October 21, 2009
Digital inclusion – the cooperative way
10 million people in the UK have never used the internet. Of that number, 4 million live in the poorest communities and are often in the most hard to reach groups. If this situation is going to change then we need to see more projects like the media cooperative recently set up in West Whitlawburn, North Lanarkshire. Next week, they tell how they did it
Co-operating to deliver next generation broadband
What role could co-operatives play in the development and delivery of next generation broadband services in Scotland ?
Co-operative Development Scotland and West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative (WWHC) will help debate this topic at two free Digital Scotland workshops on 28th and 29th October at Hillington Park Innovation Centre in Glasgow .
What role could co-operatives play in the development and delivery of next generation broadband services in Scotland ?
Co-operative Development Scotland and West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative (WWHC) will help debate this topic at two free Digital Scotland workshops on 28th and 29th October at Hillington Park Innovation Centre in Glasgow .
The events are designed to give individuals, businesses and communities the opportunity to discuss and debate the future direction of fixed, wireless and mobile broadband services in Scotland and their impact on users.
On 28th October, Susan Small of West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative (WWHC) will explain how the organisation created a new community-owned co-operative, Whitcomm, to deliver fibre optic cabling and broadband services to 100 of its homes.
Whitcomm buys wholesale bundles of TV, internet and phone services and is able to provide these to housing association tenants at discounted rates. The co-operative is now working with local credit unions, a community health initiative and the community resource centre to provide some of their services online.
On 29th October, CDS will explain the different co-operative business models and how communities and small businesses could use these models to create co-operative networks.
The events are organised by Innovation Centres Scotland and the industry-led Digital Communications Knowledge Transfer Network.
Registration and attendance is free, but space is strictly limited. To register, please email dcktn@innovationcentre.org ; Alternatively, please contact 0141 585 6316, leaving your name, contact number and company name.
http://www.whitcomm.co.uk/