Substantial and sustainable community projects in so-called "developed" countries

Orientation of proposal

Community projects and initiatives for access, networking training and developing content should be given sufficient, continuous and coordinated finance from the different levels of government to ensure their long-term viability. This finance should include guaranteed and continuous basic financing that acknowledges the social utility of organisations whose central role is the appropriation of ICTs and their grouping at regional and national levels ; guaranteed financial commitments to community organisations on the basis of pluriannual contracts with a schedule of deliverables and evaluations according to national standards established jointly ; purchases by and contracts with governments and community organisations ; tax credits and other subsidies to create new enterprises and jobs by social economy organisations in the sector.

The sources of income to ensure this financing should come from the following : a specific fund constituted by a tax on the profits communication and telecom companies. Different systems exist that could be used and generalised : the universal service fund (e-rate) of the United States set up specifically for connection to the Internet (1 to 2% of income up to a maximum of US$2.5 billion dollars per year) ; the financing of community television (now no longer obligatory) by 2 to 5% of the revenue generated by cable distributors in Canada ; the local PEG funds in the United States.

The extension of programmes that exist already for community organisations to other sectors and categories :
- The e-rate in the Unitred States is currently reserved only for schools, libraries and rural centres.
- The "Connect the families" programme of subsidies for the poorest families in Quebec could be extended to non-profit organisations and cooperatives.
- The tax credits granted to private companies to promote e-commerce and networking between them could be adapted to social economy companies specialised in ICTs and support their activities to develop community content.
- The funds reserved for training personnel provided for in certain states-provinces.
- Self-financing of organisations by the sale at low cost of certain services to the community, it being understood that this extra revenue can only finance a small part of the cost, maintenance and renewal of the organisation’s infrastructure and operation.
- The creation and encouragement of partnerships between private enterprise, different levels of government and the social economy sector where the expertise and voluntary work are recognised and upheld as contributions.

Posté le 4 octobre 2002

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