The document proposes a model called Community Communications Centre (C3) to help address the digital divide. C3 would be a community center providing communication facilities and services. It would offer (1) Community Information and Learning services through a library, newspapers, radio, TV, internet and screening hall, (2) Community Participatory services like a community newspaper and radio, and (3) Community Archiving services to preserve community history and media. C3 aims to make communication accessible to all in the community and empower them through information sharing and participatory media and services. It would be managed by a community steering committee and funded through community or external sources.

1. C3
A Model of
Community
Communication
Dr Ankuran Dutta

2. Introduction
• Communication is now the fourth basic need for the
human being.
• We cannot think a day without communication;
• It may be inter personal or technology mediated.
• For me, the society has now divided into two
categories -- ‘communication rich’ and ‘communication
poor’.

3. Why C3?
• It is not related to effectiveness of communication.
• It is about the accessibility to communication and
information.
• We often use the term in the academic discourses --
digital divide.
• But are we seriously thinking of the means to reach the
last person of the society?
• Community Communications Centre (C3) may be an
option to experiment with.

4. What is C3?
• UNESCO has many models on community communication,
such as
• Community Information Centres,
• Telecentres and Community IT Centres,
• Multipurpose Community Telecentres,
• Community Multimedia Centres,
• Community Learning Centres etc.
• C3 is a revised concept in the context of developing
countries.

5. Basics
• C3 will be a common centre for the community, where
minimum communication facilities would be available.
• It may be a medium size house located in the village but
connected to the world.

6. C3=3C
C3 will serve 3C’s services:
 Community Information and Learning Service
 Community Participatory Service
 Community Archiving Service

7. 3C’s Services= CILS
Community Information and Learning Service (CILS)
 Community library to read the must read books
 Newspapers to know about the happening in the world
 Radio to get information, education and entertainment
 Television with the accessibility to digital video
broadcasting
 Internet broadband connectivity to access the Internet
 Community screening hall, where videos produced by
the community and important events are screened

8. 3C’s Services= CPS
Community Participatory Service (CPS)
 Weekly wall magazine- community members contribute literary creativity.
 Monthly or bi-monthly community newspaper, which will be the compilation
of the literary activities from the wall magazines and important local
development stories.
 Community radio with its power to improve the livelihoods of the
community.
 Community Video Unit, where the models of activism for development, co-
learning, archiving, establishment of identity and information dissemination
will be executed.
 Community Television will be a model for sustainability of the C3 with the
provision to distribute free to air channels and a community television
channel through digital cable service on a minimum monthly rental.

9. 3C’s Services= CAS
Community Archiving Service (CAS)
 Community Visual Archive that will work as the best medium for
archiving of the activities, major events, individual’s photographs.
 Community Audio Archive that will preserve the audio recordings of
the major events, folk performing arts etc.
 Community Video Archive that will work to preserve video recordings
of the community activities, traditions, rituals, folk performances etc.
 Community Print Archive will preserve the rare manuscripts,
community newspapers, wall magazines, important letters, wedding
cards of the community members etc.

10. How C3 serves
• All the three C-services will maintain synergy and closely
associate with each others.
• The entire C3 would be running on renewable energy.
• There will be a database on all the members of the community/
village.
• The screening hall will also be used as a meeting hall to discuss
on common issues.
• Community video screenings and other public announcements
from the C3 will be aired in the community radio.
• The Panchayat, schools, college/s, health centres, post office,
village banking etc. may be directly associated with the C3.

11. Management
• The district administration, police and government departments will
also work with the centre for easy access to its members and save
time in carrying out their activities.
• A public address system and a public call booth will help additionally.
• A steering committee representing all sections of the society will run
and maintain the C3 on a rotation basis for a limited period.
• A website would inform the rest of the world about the activities of the
C3.
• Implemented systematically, the C3 will act as the custodian of all
public property on behalf of the society.
• The C3 will be an area full of development activities for a positive
change in the livelihood of the members of the community.

12. Funding
• It is established by the members of the community with their own
resources or
• With financial assistance from the government/ public sources/
CSR activities of companies or organisations etc.
• But not controlled and maintained by the government or funding
organisations/ individuals
Original article at http://cemca.org.in/blog/c3-model-community-communications-
3#.VR4fYieiCSU

13. Thank You
You may contact-
ankurandutta@gmail.com
Blog: comcomm.blogspot.in