Community networks and access for all in the era of the free Internet

This chapter first discusses the issue of access in this era of so-called ‘free Internet’ use1 and shows that a major role still exists for community networks if we are to take the ‘access for everybody’ goal seriously. It then presents the idea of facilitating access through ‘cyberhunts’, and describes how they have been designed and implemented within the Milan Community Network. ‘Cyberhunts’ have been successful because they integrate the well-known pedagogical principle that you will retain longer and understand better what you have learned through play. This approach underpins how the basic principles of community network have been explored.