CITIES STUDY PLAN TO OFFER `NET' SERVICES; GOVERNMENTS, BUSINESSES DISCUSS MISSOURI EXPRESS

Approximately 60 people gathered at Cape Girardeau City Hall Friday to hear more about community information networks.

Legislation that went into effect last year created a new state program called Missouri Express. The program is designed to help communities tie informational resources together on the Internet.

The program, slated to run for three years, has been allocated $6 million. Of that money, $1 million is earmarked for specific purposes while the remaining $5 million will be distributed to communities in the form of computer equipment and other technologies and technical assistance and support.

Ted Gallion of University of Missouri Extension and Outreach explained to those attending Friday's meeting how Missouri Express works.

The first round of applications to the program will be due March 14. Between 15 and 20 applications are expected during that cycle. Successful applicants will be announced in the spring.

There will be additional opportunities for communities to submit applications in 1998 and 1999.

"If you don't get in this first window of applications you still have two years to get into the program," Gallion said.

Walter Denton, administrative assistant to the Cape Girardeau city manager, said the local group would like to get in on the first round of applications.

"The more we talk about this, I'm not sure that is even feasible," Denton said. "But we can still set it as a goal."

The city of Cape Girardeau helped organize the meeting, which included representatives from various local government entities, school systems, community groups and private businesses. However, neither the city nor any other organization or individual has yet committed to taking the lead on the project.

Those still interested following the first meeting will gather again at City Hall on Feb. 12 at 10 a.m.

A steering committee to provide the group with some direction is expected to be formed at that time.

Gallion said goals of local information networks are to provide residents with a concentrated source for information on a particular area. Such networks can be accessed globally through the Internet.

The networks can include sites providing governmental information, service and business directories, statistics and a variety of other items.

Gallion said the prime focus of Missouri Express is providing quality content on the network and Internet access. However, he added that it isn't trying to compete with private Internet access providers.

"The purpose of Missouri Express is not to put any Internet service provider out of business," Gallion said, adding that private providers will be needed to keep up with user demand if the network is successful.

Although the state will provide successful applicants with equipment and technical help needed to get the network up, the communities themselves are responsible for maintaining networks and updating the information.

The financial burden of sustaining networks also falls on the sponsoring communities.

"One challenge facing community information networks in sustainability," Gallion said.

Other local costs include providing public work stations such as Internet-capable computers at public libraries, the costs of local phone lines and personnel and administrative costs.