Virtually Wired

[Doug Schuler]

Subject: Article from page C1 of the 05/08/97 Boston Globe 

The following is the text of an article that ran on page C1 of the
Boston Globe on 05/08/97. It has been picked up by the Associated Press
and the New York Times for possible distribution to their syndicated
news clients.
_________________

HEADLINE: Cyberspot for have-nots faces pulling of the plug

BYLINE:	By Joann Muller, Globe Staff, 05/08/97 

Sometimes, a good idea just isn't good enough. 

The concept behind Virtually Wired certainly seemed praiseworthy: Open a
nonprofit computer access center where, for a nominal fee, people who
didn't have a computer at home or at work could venture into cyberspace
at their own pace, with support and encouragement from a staff of
friendly volunteers. 

But after two years of operations on a shoestring budget, Virtually Wired
is about to be unplugged. 

The organization has lost its lease on a Downtown Crossing storefront,
and can't afford to move to new quarters. 

``We'll never find another rent like this,'' said Coralee Whitcomb, 46,
a former Bentley College computer instructor who has run Virtually Wired
since it opened in April 1995. The organization paid next to nothing for
the 3,000-square-foot space on Temple Place because the property was
owned by one of the founders of Virtually Wired. 

But now, the landlord, who is no longer involved with the organization,
has filed for bankruptcy protection and the building is for sale. 

Another blow came a few weeks ago when Whitcomb discovered a
``bookkeeping problem'' - an inexperienced volunteer who overstated the
amount of revenue the organization was taking in each month. 

Taken together, the two problems might leave Virtually Wired with no
choice but to close, Whitcomb said. 

``It doesn't take much for us to get the wind knocked out of our
sails,'' said Whitcomb. ``We're not able to sustain many hits.'' 

Whitcomb said the center might be open at Downtown Crossing only up to
June 1. But the self-described computer activist, whose life passion is
to close the gap between the technology haves and have-nots, isn't
discouraged. 

``It doesn't mean Virtually Wired has to disintegrate and blow away,''
she said. ``We've got some neat ideas about how to reinvent it.'' 

In fact, as news of Virtually Wired's predicament spread last week,
several organizations stepped forward with proposals to collaborate in
ways that would keep its spirit alive, Whitcomb said. She wouldn't say
more about the talks, however, until details are worked out. 

Whitcomb said Virtually Wired can't survive on its own without financial
backing from corporations or government. 

``These places are really important if America wants to do what it says
it wants to do, and that's to get everybody computer literate,'' she
said. 

One competitor that has managed to thrive because of corporate and
individual donations is the Computer Clubhouse, an offshoot of Boston's
Computer Museum. 

Director Gail Breslow acknowledges that in the world of nonprofit
organizations, ``money follows money,'' which is one reason the Computer
Clubhouse has survived while Virtually Wired is struggling. 

There are now five Computer Clubhouses in operation - four in Boston and
one in Germany - that provide creative, informal learning environments
for urban youth. Backers include Reebok, Nynex, Microsoft, and Lotus. 

While public-access computer centers and trendy ``cybercafes'' are
sprouting up in many communities, Virtually Wired stands out because of
its efforts to reach disadvantaged populations, including the homeless.

While some cybercafes might charge $8 to $12 an hour to use one of their
computers, Virtually Wired sells passes for $3 a day or $10 a month. 

Libraries are increasingly setting up computers for free public access,
but they often limit users to one hour at a time. ``We insist that
people stay as long as they want,'' Whitcomb said. 

While computer centers are also popping up in YMCAs and other community
agencies, many of these are just now getting computers with Internet
access. 

Whitcomb's center is staffed by about 70 volunteers, some of whom were
homeless or unemployed at one time and wandered into Virtually Wired in
hopes of learning skills that would get them back on their feet. 

Service is provided on a drop-in basis for people who are intimidated by
the hype about the Internet, or who just want to learn about the World
Wide Web. 

Classes are offered on topics ranging from word processing and
spreadsheets to Web page design. One of the most popular public services
is an Internet job-search software program designed by a volunteer
software consultant. 

Virtually Wired also hosts children from several urban day care centers
and summer camps to teach them about computers. 

While she fights to save these and other programs, Whitcomb is
philosophical about Virtually Wired's mission. 

``If it dies, it'll be because it went too slow. Not because we were
doing the wrong things.''



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