The Virgin Islands Next Generation Network has opened the first wave of its public computer centers around the territory, and will begin building its fiber optic network Nov. 12.
The group known better as viNGN is a wholly owned public corporation organized to create a broadband fiber optic network in the territory. It was funded primarily from a grant by the National Telecommunications Information Administration as part of a federal program to improve the broadband capacity in the territories.
The first wave of viNGN’s public computer centers opened Wednesday, including on St. Croix at the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of the Virgin Islands, the Louis E. Brown Villas, the Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion and the V.I. Department of Labor; and on St. Thomas at New Image Foundation, the V.I. Department of Labor and the V.I. Resource Center for the Disabled.
“Coming directly off of the heels of the grand opening of our Connectspace.vi hub in Frederiksted, we are very pleased to keep the positive momentum going with the official opening of several of our public computer centers,” said Lawrence Kupfer, viNGN chief executive officer.
At the computer centers, users can take a eight-week “Digital Literacy Training” course, which introduces general computer and Internet skills. The course is made available through a partnership with viNGN, CyberLearning Inc. and the National Education Foundation. At the end of the training, participants receive a certificate issued by the State University of New York.
Once the Digital Literacy class is completed, users will be able to access other training courses. Users can sign up to take certification preparation classes in as many as 60 information technology related titles, including Cisco, Microsoft, Linux, Oracle, A+, Net+, Security+, web design, Internet security and project management.
Users of the computer centers will also have access to a virtual library of more than 5,000 training courses, ranging from SAT/ACT, K-12 Math, Science, ELA to Business Management.
“I am encouraging residents of the territory – students, adults, seniors, veterans, those unemployed, and those seeking a new career that is tied to broadband technology, the Internet and data – to visit our PCCs and sign up to participate in the Digital Literacy program and then to take other courses,” said Kevin Hughes, vice president of sales and marketing for the network.
“The benefits of this program are immense, as participants have the opportunity to receive training in the very highest degrees of digital literacy and other educational areas,” he said. “That training can then lead to data-related, Internet-related or remote jobs through our Connectspace.vi hub … The key is to take advantage of this unique opportunity and receive this valuable training now while it is available free during the next 10 months.”
The network will begin building out the fiber-optic network with trenching projects in both island districts during the week of Nov. 12.
Work on St. Croix will begin in two locations, at the northern end of Hams Bluff Road and heading south along Route 63 towards Frederiksted, and at Lagoon Street in Frederiksted, heading north along Route 63 on Hams Bluff Road.
St. Thomas work on installation of underground fiber optic conduit will also begin in two locations, at Four Corners, heading west along Route 33 and towards the airport, and at the Red Hook salt pond heading northwest along Route 38.
The viNGN is in the process of connecting community anchor institutions with reliable high-speed Internet services and strengthening external broadband connections that will improve access to online educational, health care and government services to residents, the network noted in a press release announcing the work schedule.
