Purpose

With broadband and computer access, the educational and economic opportunities for West Virginia's communities will expand.

This project will create 60 new educational access points for West Virginians. Public computer labs connected to broadband internet will be based in the community centers of local fire departments. Fire department volunteers will maintain these learning centers, set hours of operation to meet community need, and select a local person to serve as a computer mentor. 

This project offers a community-based solution to expand educational and economic opportunities for rural West Virginia. It will extend computer access and training through West Virginia’s most widespread community centers—local fire departments. These anchor institutions number 445 and are in nearly every community. They are a vital social service network, are life-links for West Virginia’s families, and make logical centers for broadband learning and extension.

Over three years, this project will:

• Set up 60 public computer labs in the community centers of local fire departments
• Offer a range of training programs to increase skills and make broadband more useful
• Make computers more affordable through a computer refurbishing program and low-cost computer store