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Click
to enlarge view (~51K)
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Private
telecenter in Septemvri (a small town
southeast of Sofia)
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Drawn
from global telecenter experience, the PC3
model will provide a wide range of public
and private information-based goods and services.
The program is unique, however, in its approach
to sustainability. With the active participation
of Bulgarian entrepreneurs, from three to
ten private sector-driven PC3 enterprises
will be established in small, under-served
communities with populations ranging from
5,000-30,000. While flexible in design to
meet specific community needs, a typical PC3
will take the form of a locally owned and
operated enterprise guided by a solid business
plan. The PC3s will offer a mix of fee-for-use
and, to a limited extent, subsidized access
to Internet and computer services, related
training, and business support services, including
e-commerce for local businesses.
Building
Successful PC3 Enterprises
By
circulating requests for proposals throught
Bulgaria, AED/LearnLink is identifying the
most qualified entrepreneurs and communities
for participation in the PC3 program. Experience
with telecenters around the world has demonstrated
that the qualities of a telecenter's owner
and manager are strong determinants of a
center's success. Therefore, the project
is ensuring selection of entrepreneurs in
PC3 locations based on both the characteristics
of the applicants as well as the composition
of the proposed communities.
The
formal contractual agreement with each selected
PC3 operator will include an outline of the
contributions and obligations of both parties.
After agreements are reached, the project
then will provide the PC3 operators with an
incremental and appropriate mix of technical,
material, and other subsidy support designed
to reduce the initial risk faced by the selected
entrepreneurs and to build demand for PC3
services in the identified communities. |
