The Village's commercial side shows promise as well as competitors. Web surfers who reach Bogen's page, for instance, can print a cyber-coupon . During final exams last spring, Ellenbogen redeemed more than 50 of them in a month. I don't know. The potential for cheap, universal Internet access through Village-like partnerships has mixed implications for papers.
Some publishers already offer Internet access as a revenue source.
Analysts argue that selling Internet access will become obsolete when regional Bells or cable companies bring fiber optics into every home, but for now, potential profit remains. For newspaper publishers, the potential pitfalls of being an access provider go beyond fiber optics, Cohill argues. That dynamic appears to work both ways, however. In recent months, Bell Atlantic officials have made overtures to executives of newspapers and other information providers, suggesting that Bell Atlantic does not want to get into the content business. But I have been in front of my computer.