North East Telecommunications Co-operative Ltd (NetC), established in 1999 is Australia's first not-for-profit telecommunications co-op. NetC grew out of one of Australia's first telecentres – North East Telecentre which began in 1993.

Located in North East Victoria, NetC offers community and business solutions to enable fast and efficient telcommunications access, communication exchange, business systems development and information brokerage.

"We chose the co-op model because of its compatabilty between community networking and the co-operative form of business," says CEO Peter Jamieson. "In the main, we service North East Victoria, athough we now have the capacity to offer Internet access to 98% of Australia."

NetC's community development approach has integrated support for community content with support for small business and appropriate training. The aim is to deliver value for money to the community with high-level information and services. Already this group is providing an array of services, including public Internet access, dial-up accounts, website hosting and design and domain name registration. This month NetC is also launching fixed line and mobile phone services. NetC is also building a wireless network to replace reliance on the Telstra network in the region. NetC offers these services at competitive rates and uses the proceeds to support additional community development activities.

NetC has a triple bottom line philosophy that seeks to strengthen the region's economic, environmental and  social development. "Co-operatives are particularly suited to challenges where more than a single bottom line is required" says Peter Jamieson.

One of the major beneficiaries is Landcare. NetC runs http://www.landcare.net.au, the largest and most widely used landcare portal in Australia. Another community development project is a self-help disability group http://humedisabilityaction.netc.coop.

For the latest news visit http://www.netc.coop.