US/ND-5: AzTeC Free-Net
AzTeC Free-Net
Christine Rademan (cradema@libby.litchpkeld.k12.az.us)
Sun, 29 Sep 1996 16:31:28 +0000
The AzTeC Free-Net serves Flagstaff, Prescott, Phoenix, Glendale,
Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, and Tucson--about 225 miles north to
south along the Interstate. It was planned in 1993 on the model
developed by the National Public Telecommunications Network (NPTN). The
idea originated in Cleveland,OH 14 years ago.
The founding partners were AZ Dept.of Library, Archive & Public Records,
AZ School Services through Educational Technology (ASSET),
AZ State University, Community Information and Referral Services, Inc.,
KAET Channel 8 (PBS broadcaster).
Donors included AZ Dept.of Library, ASU, AT&T, Cisco Systems, Inc.,
Digital Equipment Corp., Intel Corp., and Motorola.
AzTeC went online in July, 1994 with 200 volunteers/registered users.
There are now 18,000 registered users. It adds 100 new users daily
w/little or no publicity. The next goal is to have connections
available in all of the 125 state libraries.
AzTeC also places used computers and modems in public access areas such
as schools, senior centers, learning centers, local libraries,
childrens' homes,etc. The only requirement is that the organization
provides public access.
AzTeC is a text based server due to a law that prevents it from offering
full Internet services. It does not compete w/commercial providers. It
does offer free email anywhere in the world, World Wide Web via Lynx,
Government Printing Office (GPO) documents, & US Tax Code online.
Web pages for Glendale, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Chandler, Mesa, and Tempe
have links through AzTeC. Scottsdale has connected 2 city buildings
with an asynchronous transer mode (ATM) fiberoptic network and hopes to
connect outlying city offices by the end of the year. Each city's home
page lists government services, and Chandler, Tempe and Glendale make it
possible to email city council members, read newletters, etc. Tempe
allows registered users to discus civic issues online.