1998 Minnesota Statutes

     16E.12 Internet center. 

    Subdivision 1.    Creation.  The office shall create the 
 Internet center, centrally located within the state, to 
 collaborate with the North Star online information service, 
 public and private partners, and with existing or emerging 
 technology and community development efforts. 

    Subd. 2.    Community assistance.  The center shall 
 assist communities and regions in comprehensive information and 
 telecommunications technology (IT) community planning, demand 
 aggregation, design, and implementation.  It shall maintain an 
 interactive database of community and business-related IT 
 experience, showcase successful models of community and business 
 IT integration, coordinate statewide IT community development 
 technical assistance, and act as a clearinghouse for 
 applications and education in the uses of IT. 

    Subd. 3.    Teleterns; resource teams.  A "teletern" is 
 a student enrolled in a higher education program who has 
 information and telecommunications technology skills.  The 
 center shall coordinate the training and placement of teleterns 
 who have IT experience and community development process skills, 
 regional IT community development coordinators, and community IT 
 resource teams to work in partnership with communities as they 
 plan for and implement comprehensive IT resource development 
 efforts.  This includes the aggregation of demand for IT to help 
 facilitate the transition into a market-based, competitive IT 
 environment and the use of IT tools to enhance access to 
 community services, improve the business climate, and strengthen 
 community ties. 

    Subd. 4.    Community-based development partners.  The 
 center and its community-based development functions shall 
 coordinate or partner, when possible, with Minnesota learning 
 community initiatives, particularly for community-based 
 technology learning centers; Minnesota library technology 
 investments; trade point Minnesota, the University of Minnesota 
 secure electronic authentication link (SEAL) laboratory and 
 electronic trading centers; the Small Business Administration 
 business information center; Minnesota technology centers; the 
 Minnesota extension service Access Minnesota sites; and the 
 state's telecommunications collaboration project, among others. 

    HIST: 1997 c 202 art 3 s 16