‘‘We need this in order to grow economically,’’ said Edward Silvetti, president of the Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission.
The commission sponsored two information sessions on broadband Friday — one in Altoona and the other in Bedford — for community members to learn about past case studies involving communitywide broadband as well as the costs, advantages and disadvantages of such a system.
Andrew Cohill, president of Design Nine Inc. and director of the Blacksburg Electronic Village for about 10 years, spoke in a two-hour session Friday afternoon at the Arena Restaurant.
Cohill explained that broadband is a bandwidth with as many megabytes as is necessary that enables new kinds of work and improved economy.
Broadband also provides more than telephone or Internet service — including extras such as telemedicine, telehealth, security, gaming and movies.
‘‘The goal is to get everybody connected,’’ Cohill said.
He said broadband works through a system of fibers, as opposed to today’s more common wireless systems. The fibers may be hooked up along telephone poles or underground.
He said the Southern Alleghenies region could keep more than $1 billion in the community to grow businesses and jobs, with a 30-year net revenue of more than $630 million.
‘‘What could you do with $600 million?’’ Cohill rhet- orically asked his audience of about 20.
Cohill estimated that the community would spend more than $7 billion on telecommunications with the proposed system, although it would last much longer and would provide profits to local businesses in the long run.
In past case studies in Virginia, Cohill said the communities paid for the system through a combination of government contributions, state funds, money from Community Development Block Grants and assistance from school districts.
The commission said it would continue to work toward a broadband community, although there has been no commitment to Cohill and his plan at this time.
‘‘We think it’s just important in every aspect,’’ Silvetti said.
For more information, visit www.designnine.com.
Autor(en)/Author(s): Wendy McCardle
Quelle/Source: Altoona Mirror, 17.11.2007
