Community Democratization of Telecommunications Community Cooperatives in Argentina

This article provides a case study of the TELPIN telecommunications community cooperative
(TCC), in Pinamar, in the Buenos Aires province of Argentina. The authors use this case study, and
with supporting historical
and economic background, to illustrate their hypothesis that TCCs provide a "way for Civil Society organizations to prepare communities for their new roles"
in today's information and technology based economy.



TCCs, according to the authors, were first established in Argentina to fill the gaps in service left when the state run telephone
enterprise was unable to provide service to remote or non-profitable areas. Today these cooperatives have
formed into two main federations, FECOTEL and FECOSUR, which encompass not only
telephone service, but a variety of telecommunication
technologies, including television, radio and the internet.



Pinamar is a small seaside community, which by 1962 was in need of telephone services, but was not, according to the authors, large enough to interest
the state run ENTel.
The authors describe the growth and high quality of the TELPIN cooperative, and the launch in 1998 of the internet service
provider TELPINET.



While TELPIN takes seriously the "strong social duties" of a community cooperative, the organisation is, according to the authors, as efficient as a
private enterprise. Revenue comes from subscribing "associates" and the enterprise in run by the Management Council.
Each associate acts as a shareholder with a vote in the enterprise.



Community loyalty has been built, according to the authors, by the quality and affordability of the
service and by the community orientation of the organisation. Both individuals and local businesses are eager to support
cooperatives, because of the
general benefits to the community.




The authors argue that the benefits go beyond the provision of basic telecommunications services.
A community, they say, is formed as people who would not normally interact begin to collaborate. The authors point to
the training and educational programmes that prepare community members to participate in the new economy.
The establishment of these enterprises, they note,
"can lead to related local entrepreneurial developments, such as software
production, technological goods and services, training in managerial abilities,
and others."



In order to establish a successful TCC, however, the authors argue that a strong community
commitment, from both individuals and local organisations, is required.
Communities must commit to the financial and managerial requirements, and be open to managerial and technological innovations.