AOL Rural Telecommunications Leadership AwardsTitle:  PEANUT.ORG People Electronically Acting Neighborly Utilizing Technology

Submitted By:Susan   Knox
P.O. Box 5545
Sylvester, Georgia 31791
912 776-8345
sknox @ peanut.org

Community Name:  Sylvester Georgia
Community Population:  7,000 - 8,000

Description:

Free Net is PC networked system used by government, educational institutions, community businesses, groups, and private citizens. Access to the system is "free." It is implemented and maintained on a voluntary basis by donations of funds, resources, and manpower. The Free-Net system is governed by a Board, which sets policy and develops standards. The first Free Net in Georgia was implemented in the Southwest Georgia city of Sylvester. To improve community relations and resources, and make use of current technological advances, a countywide computer network was implemented in 1994. The name PEANUT.ORG was chosen because Sylvester is the Peanut Capital of the World. The system is a nonprofit organizations, serving citizens from Sylvester and Worth County and also by those from surrounding counties in the toll-free telephone dialing area. The purposes are to provide timely and vital information to citizens in the community, provide a tool for communication, organization, civic and community development. Approximately 600 users are accessing the system on a regular basis. There are currently 150 public locations from which on-line access is available to citizens. These are located at the Margaret Jones Public Library and various buildings in the county school system. Information and services provided on this system include local and world wide (e-mail), Free-Net information and help desk; community news, sports, and entertainment; local government information; local church information; computer information and assistance; medical services; national government; library access; agricultural news; business news; school and educational services, financial news.

Web Site: www.peanut.org

Project Focus Area:
Community


Award Category:
Community Capacity Building

1) Impact:
Degree of material and sustainable improvement to the community's quality of life or standard of living.

Since the inception of the Free Net in 1994, there have been significant impacts in the community. The first unexpected impact was with the Flood of 1994 in Albany, Georgia when the Free Net was the backbone of FEMA communication over the web when the rest of the area telecommunication system was underwater. All of the schools in the county K-12 have been wired for internet access and are on a frame relay. A distance learning lab has been established at the high school to provide on site college course. Technology specialist has been hired to serve each of the schools. Middle school received a grant to fund a language arts computer lab, Economic Development Authority has received two years of funding from the US Department of Commerce as a participant in their Digital Economy demonstration grant. Library has installed a bank of 10 public access computers. Donations from area financial institutions and government surplus computers have been donated to the schools and non-profit organizations. Housing Authority has received a grant to establish a computer lab in their complexes. Moultrie Tech has installed two 20-station computer-training labs at the Sumner Workforce Development Center. Baptist Hospital Worth County is installing a video conferencing center. Establishment of the Free Net provided an environment conducive to fostering an awareness of the potential uses of technology in this impoverished rural community. These examples illustrate the impact.

2) Innovativeness:
What can we learn from your project?  How does it extend the state-of-the-art in a national context?

Free Net has been the catalyst for changing how we communicate and view our connection to the world. Free Net demonstrated to outside funding agencies that this impoverished rural community was looking for new ways to create economic activity by defining itself as a "can do community ready to use the infrastructure of the information highway" to transform the process of economic and community development. The US Department of Commerce funding for the 21st Century Digital Economy project led to the establishment of a 21st Century Rural Think Tank facilitated by a leading futurist. As groups gathered to think, they explored the role technology could play in helping to transform their economy and community. Many citizens were still operating in a 3x5-card environment. Technology can improve communication, which is the fundamental foundational building block for civic change and sustainable communities. The effort gathered steam and others began to develop parallel technology projects that built on the foundation of community wide free internet accessibility for all citizens. Lessons that Free-Net can share with other rural communities throughout the country: 1. Start small and build 2. Believe you can do it 3. Be willing to take risks and work hard 4. Accept that change will bring other challenges. Be willing to work through those challenges as they present themselves 5. Build on and celebrate each success 6. Recognize importance of outreach to all diverse segments of the community 7. Look to the future for trends that transform societal institutions

3) Replicability:
Utility as a model for other rural communities across the country. How can your project be duplicated or adapted by others?

The underlying technological structure upon which the Free-Net system is built includes a centrally located file server. Anyone with a personal computer and modem in the City of Sylvester, Worth County, and toll-free telephone dialing areas, can access the Free-Net system free of charge 24 hours a day. The Free-Net System Operator conducted the installation and implementation of the system. A survey of existing hardware and software was conducted to determine the feasibility of utilizing existing hardware, system size in terms of computing capability and communications capacity. Funding requirements were based on the technical needs. The initial required hardware purchased and installed for the system has been upgraded along with software. The original server was a Macintosh Quadra 650, 8-MB memory and 500-MB hard disk storage. The present hardware installed for the system includes a Linux server, 32 MB memory, 1.500 MB hard disk storage, Cisco 2501 router to a T-1 1.5 MBPS phone line and a Shiva LanRover with 8 dial in 33.3 K Modems. This provides for user created web pages, verification of users, email forwarding and other features. After all the hardware was installed, the System Operator, Board of Directors, and agency volunteers collected and formatted the initial data for the system, which were then entered into the system. From project formulation to on-line start-up, was three months. System upkeep and providing user assistance comprise the major activities involved in maintaining the system. Funding, volunteer services, tracking user memberships/fees are ongoing activities.

4) Degree of Community Involvement:
Extent of partnerships and diversity; breadth of public, non-profit, and private sector involvement; involvement and support from end users; training and outreach.

Featured in Newsweek, this community garnered a great deal of attention as a technology leader in the State of Georgia and nation. The confidence that came with the successful launch of an somewhat risky venture in 1994,when not many people had heard of the internet, has carried over into other aspects of community capacity building. The area took pride in being a leader and realized that they were empowered by their own strengths. Free Net has served as a non-threatening change agent that has forge successful relationships with traditional institutions such as the school system, Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority. The importance of helping people not only becomes better acquainted with technology, but to realize their full potential can not be quantified. The development of a Kellogg Foundation Managing Information in Rural America Grant application helped diverse citizens groups to explore how technology can be integrated including sharing access to a digital microscope for diagnosis of both plant and human disease. Free Net was a vital part of disseminating information to the over 1200 citizens that were a part of a strategic planning process in preparation for a federal USDA Empowerment Zone application. Trends of the future have been introduced via the Free Net. Conferences at Blacksburg Electronic Village have allowed us to share experiences, visions for the future and frustrations of running a community network with others. Free Net users cover the range of young/old, rich/poor, black/white/hispanic.

5) Proposed Use of Award:
Detailed plan for the $10,000 cash award, if selected, to promote and further the goals of your project.

As use of the Free Net has grown, so has the demand for both Help Desk expertise and other technical support services. Public education and outreach efforts have been hit and miss due to the limitation of available volunteer hours that have been by necessity primarily devoted to operational maintenance, systems upgrades and routine operational functions. Growth of the network has been primarily through word of mouth among students, teachers and other supporters of Free Net. These are areas that Free Net would like to provide additional support to the community, but because of limited funding has been unable to. Training of interested middle and high school students to assist elderly and technology naive citizens with basic troubleshooting, updating of web site, small group training and other functions necessary for the enhancement of the smooth operation of the net work. Hardware updates as needed to keep pace with technology will become even more important in the days ahead because the length of the obsolescence cycle is becoming shorter as technology improvements come more quickly. Publication of a Free Net Users Guide will assist new users in setup and FAQ.