Carbondale to Cyberdale

This blog's search for a catchy phrase has led it to the web site of Carbondale to Cyberdale, "a program which enhances the relationship between SIUC's intellectual mission and the region's economic development opportunities."

One Wednesday every month there is an hour long meeting held in the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center at 8 a.m. (this morning!) featuring presentations on topics ranging from economic development to bioengineering to the internet to technology . . . topics relevant to the region and today's economy. For instance today's topic Broadband and DSL Services for Southern Illinois offered a pitch from Verizon:

Verizon, a leader in communication services believes in the power of doing the small things everyday to make life better for people in Southern Illinois. A Fortune 20 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $68 billion in annual revenues.

Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States. Verizon delivers products and services ranging from traditional dial tone over a twisted copper wire pair to high-speed data transfers over a Virtual Private Network -- and beyond. From basic telephony to cutting-edge applications, technology is the backbone of Verizon's business.

Sorry I missed it, but about 24 other people listened to a 30-minute presentation, followed by Q&A -- while eating hash browns and scrambled eggs prepared by Heartland Catering (paid for by the Entrepreneurship Center), according to Sharon Schumacher, Researcher II, Office of Economic and Regional Development, an active member of the planning committee. Sharon approves of this blog's goal of every business and organization in the City of Carbondale having distinctive web presences that will attract countless thousands* of people from out of town.

This may create more demand for broadband as a consequence, so Verizon wins, the broadband user wins, the small business wins, the out-of-town shopper wins, and the city wins (taxes). A win-win-win-win-win scenario, a tetrahedron of success.

*unless there's a counter on the page, of course