Getting Rural Virginia Connected

A US Dept of Commerce TOP grant funded project

Mathew MathaiBlacksburg Electronic Village

Accomack Technology Leadership Team MeetingTuesday Nov. 4, 2003

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Agenda

Project Overview Project Duration Implementation Outline Next steps Questions

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Project Overview

Promote the effective use of technology to improve local economic conditions in rural communities in nine counties in Virginia while including citizens in the decision making process

Partnership between Counties, Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) and the Blacksburg Electronic Village (BEV)

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Project Duration Department of Commerce funding

ends June 30, 2004 (end of grant period)

An additional year of support provided by the Blacksburg Electronic Village i.e. through June 30, 2005 (end of project)

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Implementation Outline1. Get buy-in from County leaders2. Assemble Technology Leadership Team3. Facilitate Take Charge Process 4. Train Technology Leadership Team5. Deploy Community Network Services6. Technology Assessment & Master Plan7. Ongoing workshops and training

sessions

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Community Network Services

Professionally Designed Web Site People, Business and Organization

Directories Users add entries for People, Organizations

and Businesses Automatically updated

Community Calendar Online Discussion Forum BEV Incubator Services

Virtual Business Incubator Community Connections

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BEV Incubator Services Available to

Home based and Micro Businesses without Web presence

Non-profit organization and other community groups

Free through the June 30, 2005 Services:

Web hosting – 20 MB 2 Email addresses Mailing list (up to 100 ids)

Businesses will need to transition to other Web hosting services by June 30, 2005

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Technology Assessment and Master Plan Eastern Shore Broadband Coalition

– individuals and groups interested in the deployment of broad band services on the Eastern Shore

Assess current state of services and infrastructure

Determine what is needed Develop Master Plan

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Next Steps - Immediate

1. Gather Content for Accomack Electronic Village Web site

2. Volunteer (if interested) for the Eastern Shore Broadband Coalition

Contact person for both these activities is Jennifer Haycox – jhaycox@vt.edu

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Next Steps – Near Term

Identify individuals for the following roles:

1. Web Site Administrator2. Directory Administrator3. Calendar Administrator4. Registrar for BEV Incubator Services5. Forum Administrator6. Form Moderator

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Questions? Send questions to

Accomack-TLT@lists.top.bev.net