ICT Hub to cut Open Source funding

Finance | 1 May 2007

The ICT Hub is to cut funding for Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in the voluntary sector during the next round of spending, citing a lack of interest. The decision has prompted criticism from Open Source enthusiasts, who say it goes against the prevailing current in the public and private sectors.

The issue came to prominence following the publication of an open letter to ICT Hub project manager Nicola Thompson by Chris Bailey of East of England FOSS in the sector, a project funded by ChangeUp. In it Bailey stated his 'great concern' at the prospect, arguing that it will deny the sector cost savings that are available to others, and 'would amount to a negligence of the original ChangeUp aims'.

The ICT Hub said it had cut funding for FOSS from '350,000 to '20,000 although it emphasised the initial funding had created a legacy. Thompson defended the decision by saying that the ICT Hub has a remit to raise options for the sector, and wanted the groups themselves to decide. 'Our external independent evaluation concluded that Open Source has had a low take-up in the sector, and we are better off diverting funds elsewhere. While we were happy to take the risk on developing an undeveloped marketplace, at the moment organisations are choosing not to take it up, so it would have represented a bad funding decision.'

Bailey's letter said the decision may have come from poor attendance at training days and argued this was because 'the marketing and advertising were woefully inadequate'. Thompson refuted this. 'People just aren't ready for it. We can't force organisations to use Open Source. There are benefits, but it's not for all.'

Directory: ICT Hub

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