It seems like even when the government has the right intentions , their follow through is lower than expected .
The Nebraska Library Commission will get $3.6 million to help pay for Library Broadband Builds Nebraska Communities, a public computer center project.
The three-year project is designed to expand broadband capacity, expand public computer resources in libraries and advance access to employment, learning, health information and E-Government services, the commission stated in a press release.
Part of the money -- $2.4 million -- came from the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, which is funded by the federal stimulus act. The remainder came from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
This project will increase connectivity in 45 of Nebraska's public library buildings, purchase more than 600 new computer workstations and update another 475 at 147 public library locations.
That's approximately $3,600 per computer. Seem a little high ? I'm not sure if they've ever heard of Google in Nebraska, but the word is that you can find discount computer hardware online to bring that cost down a bit. I think even Dell has desktops starting around $300 now, so what kind of monster machines can Nebraska expect to get ?
Chances are the machines will be "government grade" bull pucky that can barely run the latest software , if at all. Should have stuck with the discount computer equipment.
On the other side of the nation , up to 140 students at South Central College might receive a new form of financial aid.The college is one of four in the state to receive a federal TRIO grant for the first time this year. S-C-C won a Student Support Service grant by displaying in their proposal that 59 percent of the students would be eligible. The Dean of Students says low income, first generation, and disabled students will be able to receive one-on-one advising and counseling to build a success plan. Beer says, "It's direct services to real students. It's not overhead or space, it's direct service to our students, and that's the exciting part. "Beer says thanks to the grant, S-C-C will have the resources to help students who may otherwise have given up on school."
Sounds like we are seriously building a foundation for our future between the high priced computers and weak advising and counseling support we are offering our youth. I don't wonder that we will complain at the way they bring up their kids in the face of all of their own adversity , but I'm sure they'll find better prices for discount computer parts than the organisation that taught them.
