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The Community Access Program (CAP) is a Government of Canada initiative, administered by
Industry Canada, that aims to provide Canadians
with affordable public access to the Internet and the skills they need to use it effectively.
With the combined efforts of the federal, provincial and territorial governments,
community groups, social agencies, libraries, schools, volunteer groups and the business
community, CAP helps Canadians, wherever they live, take advantage of emerging
opportunities in the new global knowledge-based economy. Under CAP, public locations
like schools, libraries and community centres act as "on-ramps" to the Information
Highway, and provide computer support and training.
CAP is the key component of the Government of Canada's
Connecting Canadians initiative, whose goal is to make Canada the most connected
nation in the world. CAP started in 1994 in rural communities with populations up
to 50,000. Then in December 1999, following a successful pilot program in urban
communities, CAP is now being rolled out to larger population centres of over 50,000.
By March 31, 2001, Industry Canada wants to establish public Internet access sites
in up to 10,000 rural, remote and urban communities across Canada. It's hoped that
CAP sites will increasingly join together in networking opportunities enabling them to
pool resources and form networks to be able to offer even more to their communities.
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