A handful of relevant forum links

Community thread:

http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=19087

Community vent:

http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=96562

Some random love-in:

http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=97120

A general RP thread with links to external forums:

http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=24409

Republic side IC/OOC channels are Republicooc and Republicnet. These services are currently sponsored by Unsanctioned on Republicside, their leader is Kestral.

EDIT: Imperial side chats are remarkably similar - Imperialnet (IC) and Imperialooc comprise the Emperor's side of the RP community.

I am not Kestral.