The centers will enable young peopleto learn the information technology skills they need to successfully competein the business market. The centers, located in schools and community centers nationwide, willalso provide guidance on how to use technology to find information on thingssuch as mentoring programs, career opportunities, community services, after-schoolactivities and academic help. Rural areas tend to be hard-hit by the digital divide, so AOL is workingwith the National Center for Small Communities to close the gap. Last year, four communities received awards. Winners willbe announced in October.
Volunteers maintain the free, countywide network.
Maddock, N.D., population less than 1,000, for its development ofthe Rural Business and Technology Center that provides a shared telecommunicationsinfrastructure. Questa, N.M., population less than 3,000, for its Wireless DemonstrationProject that provided wireless telecommunication services to rural mountainareas. McDermitt, Nev., population less than 1,000, for its Humboldt InternetProvider project. The project was launched and maintained by McDermitt HighSchool students. In November, the National School Board Foundation teamed up with AOLto launch an online network in school districts nationwide.