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The Public Advisory Council on Information Highway Policy (PACIHP) project is discussed in terms of activities, difficulties, successes, impact, motivations, and background. This paper is presented in two parts. The first part details how project organizers have attempted to involve the online community in the policy-making process, the techniques used, and the community's and policymakers' response to the initiative. Some preliminary observations about the project's impact are also discussed. The second part presents an overview of the Canadian regulatory and political environment. The specific trends identified have contributed to the authors' concerns, providing some of the motivation for the project. In conclusion, thoughts on the future of computer-mediated communication and its potential for democratizing politics are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]