This just in from Steve Anderson via OpenMedia.ca:

The CRTC is currently reconsidering the role of community television in Canada, providing an historic opportunity to create a rejuvenated, FRESH and innovative independent media system.

Many people are unaware that two per cent of what cable companies collect from their customers monthly is supposed to be spent on community channels. BUT, rather than provide community access to these resources as they should, cable operators have used these channels and funds to give themselves a competitive edge, and at times even pocketing the money while shutting down studios. Tell the CRTC what you think of this: http://tinyurl.com/ycf3uo5

OpenMedia.ca supports a proposal by CACTUS (Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations) calling for the millions of dollars already being collected by cable companies for community TV, be liberated to independent media centres for use by all Canadians. The CRTC can make this a reality – please send them a letter now! HERE: http://tinyurl.com/ycf3uo5

The best part of CACTUS’ plan is that Canadians won't have to pay another dime! The money we are already paying to cable companies will be directed to independent media!

As the software landscape shifts from installed software to Software as a Service (SaaS), and as "support" for those services moves from asking a question on a mailing list to professional support teams -- the one thing that is sometimes lost is that sense of connection to other people using the software. So, when I see innovative software providers like Democracy in Action launching a full-fledged networking and collaboration platform for their user community -- I'm left inspired by what's possible when engaged people put their minds to it.

April Pedersen introduces the initiative like so:

As part of our effort to promote cooperation and community among Salsa users, we're excited to launch Salsa Commons, a site dedicated entirely to YOU. Our hope is that it becomes the most robust online community around a technology platform that anyone has ever seen. After many laborious hours of planning and building the site, we are thrilled to announce we're ready for you to jump right in and start participating!

The new Salsa Commons platform offers a way for different DIA customers -- from campaign managers to developers -- to all collaborate and grow their shared knowledge pool about the Democracy In Action "Salsa" advocacy platform. And, more importantly, it puts the user community in control of the conversation -- which is an incredibly brave and innovative thing to do. So kudos to the folks at DIA for innovating in this space.

Some other SaaS providers have also explored -- to one degree or another -- connecting their users, e..g:

• Salesforce.com's discussion forums, idea exchange, and Google Groups

• Socialtext's customer exchange

However, most provide little more than allowing customers to comment on a blog, or barely-used discussion forums. Not exactly "enabling," and certainly not exciting. And, there are many, many, providers that provide virtually nothing at all.

Having started a little WhatCounts "knowledge sharing" community about two years ago -- and seeing the benefits that bringing users and customers together can make possible -- I only wish that WhatCounts -- a relatively large, and well-resourced, software provider -- would do something even 1/10th as innovative as folks at (non-profit) DIA have done with Salsa Commons.

Do you have other great examples of software companies providing innovative community tools to their customers? If so, pop 'em in the comments below.