"This report was prepared for the Social Science Research Council's (SSRC) Information Technology and International Cooperation (ITIC) program. The ITIC program exists to explore the relationship between information technology and civil society. Its goal is to build knowledge about the use and gover ... nance of information technology by civil society actors - from NGOs to alternative media - especially at the transnational level. The program brings international groups of scholars and practitioners together to collaborate at meetings, online, and through the exchange of writings. One of two initial 'knowledge reports' released by the program, this document focu es on the issue of how civil society organizations are using information technology. In conjunction with this report, SSRC has organized a research network in order to expand on the knowledge and analysis on this topic. The network is engaged in writing papers, discussion and collaborative projects related to IT governance. A companion report published at the same time as this one focuses on the international governance of information technology and its implications for civil society networking. A similarly structured research network has been formed on this topic." (Foreword, page 3) more