Workshop Explores Digital Revolutions in 21st Century Vermont (July 10)

Workshop Explores Digital Revolutions in 21st Century Vermont

Broadband Lessons for Rural Towns 

Tuesday, July 10, 2012
6:00 PM
VIT Sites in Brattleboro, Middlebury, Rutland, Springfield, WRJ

After 250 years, many Vermont towns have embraced the internet with websites and Facebook pages. A handful of communities in southern Vermont have gone further by welcoming laptops into schools and wireless zones to downtowns while training small business owners and the general public. In Rutland County, the towns, schools, and businesses of Poultney, Castleton, West Rutland, and Middletown Springs benefited from the e-Vermont Community Broadband Project. 

On Tuesday, July 10, the general public, select board members, planning commissioners, and town officers are invited to hear success stories from around southern Vermont. Beginning at 6:00 pm at five VIT sites across the region, everyday citizens from three e-Vermont project communities will share individual lessons on bringing new technologies to their neighbors and local institutions. This is a vital opportunity for anyone interested in creating a village or downtown wi-fi network, starting or improving their town website, or helping their local library meet overwhelming demand for technology training and internet access.

The free workshop, delivered live via Vermont Interactive Technologies, will be held at VIT sites in Brattleboro (at the High School), Middlebury (Hannaford Career Center), Rutland (Stafford Technical Center), Springfield (Howard Dean Education Center), and White River Junction (CCV). Registration is not required. Questions can be addressed to Philip at the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, (802) 775-0871. 

A complete set of tools for every Vermont community are available online at www.e4vt.org. Residents and businesses can test their speed and find high-speed internet options at www.BroadbandVT.org. This free workshop is organized by Vermont’s Regional Planning Commissions.