The eCommons organization envisions accessible, affordable and available public space online. Its mission is to close the digital divide between knowledge media rich and poor by bringing together communities of shared geography, interest, practice and intention within a common public space. When mature, the eCommons.net will serve as a knowledge base for assembling and designing useful knowledge media tools and linking existing and emergent learning networks for community, human and civil society development. To ensure transparency, a contract including conflict of interest guidelines, a financial and project reporting structure, and a review clause will govern the eLab's valuable work on the network, on behalf of the eCommons organization. The technical facilities will be located at Ryerson University Rogers Communication Centre , and a working unit has been struck to coordinate eCommons.net , the eLab , and Ryerson .
Membership is open to all who share the mission of building accessible public space online.
The founding Friends of the eCommons are composed of the groups and individual citizens who have supported this pilot project proposal and application for funds. Communities and citizens already online can benefit from a central Canadian listing, connection and learning clearinghouse. The current search engines do not easily locate and prominently feature Canadian community-based resources. Despite the potential of new information technologies, community networks are often isolated, and citizens find it difficult to find what they are seeking. The eCommons goal is to add value in a community and citizen context to the online destination experience.