[11578] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
MCI Study: Alternative Public Internet Access Points
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Sloan, Bernie)
Tue Aug 19 20:16:24 1997
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 11:47:56 -0500
From: "Sloan, Bernie" <bernies@uillinois.edu>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
>I thought that some of you might be interested
>in the following posting I received from a
>Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) list.
>
>Bernie Sloan
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>NINCH ANNOUNCEMENT
>August 15, 1997
>>
>>
>>The press release below, forwarded by the Benton Foundation contains some
>>interesting and I believe relevant news on the increasing use of libraries,
>>museums and community organizations for Internet access.
>>
>>David Green
>><david@cni.org>
>>
>>
>> What's Your Log-On Locale?
>>
>> MCI Study of Internet Access Finds Sharpest Increase
>> Among Alternative Public Points
>>
>> WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- According to an MCI LibraryLINK
>>study
>>released today, the number of people who regularly access the Internet
>>through
>>points other than home, office or school has nearly tripled in the last
>>year.
>>The growing phenomenon of "alternative points of access" such as libraries,
>>museums and civic organizations, illustrates the heightened need for the
>>Internet among diverse audiences. MCI LibraryLINK a public-private
>>partnership between MCI and the American Library Association, commissioned
>>the
>>analysis to determine the trends associated with society's growing demand
>>for
>>Internet access.
>>
>> The analysis is based on Internet research from the CommerceNet/Nielsen
>>Media Research Internet Demographic Studies. In a random telephone survey
>>of
>>U.S. and Canadian residents, respondents were asked where they log on to the
>>Internet. The analysis uncovered some startling data about Internet access.
>>
>> In the spring of 1996, approximately 1.5% of the Internet users claimed
>>to
>>access the Internet through an "alternative point of access" such as a
>>library. Today, that number has almost tripled to 4% and the analysis shows
>>it will continue to grow exponentially as communities respond to the
>>public's
>>growing need for increased public access.
>>
>> "The flourishing popularity of 'alternative points of access'
>>illustrates
>>the Internet's escalating importance in the daily lives of more and more
>>Americans," said Vint Cerf, Senior Vice President, Internet Architecture and
>>Engineering at MCI. "For people who don't work with computers in the
>>workplace or have the ability to go online from home, these alternative
>>points
>>of access are their lifeline to the Internet and to the wealth of
>>information
>>it holds such as job lines, business databases, and homework help stations."
>>
>> MCI defines "alternative points of access" as any venue other than home,
>>school or work where the public or a group's members have access to the
>>Internet. These venues are classified as "alternative points" because going
>>online has not, until recently, been a service or activity associated with
>>these locations. These venues include public libraries, museums, churches,
>>community centers, retailers, hospitals and recreational facilities.
>>
>> Percentages of respondents claiming to access the Internet from an
>>alternative point break down as follows:
>>
>> Public libraries 36%
>> Churches/Community Centers 14%
>> Retail Outlet 11%
>> (mall computer store, coffeehouse etc.)
>> Hotels 6%
>> Museums/Recreational Facilities 5%
>> Hospitals 3%
>> Airports 3%
>>
>> -- Statistics has been reclassified to exclude someone else's home and
>>relative's workplace
>>
>> -- 20% of respondents did not answer or did not know where they accessed
>>the Internet
>>
>> Other segments of access showed growth, but not as large a growth rate
>>as
>>access from alternative points. Compared to 1996, the number of respondents
>>claiming they accessed the Internet from a school nearly doubled. Users
>>accessing from home and work categories each increased by four percentage
>>points from 1996 to 1997.
>>
>> Since 1995, MCI LibraryLINK has awarded more than $1 million in grants
>>to
>>27 main libraries impacting over 200 community library branches, helping to
>>increase the number of Internet-connected libraries from 21% to 80%. These
>>grants have helped create and enhance information technology systems linking
>>people to library resources, government services and to the Internet.
>>
>> "These public points of access are important because they help level
>>the
>>playing field. By the year 2000, nearly 30% of all Internet users could be
>>accessing through alternative points," said Diane Strahan, Executive
>>Director
>>of Corporate Community Partnerships at MCI.
>>
>> Nielsen Media Research, a Cognizant company, has headquarters in New
>>York
>>City and offices in major markets across the U.S. Through its Interactive
>>Services division, Nielsen Media Research develops audience measurement and
>>custom research on new media, including the Internet, the Web and online
>>services.
>>
>> MCI, with its world headquarters in Washington, D.C., offers the
>>industry's most comprehensive portfolio of communication services. MCI
>>reported 1996 annual revenue of $18.5 billion, making it the tenth largest
>>telecommunications company in the world, along with being the world's third
>>largest carrier of international voice traffic. Credited with first
>>bringing
>>the benefits of long distance competition to American consumers and
>>businesses, MCI now is leading the charge to open up local calling markets
>>to
>>competition. MCI is awaiting final regulatory approvals to complete its
>>planned merger with BT to form Concert.
>>
>>SOURCE MCI LibraryLINK
>>
>>CONTACT:
>>Christa Poston, 202-887-2757, or
>>Jill Arquette, 703-358-0012,
>>both for MCI LibraryLINK/
>> (MCIC)
>>
>>
>
