DINNER SESSION
GUEST SPEAKER, DR. TOM GRUNDNER
INSTIGATOR OF NPTN

Tom gave a moving speech on the past, present and future of Community
Based Networking and the impact that these networks can have on
communities both locally and globally.  He praised the efforts of
Canadian pioneers in this field and delivered a stirring challenge to
organize on a national basis.  By doing so other groups around the
world would be drawn together into an International Cybercasting Union
that would further the efforts of community based networking on a
world wide basis.

HIGHLIGHTS:

*    Telecomputing is the fourth medium.  It combines characteristics
     of print, radio and TV to create a new and vibrant medium of
     communication.

*    The FreeNet movement is sustained by the belief that 20 to 30
     years from now there will be a public telecomputing network.

*    To avoid the development of two classes in the new information
     society you have to ensure that the "gas station attendent" has
     access to the network and a reason to be there.

*    Community Networks offer a middle ground between the BBS
     community and more commercial services such as Prodigy, GEnie and
     Compuserve.

*    Communities have a responsibility to build the network.  If they
     don't add content they are just "strip mining the Internet". 
     Communities have to build content and services.

*    We have to start building the settlements in the new "electronic"
     frontier.

*    NREN is not a savior.  It doesn't make sense to build NREN in
     absence of a parallel development in community networking.
 
*    It doesn't make sense to build K-12 networks without a parallet
     community network to fill learning needs that span K-100.  The
     current situation is like having obligatory Driver's Ed in a
     world without cars.

*    What is really needed is a National Community Network.

*    It is the turn of this present generation to take up the
     challenge of building the next level of public infrastructure. 
     If the Canadians organize nationally they will have the support
     of the Americans, Germans,  Finns and others around the world in
     the formation of an International Cybercasting Union -- a
     national movement of community based networks.