Citizens Network Association

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The Bürgernetzverband eV is a German association. It represents 44 associations with more than 25,000 members across Germany. The member associations work on a voluntary basis. For historical reasons, most of the citizens' network associations exist in Bavaria . The Citizens Network Association is currently represented in the following bodies:

  • Information Society Forum of the Federal Government
  • Filter systems forum on the Internet of the Bertelsmann Foundation
  • Management group "Bayern Online Kongress"
  • Working group on education / equal opportunities of the D21 initiative

aims

The aim of the citizens' network associations is to make the possibilities of the Internet available to everyone. In detail, this means for the citizen networks:

  • Support and training of the population in using computers and the Internet
  • Participation in political decision-making in the field of new media
  • Development of local information platforms and regional online marketplaces
  • Supporting the exchange of citizens in the field of new media

idea

Dealing with the internet has become a key competence in our society. The aim of the citizens' network associations is to make this potential of the Internet usable for every citizen. "Networking from below" is the catchphrase. The focus is on "trying it out for yourself", voluntary work and on-site exchange. The citizens' network associations are a local and regional platform for this. The socio-political aspect plays a major role here: The participation of citizens in shaping the Internet ultimately also means shaping democracy .

development

Initially, an important task of the citizen networks was to provide people with inexpensive Internet access and thus to lay the foundation for the spread of this new medium. Due to the on-site presence, this could usually be done at the local network tariff of Deutsche Telekom - which was unrivaled cheap at the time.

Over time, this has changed and inexpensive connections to the Internet are now available in a large variety (except for areas where DSL is not available). In the course of this development, some citizen networks have ceased and disbanded. Most of them, however, now offer general help on the subject of computers and the Internet. Maintaining and operating the networks is also a key task, with control over one's own infrastructure remaining an advantage.

The main area of ​​work continues to be education and training for all citizens in order to counteract an emerging digital divide . However, "specialties" emerge from the individual associations. On the one hand, there are offers for the distribution of broadband in areas that are not covered by DSL by the telecommunications providers. On the other hand, there are the topics of youth and senior work, support (especially around the topic of computer security) and regional information portals. There are also "special services", such as an Internet radio in the Allgäu citizens' network .

Since 2006, the Citizens Network Association has been running the "Question of the Month" project (see web links) together with some member associations, in which political decision-makers address the questions of Citizens Network members.

history

The citizens' network associations emerged in 1995 from the “Bayern Online I” project of the Bavarian state government . Funds from privatization proceeds were invested in the network infrastructure of the Bavarian universities. Through "the students during the day" and "all citizens in the evening", the associations were able to increase the use of the Internet. More than 50% of households across Germany are now connected to the Internet. Nevertheless, there is still a major task in introducing the German population to the global network. After all, imparting media competence means more than just making the technology available. Depending on the local conditions, the individual member associations have developed different priorities in order to do justice to their mandate.

brand

“Citizens Network” is registered as a trademark with the DPMA .

Web links