John G. Roche
Chairman & President
Business Research Publications, Inc.

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When Sir Thomas More conceived of Utopia – an imaginary and ideal place – in the 16th Century, he described a location where all things were shared in common, and every man had an abundance of everything. His work, which he later described as pure satire, was widely regarded as a stinging criticism of the economic and social conditions that prevailed in Europe during the Renaissance. It also set a precedent for modern Utopias. In the 17th Century, Sir Francis Bacon created his own version of Utopia in The New Atlantis, which he wrote shortly before his death in 1622. The story revolves around a Greek myth about an ideal society that sank into the sea.

On the island of Atlantis, one institution overshadows all others, namely Saloman's House, or the House of the Wise. The New Atlantis is a symbol of progress, of the faith in technology and science, of the human mastery over nature. Bacon was perhaps the first proponent of what has become known as "technological rationality." He concluded that progress is based on knowledge and competence – an idea seemingly ahead of its time because it has become widespread only during the latter part of this century. More and Bacon had two very different visions of Utopia, but they shared the view that Utopia was a place beyond the realities of their societies – beyond what was known.

Now as we head toward the next millennium, it is timely to consider the possibility of another Utopia – not a futuristic world, but one grounded in reality, striving to promote the general well-being of all people. During this year's "City Summit" in Istanbul, Turkey, thousands of people will gather at the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements to discuss the sustainable development of cities.

There are clearly a number of challenges facing the urban dwellers of tomorrow: shrinking employment opportunities, increasing poverty, and deteriorating buildings, services, and infrastructures.

This paper will focus on the potential of information and telecommunications initiatives to contribute to the sustainable development of cities, as more of the Earth's population gravitates toward urban centers. It will explore the recent efforts of business and government to make information more readily available, enabling individuals and communities to enjoy the mutual benefits of shared experiences and collaborative solutions.

GII, NII Initiatives Promote Network of Networks Concept

Management expert Peter Drucker contends that the success or failure of businesses and countries in the next century will depend on the productivity of knowledge or, put simply, the use of information. The question then arises, how do we make information more usable; how do we make it more accessible to a broader range of constituents?

For the last few years, G7 countries have undertaken numerous initiatives to establish what they collectively refer to as the Global Information Society. The G7 partners will rely heavily on the deployment of a cohesive system of communications and information networks, often described as the Global Information Infrastructure (GII). G7 partners also have resolved to collaborate on certain core principles in order to realize their common vision of the Global Information Society.

They have pledged to:

• Promote dynamic competition,
• Encourage private investment,
• Define an adaptable regulatory framework, and
• Provide open access to telecommunications networks.

At the same time, the partners plan to ensure universal provision of and access to service; promote equality of opportunity to all citizens; promote diversity of content, including cultural and linguistic diversity; and recognize the necessity of worldwide cooperation, focusing particularly on less developed countries.

The GII is being designed to promote interconnectivity and interoperability among and between various communications networks; develop global markets for networks, services, and applications; ensure privacy and data security; protect intellectual property rights; allow cooperation in the research and development of new applications; and monitor the social and societal implications of the information society.

The success of the GII will require domestic and international policies and regulatory action. In fact, a major challenge G7 nations now face is how to integrate disparate national information infrastructures in order to create a global "network of networks." Moreover, concerted action on such issues as infrastructure development and improvement, regulatory and competition policies, global applications, and a range of information policy issues will be critical in advancing the development of the GII. This is already well under way, but input from the private sector still is necessary.

The same is true in the U.S., where the Clinton Administration has spelled out the goals of the National Information Infrastructure (NII). The administration has determined that it is critical for public institutions to become and remain active participants in the NII, because they can use telecommunications and information technologies to benefit all Americans. The goal of connecting every classroom, library, and health care facility in the nation remains a focal point of the NII. Toward this end, the administration has had some noteworthy successes.

