Regular Community Information Provider and Volunteer Introductions complement more advanced training to volunteers and users. The online help system answers hundreds of questions per month and has frequently fielded referrals from commercial internet companies. VCN also regularly provides speakers for colleges, libraries and professional associations to address community networking and access issues. Only an organisation with a strong base of community support and volunteer input can respond to the needs of the community in quite this way. The Vancouver Community Network is not alone in its dedication to public internet access.
Community networks are a proven success in many communities.
The first community network was opened in 1986 in Cleveland, Ohio. Since that time, community networks have sprung up in communities across Canada and internationally providing a critical element in the development of new computer information technologies. National and international associations link the thousands of community-based networks together. In British Columbia, the interests of community networks province-wide are the concern of the Association of British Columbia Community Networks. The Association supports the development of networks across the province and advocates on behalf of regional groups at the provincial level.