• Why the I-Net?
• What's Possible With the I-Net?
• Amended Language in Sec. 5 of Franchise Agreement
• Statement of Principles memo from I-Net Working Group to AT&T

• Austin, Texas
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Portland, Oregon
• Seattle and King County, Washington
• Tucson, Arizona

• The Pittsburgh I-Net in Area Papers
• Summary of the I-Net section (sec. 5) of the Draft Franchise Agreement.
• John Barry's Op-Ed article from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
  on Monday, November 1st. 1999
• Rick Flanagan's November 2 1999 letter to Michael Armstrong, CEO of AT&T
• Rick Flanagan's Op-Ed article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
• Rick Flanagan's October 24, 1999 article Let's connect the 'Pittsburgh I-Net'
  from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
• Contact list of AT&T Board and Staff.
• Rick Flanagan's September 14th. 1999 Letter to James Mazur.
• Letter of September 10th., 1999 to James Mazur,
  Regional Vice President of AT&T by Rick Flanagan
  on behalf of the I-Net Working Group.
• Letter to City Government, the Pittsburgh Public Schools and The Carnegie
• April 16th I-Net Draft Proposal.
• Letters of Support from the Community
• "Group wants Internet for museum, libraries", Tribune Review, May 27, 1999
• One-page summary of April 16th., 1999 Working Group proposal.
• Companion diagram to proposal in GIF or PDF

 
   Welcome to the Web site for the Pittsburgh I-Net.

A group of local community leaders is proposing that the City of Pittsburgh require TCI of Pennsylvania, Inc. to build an Institutional Network (I-Net) as a condition of renewing TCI's franchise agreement in Pittsburgh.  An I-Net is a telecommunications network, provided in conjunction with a cable company's cable television network, that can serve government buildings, schools, libraries and community groups -- both for their internal communications needs and for access to the Internet.

The group's general goal is to produce a fiber optic network that reaches all City neighborhoods -- for the use of institutions and community groups dispersed outside the central business district.  The I-Net can provide a less expensive, more flexible network for city buildings, schools, libraries and other institutions.  Community groups can gain access to a high-bandwidth system for Internet access and community development work.  The I-Net can, thus, promote equity and affordability in the availability of new technologies and services.

AT&T's recent acquisition of TCI adds another dimension to the franchise renewal.  If AT&T follows through with its announced plans, the new Pittsburgh franchise could serve as a showcase for the delivery of advanced telecommunications services.  The proposed Pittsburgh I-Net can ensure that advanced services are extended to institutional and community uses, helping to provide information equity for the City's residents.

The community leaders have been meeting since February to develop a proposal to present to the City's negotiators.   The meetings follow the approval of the concept by the City's Cable Communications Advisory Committee.

This Web site is part of the Network Democracy program of Information Renaissance, which has been participating in the community meetings.  The site has been created for the use of community groups in Pittsburgh and anyone interested in the public regulation of cable franchises.  The site contains background information to educate people about I-Nets.  It also provides a forum for people to ask questions, share information and make comments -- to the other participants and to City officials.

We invite you to participate in the site's interactive mechanisms and upcoming meetings to develop the I-Net proposal.