Local News - August 2002

‘Lab in a box’ to promote Internet access in county

By ALICE SMITH, LTN Staff Writer

August 5, 2002 - Bringing Internet access to people who aren’t lucky enough to be able to log on is the goal of the e-NC initiative.

And with the help of a $12,000 e-NC grant, the Lincoln County eCommunity committee is one step closer to achieving that goal.

The e-NC initiative is a statewide effort to connect all North Carolinians to the Internet.  The $12,000 Lincoln County received is part of more than $1.4 million spread out over the state.

Lincoln’s grant is contingent on some paperwork, but a representative from the e-NC initiative said once that is returned, the grant will go through.

Sixty-four counties across the state received a $12,000 grant.

Danté Patterson, Lincoln County Management Information Systems director, said the grant will be used to create a “lab in a box.”

The “lab in a box” will consist of six to eight laptop computers, a projector and a wireless network to allow the computers to share Internet access.

The lab will move around the county to areas that have high-speed Internet access.

It will allow instructors to move around the county and deliver training.

“This thing could go place to place,” Patterson said.

Currently, plans for lab docking locations include libraries and possibly the Senior Center.

“Any area we can bring this to, we’ll look to getting it there,” Patterson said.

The idea is to promote digital literacy.

“The more we can improve Internet access to citizens, the more they can better their quality of life,” Patterson said. “Everybody needs a point of access.”

The local eCommunity steering committee has been exploring Internet options for about a year.

Sixteen Lincoln County residents make up the committee.

Three community forums were held in the county earlier this year.  The committee brought together the ideas and suggestions expressed at the forums and found the common issues.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

Terms and Conditions