A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds for an Advanced Community‑Based Information and Technology communication system for vance, warren, and greene counties.
Whereas, Vance, Warren, and Greene Counties are working collaboratively to find solutions for student graduation rates and adequate yearly progress, poverty, unemployment, and economic instability in the counties; and
Whereas, there is a need for the education, local government, and industry leadership to come together to determine possible solutions and plan effective strategies to meet each county's specific challenges; and
Whereas, a common goal for each of the counties is to take advantage of technology to break through their rural barriers and join the 21st Century economy and opportunities for their citizens; and
Whereas, their goal is to (i) connect citizens through access to the Internet, (ii) effectively plan for the maximum value of Internet access, and (iii) determine an advanced community‑based ICT (Information and Communication Technology) Internet solution that provides a measurable value to the citizens and communities of these three counties; and
Whereas, each county is working individually with the State to review and assist with Internet connectivity to its communities; and
Whereas, collaboratively, the three counties want to plan and implement an advanced community‑based information and technology communication system that is unique and customized to county requirements; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year for an advanced community-based information and technology communication system for Vance, Warren, and Greene Counties. The system shall be designed to empower citizens and communities through technology and the Internet with the following capabilities:
(1)	Target specific citizen requirements – students, those changing careers, those on social services, retirees, and entrepreneurs.
(2)	Measure system utilization.
a.	Track and report at a citizen level by tracking (i) interaction, utilization, (ii) system access, (iii) learning events assigned, taken, completed, and (iv) job opportunities interviewed, offers, acceptances.
b.	Track and report at a community level or subset.
(3)	Provide an individual portal for each participant.
(4)	Use participant profile of demographics, status, and interests to populate each participant's Web portal with (i) relevant news, (ii) learning events, (iii) news, (iv) community announcements, and (v) assessments of knowledge, skills, aptitude, and personality.
(5)	Provide online mentoring, guidance, and interaction for the best utilization of the system.
(6)	Provide access to learning content including online courses, video, audio, and created content.
(7)	Ability to align learning content with participant profile information.
(8)	Ability to create and meta‑tag learning content for use by participants.
(9)	Participant virtual interaction with identified individuals with expert knowledge in various occupations and industries based on participant interest through (i) virtual application sharing, (ii) VOIP (voice over IP) capabilities; (iii) polling, and webinars (one to many or one‑to‑one interaction).
(10)	Industry participation through (i) posting and tracking participant opportunities including internships, job shadowing, part‑time and full‑time jobs, and (ii) online virtual interviews.
(11)	Management processes for online guidance and expert resources.
(12)	Security processes determining acceptability of content and guidance and expert resources.
(13)	Planning and training processes and resources to ensure success.
(14)	Ability for each community to connect and share resources (knowledge content, mentors, etc.) with other identified communities.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.