A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to enable wow e‑community development corporation to implement and establish a two‑year pilot program that would allow the windows on the world technology center to become the northeastern north carolina regional technology resource center for indigent rural low‑wealth communities through direct engagement.
Whereas, northeastern North Carolina is the State's most economically distressed region with eight Tier I counties, over 30 small municipalities, and many remote communities that need special attention to participate in the State's technology‑driven economy; and
Whereas, there is a serious lack of urgency concerning digital literacy and information technology in the indigent communities in northeastern North Carolina which must be addressed; and
Whereas, many of the rural communities in northeastern North Carolina do not have the resources to address technology issues such as digital literacy and the availability of affordable broadband; and
Whereas, the indigent population in many northeastern North Carolina communities remains untrained for twenty-first century employment and entrepreneurial opportunities; and
Whereas, there are many remote communities that continue to lack public access to computers and the Internet; and
Whereas, there are low‑wealth municipalities in northeastern North Carolina with populations under 1,500 that need Web sites and others whose Web sites need updating, as well as other technology‑related assistance; and
Whereas, the lack of Internet proficiency within the indigent communities of northeastern North Carolina negatively impacts the ability to effectively and efficiently utilize the Internet to access resource information for and about northeastern North Carolina; and
Whereas, affordable broadband for the last mile remains a challenge for remote, rural low‑wealth communities because of the required initial investment, and profitability being based upon demand, it must be determined whether nonprofit Internet service providers represent the best solution; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina Community Development Initiative, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, the sum of two hundred ninety thousand dollars ($290,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of two hundred ninety thousand dollars ($290,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year to be allocated to WOW e‑Community Development Corporation to establish and implement a two‑year pilot program that would enable the Windows on the World Technology Center to become the northeastern North Carolina regional technology resource center for indigent rural low‑wealth communities through direct engagement. These funds shall be used as follows:
(1)	$150,000 for each fiscal year of the 2007‑2009 biennium for operating expenses of the Windows on the World Technology Center.
(2)	$100,000 for each fiscal year of the 2007‑2009 biennium for the following:
a.	Developing, maintaining, and hosting municipal Web sites and a northeastern North Carolina portal.
b.	Expanding public access points and digital literacy classes in the northeastern North Carolina Tier I counties.
c.	Establishing initiatives in indigent communities to create a sense of urgency concerning digital literacy and information technology.
(3)	$40,000 for each fiscal year of the 2007‑2009 biennium for operations of the Internet service provider.
These funds shall not revert at the end of each fiscal year but shall remain available until expended for these purposes.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina Community Development Initiative, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, the sum of four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year to be allocated to WOW e‑Community Development Corporation for infrastructure to provide wireless broadband to unserved communities in portions of Washington, Tyrrell, and Martin Counties.
SECTION 3.  The Department of Administration, Division of Surplus Property, shall earmark 1,000 surplus computers for each fiscal year of the 2007‑2009 biennium for the WOW e‑Community Development Corporation. The computers will be used to provide training, and later upgraded and sold at cost to faith‑based organizations, low‑wealth communities committed to public access, and low- and moderate‑income families.
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.