Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 26, 1995 TAG: 9508280142
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
It is a follow-up to a similar conference held July 24 in Abingdon that showed widespread interest throughout the congressional district in low-cost Internet access.
At the Abingdon meeting, executives from Bell Atlantic, GTE and Sprint/United indicated that each company was evaluating prospects for offering local dial-up Internet access and that pilot projects could get under way this year. Representatives of smaller companies such as Shenandoah Telephone and cooperatives serving Scott and Floyd counties showed ways in which they are already providing Internet access.
At the Blacksburg conference, Boucher said, the companies serving the district will be asked for an update on long-range plans and pilot projects.
"By Sept. 25, we should have a better idea of the strategies these companies will undertake, and we will hear from them concerning those strategies," he said. "We will also address broader telecommunications issues, including the benefits and status of the comprehensive federal telecommunications reform legislation which I am co-authoring."
Also scheduled to speak are planning executives for leading telecommunications companies on what Boucher calls "one-stop shopping" for multiple telecommunications services.
"Other speakers will include the assistant U.S. secretary of commerce in charge of telecommunications policy for the [Clinton] Administration, and Preston Shannon, chairman of the Virginia State Corporation Commission, addressing the telecommunications revolution from the perspective of a state regulator," Boucher said.
More details on the meeting will be announced soon.
by CNB