Things You Can Do: A New Business Model

What kind of business model will it take to ensure that the voices of the people are still heard--and included in the kind of decision making that a healthy democracy requires?

The topic seems daunting, but it's already happening--and right here in western North Carolina.

The Mountain Area Information Network, founded by Wally Bowen, is getting stronger everyday--and it's doing it with business plan that big media would never even consider. And Wally? Well heck, he's been everywhere lately discussing what we all can do to save the internet.

He was on Media Geek, an interesting show about the independent media movement on January 11th:

Wally Bowen is the Executive Director of the Mountain Area Information Network, a non-profit which has provided internet and information services to Western North Carolina for more than a decade. He believes that a non-commerical alternative to the enormous commercial DSL and cable modem duopolies in most communities is absolutely essential for guaranteeing the future freedom of the internet. In this week’s program Wally tells us more about MAIN and why nonprofit information services are so important.

And he'll be on WCQS at 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 23rd, to talk about the growing corporate control of the internet. Should be interesting, and who knows, you may just get inspired to do something right here in the High Country. Why not?