In late April, for example, the Federal Communications Commission proposed creating a new wireless route for e-mail, computer files, and other data to travel at high speeds within school systems, companies, and small communities. The proposal also envisions free access to the Internet, an information network already used by millions of people. FCC Chairman Reed E. Hundt said the proposed wireless service would offer a relatively cheap way to link schools and libraries to the Internet, by eliminating the need to rewire entire buildings with high-capacity lines. The FCC's proposed low-power radio service would limit transmissions to less than a quarter of a mile, making it useful within business campuses, manufacturing plants, hospitals, shopping malls, and other contained areas. Apple Computer, Inc., has a broader vision. It wants to provide wireless network access to larger communities via a slightly higher power system capable of sending digital transmissions up to 10 miles.

Other manufacturers also plan to take advantage of wireless networks. They note that the cost of deploying wireless telephone networks is less than the cost of building wireline facilities. In developing countries, cellular carriers and other wireless service providers are banking on the opportunity to construct radio-based communications networks. What's more, foreign governments have created incentives for these service providers to make the necessary investment in network infrastructure.

In India, for example, there are only about eight telephones per 100 people, while in some urban areas of that country, there can be as few as three phones per 100 people. Meanwhile, cellular service is available only in Bombay, New Delhi, Madras, and Calcutta. Altogether more than 2.8 million people are waiting for phone connections in India. To address the communications needs of the people, the Indian government recently concluded a tender offer in which it selected service providers to build wireless and wireline phone networks. US companies AT&T; Corp., U S WEST, Inc., NYNEX Corp., and AirTouch Communications, Inc., were among the carriers that obtained licenses to build facilities throughout India.

India's Department of Transportation has established an aggressive timetable for network deployment, requiring carriers to provide some form of commercial service within a year. Carriers have been asked to construct fiber-optic broadband networks that have ISDN (integrated services digital network) capabilities. Fiber-optic cable must be deployed to within 500 meters of a customer, and by the second year of network construction, carriers must be capable of extending service to a customer within one week of an order.

There are similar efforts afoot in Columbia in South America. Because of the government's socially conscious attitude toward communications policy, it is considering subsidizing the construction of private cellular networks to induce wireless carriers to serve more rural communities. According to statistics from the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden plan during the next year to make tender offers to award wireless licenses. Meanwhile, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico plan to use competitive bidding techniques to award similar radio licenses. All of this, of course, is aimed at getting people connected.

Information Superhighway Benefits Local Communities

The GII and NII should not be considered panaceas for the Information Age. A recent report from the U.S. government's Office of Technology Assessment sharply criticized the so-called "Information Superhighway." The report indicates that "surprisingly little is known about the potential effects of this [network] technology revolution on industrial and residential location patterns broadly, or on urban conditions in the United States specifically." It continued, "These technologies are facilitating an ever more spatially dispersed economy, which in turn is causing metropolitan areas to become larger, more dispersed, and less densely populated. Moreover, though some places benefit from these changes, the economies of many older, higher-cost metropolitan areas and many central cities and older suburbs are likely to face further job loss and disinvestment."

Nevertheless, there are local benefits associated with the GII and NII: The development of local or community networks can actually draw outside investment, resulting in better city infrastructures. In Life in the Fast Lane: A Municipal Roadmap for the Information Superhighway, author Miles R. Fidelman outlines a few of the reasons why local governments should take advantage of networking opportunities.

"A hundred years ago, lack of a railroad stop condemned many towns to a lingering death," he recalls. "Thirty years ago, interstate interchanges helped many communities to prosper, while those on back roads stagnated. For communities that prepare, the Information Superhighway will help streamline internal operations of municipal government, improve delivery of town services to citizens and businesses, reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, bring new educational opportunities to local schools, and help local businesses prosper in a global marketplace."

Mr. Fidelman suggests viewing the NII as an extension of the electronic networks now used by corporations, government agencies, universities, and other large organizations. During the past two decades, most large organizations have built data networks linking all of their computers. In some cases networking has been extended industry-wide and has become central to the conduct of business. For example, financial and securities transactions routinely move by wire; and reservations flow from travel agents' terminals to airline, car rental, and hotel computer systems. The NII, which is capable of reaching every office and home that the telephone reaches today, promises to provide the next link in networking.

