Bracks Government Boosts Internet Access for Victorian Communities
Bracks Government Boosts Internet Access for Victorian Communities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Media release - 18 September 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sixty nine community organisations across Victoria will receive grants of up to $7,500 to continue providing public internet access, as part of a $3.5 million funding boost from the Victorian Government, the Minister for Information and Communication Technology has announced. The funding has been awarded to community organisations across the State through the Public Internet Access Program, set-up to help provide Victorians with free or affordable internet access. "The grants will help pay for internet connections or purchase new computer equipment, so community groups can keep providing their valuable services," said Minister Thomson. "The Public Internet Access Program is designed to bring all the benefits of the web to a diverse range of people currently underrepresented among internet users. These include senior Victorians; recent migrants; unemployed people (including disadvantaged youth); and people with a disability. "Through this initiative the Victorian Government will be funding up to half a million hours of free or affordable internet access for Victorians over the next four years," Ms Thomson said. The Public Internet Access Program is part of the Bracks Government's policy for Connecting Communities: the second wave, released in December 2004, designed to reduce the remaining barriers for Victorians who face difficulties accessing the internet. Since 2001, the Victorian Government's Connecting Communities policy has worked very successfully to bridge digital divide. "The Bracks Government is also honouring its commitment of creating A Fairer Victoria," Minister Thomson said. "We are committed to working with local governments, communities and businesses to help remove barriers to opportunity, and provide access and choice for all Victorians." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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