the Co-Chair is.

Hallman reported that this committee has met several times. They
have already produced a form for contributions and begun work on
creating a public relations packet.

Discussion of current needs lead to suggestions that the packet might
include 1) information about other FreeNets 2) Triangle FreeNet specific
goals - including when it might be operational 3) advantages of a FreeNet
to the general and corporate community 4) specific needs for accomplishing
the goals and 5) plea for support. 

Further discussion was about producing a video. While attendees
thought this was generally a good idea and an independent video
producer has volunteered to assist, problems were discussed such
as the length of time required to produce a video, that
professional production is hard to do well, and that costs may be
prohibitive. Hallman reported, for example, that NPTN spent
$25,000 on their 15-minute promotion video.

Using the public access facilities of the local cable TV
companies was discussed, specifically a facility in Durham which
is already prepared to assist public interest groups.


GENERAL

IMPROVING COMMUNICATION AND PRODUCTIVITY

Noting the amount of time already spent in face-to-face meetings and the
inability of everyone to attend these meetings, Hallman urged participants
to more aggressively use electronic communications for planning and
discussion. Each committee has established (or is setting up ) a mailing
list in addition to the general discussion mailing list and newsgroup. 

Hallman suggested forming a steering committee of the committee Chairs and
Co-Chairs to coordinate activities between the groups. Meetings of the
Steering Committee could temporarily replace meetings of the larger group,
with larger group meetings being called as needed. Hallman will contact
the Chairs and Co-Chairs for their thoughts on this.

IMMEDIATE TASKS

Hallman reviewed the following list of immediate tasks and suggested these
be the first topics of discussion via electronic conferences. 

% Packet of info on FreeNets
% Provide a system for developing a prototype
% Train presenters
% Draft a model for proposals for funding
% Get more community interest?
  -- NC CAUSE SIG
  -- Newspaper coverage, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, RTP
% Identify movers and doers and get their support
% Hardware acquisition:  
    Letter sent  Oct. 1 to David Benevides, IBM, asking for an RS/6000. 
    Status of other requests -- Data General, DEC, others? 
% Internet connection 
% Location for hardware
% Identify data to go in first and its providers
  -- A local School?
  -- HIV/AIDS and ALzheimer's info? (DEC equipment grant program)


NEXT MEETING

The next general meeting was originially scheduled for November 17.
Pending agreement among the Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs, this meeting
may be primarily for these people to get together for face-to-face
discussion on coordinating their various tasks. This group may become the
steering committee for the larger group. There was discussion of
possibly having a steering committee meeting earlier than November 17.
Hallman will discuss this with the committee Chairs and Co-Chairs when she
contacts them.