CONSULTANT PITCHES INFORMATION NETWORK

An initial ride on the information superhighway would cost subscribers in Cape Girardeau approximately $100,220. A second trek would cost $97,820.

Larry Loos, a computer consultant who presented a plan for Cape Girardeans to tap into a computer-access highway system called Show-Me Net, said Wednesday the more organizations and individuals that get involved, the sooner it could become affordable.

The plan calls for forming a nonprofit organization as an "information investment" for the future of Cape Girardeau.

"If you wait, it will happen," Loos said. "But if you act today it could happen tomorrow or in the near future."

Loos, former owner of Microage in Cape Girardeau, said the future could begin as early as August if local businesses and individuals showed strong financial support for the system.

Vision 2000 Committee Chairman Mary Spell said it has been a goal of the committee since 1987 for Cape Girardeau to develop a communications information center the entire community can use.

The way the system would work is government agencies, businesses, organizations and individuals would contribute information to be shared by local and out-of-town participants.

Several business leaders attended a meeting on the proposal Wednesday at City Hall.

For the first year, hardware would have to be purchased at an estimated cost of $37,620. That would include 10 telephone lines installed for $750, five public-access computers for $1,700 apiece, and a phone line charge of $35 per month. The main computer would cost $12,000 and a server $6,000.

A MOREnet connection and annual fees would cost $15,100. Personnel to run the computer center would cost $47,500. That would include a part-time director, full-time system manager and technical support contract.

A second-year budget is estimated to cost $97,820. The budget includes another machine to improve performance, an additional 30 phone lines and an upgrade of the server and continuing charges.

Loos said the Cape Girardeau public school system has computer equipment capable of gaining access to the information system as early as February. However, the cost of using phone lines could range from $100 to $200 per building.

"There are 10 buildings in the Cape school system, so it would be expensive to run lines into each one," Loos said. "But TCI Cable already has provided a cable drop to every school building for information to be accessed through cable video."

Loos said a telephone hookup would have to be made for the Show-Me Net system to work.

TCI general manager Roger Harms, who attended Wednesday's meeting, said he expects to become a major player in the information superhighway.

"It's eventually going to be here," Harms said. "It's not going to be here overnight, but I can see that as demand for information arises and more and more people get computers, the day will come when we'll have an information system like that in place here."

The Cape Girardeau Public Library already has the capability of accessing information from cities connected to the information superhighway. In Missouri, Columbia and Springfield have developed their own systems.

People who already have computers could get hooked up to Show-Me Net on a subscription basis. "The cost would involve paying for additional telephone lines," Loos said. If you use your existing lines for access to the information superhighway, you wouldn't be able to take any calls or make any out.

Some of the resources that could be tapped with Show-Me Net: local library access, local statistics, community calendar, government contacts, medical providers, education opportunities, job services, social service organizations, service and fraternal clubs, Chamber of Commerce and convention and tourism information.