Along with the business community, municipal governments have adopted computers for routine tasks. Even the smallest towns in industrialized countries now have at least a few personal computers sitting on desktops, and many town offices have at least rudimentary local area networks. Midsize and larger towns are using inter building networks to provide access to central accounting systems; to link computers for electronic mail; and to connect fire, police, and ambulance dispatching systems. Significant new opportunities will arise as municipalities begin to link internal computer networks with external networks.

Cities Swap Electronic Data with Businesses, Consumers

In many nations, electronic data exchanges and electronic funds transfers have become common business practices; the "paperless" exchange of requests for proposals (RFPs), purchase orders, invoices, and payments is a proven way to cut administrative expense. In the U.S., many federal agencies routinely distribute RFPs electronically, and the government is about to initiate a government wide program to support "electronic commerce." In addition, several states and municipalities have begun to disseminate job listings and RFPs via the Internet.

Municipal agencies can reduce costs by sharing information. In Massachusetts, 11 regional "automated resource sharing systems" support libraries across the state. Meanwhile, the U.S. Public Health Service, Howard University's School of Social Work, and the Health and Human Services Coalition of the District of Columbia are piloting a "Community Services Workstation" to provide integrated record keeping and coordinated case management.

If a municipality keeps documents and data in an electronic format, it easily can provide electronic access via modem and public terminals (e.g., in libraries). This can improve service to residents while reducing demands on the municipality's staff. For example, Minnesota Datanet provides online access to statistical, demographic, and geographic data around-the-clock. In Massachusetts, the city of Cambridge has begun to provide municipal documents via the Internet. And the city of Boston has begun to offer information through its own computer bulletin board. Both cities have more ambitious plans for the future. Automated teller-like machines at town halls and other convenient locations can provide 24-hour service to citizens. In California, "InfoCal" kiosks in malls and other public places provide access to government services. In Massachusetts, the city of Newton is planning a similar system.

The city of Alexandria, Virginia, is working with Jones Intercable, Inc., to construct an institutional network (I-Net) based on fiber-optic technology connecting all major city government facilities. Other local area networks being built by the Alexandria Library and the city's public schools eventually will have access to the I-Net. In October 1994, Alexandria joined CapAccess, the Washington, D.C., area's public access information service. Citizens using a personal computer with a modem can dial up information about city services 24-hours a day, seven days a week, at no charge.

Nevada, Missouri, offers another example of how telecommunications systems are benefitting local communities. The Nevada Telecommunity Project is a rural economic development initiative aimed at creating new economic opportunities in the town. The project is being developed as a model that state agencies will provide to other rural Missouri communities. Launched in the spring of 1995, it is a joint endeavor of the Nevada Area Economic Development Commission, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Missouri Institute for Information Technology, and the Computer Science Telecommunications Program of the University of Missouri in Kansas City.

High-speed, broadband networks are being used to provide telemedicine services to rural and under served areas in the U.S. The Mountaineer Doctor TeleVision program has been able to provide specialty care and educational opportunities to 15 sites within West Virginia. And there are efforts to connect the state's four academic medical centers to the same network. Thanks to BellSouth Corp.'s ISDN technology, doctors in Nashville, Tennessee, can read X-rays sent by health care clinics in the rural towns of Hendersonville and Murfreesboro. The doctors are able to offer 24-hour coverage to patients in those communities, because the ISDN lines eliminate the need to travel to the towns. It wasn't long ago that the same sort of X-ray consultations in those communities were limited to 30-minute, biweekly visits by a radiologist from Nashville.

One unique aspect of the revolution in interactive communications is that individuals can affect the way the medium grows. That has not been true in the past: A handful of people decided how the railroads and interstate highways would be built and who they would reach. And the U.S. government has controlled the ownership of radio and television broadcasting licenses. The very nature of interactive communications, however, represents a passing of power and control from the few to the many. As A.J. Liebling wrote, "Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one."

The new medium of interactive networks can extend that freedom if we allow it. Perhaps more importantly, as organizations increasingly rely upon interactive communications, individual involvement becomes a matter of necessity. At stake is knowledge, access, and opportunity for everyone. And while it may not be possible to control the growth of networks and communications services, we can guide their development so that consideration is given to the needs of local communities, and potential users are guaranteed the broadest possible access.

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