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Always something new at CVIP

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CVIP's Gerald Barrera talks to a prospective customer who stopped by CVIP's table in the Kennel Bookstore. Keeping up with the latest technology, CVIP will soon offer high-speed Internet access to its customers.

By Shirley Melikian Armbruster

In CVIP's beginning there was Internet service. Then came an online local Web portal. Up next: High-speed Internet access.

Central Valley Internet Project is continually growing, expanding and improving, said Monica Myers, marketing coordinator.

CVIP a nonprofit organization owned and operated by Fresno State, was established in 1996 to promote the use of technology in the Central Valley and to provide a low-cost Internet access alternative for students, faculty, staff and alumni. Today CVIP has 9,000 subscribers throughout the Valley, with more joining each day.

Myers said high-speed Internet access should be available within the next six months. That will mean faster Internet connections for users.

Another recent addition at CVIP is the offering of software products to Fresno State students, faculty and staff.

Windows software products offered at $5 per CD are: Visual Studio 6.0 (3 CDs), Library (for Visual Studio), Windows Me (upgrade), Windows 2000 (upgrade) Windows 98 (Second Edition - upgrade) and Microsoft Office XP (3 CDs). MAC software products are Front Page 1.0 and Microsoft Office 2001.

Student software products at $13.75 per CD are MS Office-XP Professional, Front Page 2001 and Office 2001 (MAC).

Software products may be purchased at the CVIP office at Cedar and Barstow or in the lower level of Kennel Bookstore. Faculty/staff or student ID must be presented at time of purchase.

CVIP also offers local CD-ROM duplication (orders of 100 or more only) at $3 per CD, which includes the blank CD and screen printing on the CD. The service is for students, educators, nonprofit organizations and local government agencies. Information is available at the CVIP main office.

Earlier this year, CVIP developed an online local Web portal to provide access to Central Valley information in an easy-to-use format. By logging onto www.cvip.net, users can obtain constantly updated local news, weather, traffic and stock quotes.

In addition, users can post their own free classified ads and local public events online utilizing the events calendar.

Greg Gaither is director of CVIP, which has 12 full- and part-time employees. As a nonprofit organization, all funds received by CVIP are re-invested into instructional programs and technology upgrades to increase the university's ability to provide a cost-effective, reliable Internet service, Myers said.

For more information on obtaining Internet access or products, call CVIP at ext. 8-1111 or visit online at www.cvip.net.

Back to University Journal, 10/8/01 Issue