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Virginia Offers Unique Web Access Service
Virginia, through its Office of the Secretary of Technology and Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology (CIT), has created a unique collaborative public-private partnership to increase Internet access and e-commerce capabilities for Virginia's businesses. In December, CIT and Virginia Tech launched VirginiaLink, a multi-vendor, broadband telecommunications program providing businesses with inexpensive advanced telecommunications services such as Internet access and voice, data, and video capacity.
To participate in VirginiaLink, businesses must join the VirginiaLink Consortium, a cooperative permitting individual small companies to bundle their purchases to take advantage of volume discounts available to larger buyers. Companies particularly expected to benefit from the program are smaller firms in rural parts of the Commonwealth.
VirginiaLink is a new approach for a state science and technology program to take to overcome the issue of inequities in Internet access. In concept, VirginiaLink is a twist on the farmers' cooperatives formed to increase the economies of scale and selling power of small farmers. VirginiaLink differs from traditional cooperatives, however, in that all profits from the effort will flow to the contracted service providers, not the Consortium nor its member businesses. CIT will manage the Consortium and administer the individual contracts of the underlying providers. Also, the seven regional CIT offices will serve as marketing agents for the service. Virginia Tech will provide technical assistance and advice to the VirginiaLink program on a cost-recovery basis. No state subsidies are provided to the program.
Through March, CIT is offering an introductory offer for one-year consortium memberships. Any Virginia business can join the consortium for only $100 per location with a maximum cost of $1,000 for any firm. Service resellers and ISPs can join for $500 with a $2500 per year maximum. After the March 31st deadline, CIT may re-evaluate the membership fee structure. Contracted service providers currently include Sprint and MCI Worldcom. More information can be obtained online at: http://www.virginialink.net