In recent years, the United States has seen an explosion in the public adoption and use of computer-mediated- communication (CMC) technologies, accelerated by the shift from text-only CMC technologies to more graphical, hypertext-based systems characterized by the World Wide Web. There has justifiably been much speculation -- both positive and negative -- about what changes in local community and civic life might be expected to occur as citizens make increasing use of CMC networks. However, scholarly research has lagged behind both the development of the Internet into a mass medium and the rate of speculation concerning its impact. Our study, "Effects of a Local Internet-Based Communication Network on Civic Communication," is designed to yield unique information and insight concerning the influence of a local Internet-based community CMC network on civic activity and community development. We will gather detailed quantitative and qualitative data that will allow us to present theoretical analyses that move beyond the conjectural and the anecdotal. Our primary goal is to assess the changes in community communication patterns over several years which may result from the introduction of an Internet-Based local community CMC network in Norman, Oklahoma (pop. 90,000). Following the evolution of Norman CivicNet as it takes place offers intriguing opportunities to evaluate significant social issues concerning the use and impact of such community CMC networks. We propose to document changes that occur in the amount and type of communication between residents and local government, business, education, health care, and non-profit institutions; changes in the amount and type of communication between citizens; and changes in perceived ease of use and satisfaction with available communication channels. We will identify factors that predict attitudes toward, use of, and satisfaction with CivicNet as a local communication medium for civic, commercial, and personal uses. We anticipate that the information we acquire will be of use to similarly- sized cities, and will become a resource for reflection on social and policy questions.