Coming on the heels of an announcement this week that seven new public computer centers were opened territorywide, Virgin Islands Next Generation Network board members approved Tuesday several contracts that would further advance their local broadband initiative.

Meeting Tuesday over the telephone, the viNGN board first received a status update on progress being made on the construction of local fiber access points. Right now, five sites have been completed, while nine others are going and eight others are expected to get over the ground over the next few weeks, officials said. Early July was given as the date for the installation of electronics at the sites.

After going into executive session, the board then met quickly to:
-authorize viNGN Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Kpufer to negotiate with MSI Building Supplies for the supply contract to purchase fiber optic cable for the project;
-authorize Kpufer to negotiate a construction services contract with Evertec Group LLC for the installation and testing of network equipment at the nearly 325 community anchor institutions – facilities such as schools, libraries and other public sites – on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John;
-authorize Kpufer to negotiate a supply contract with Trans-Tel VI LLC for the purchase of repeater assemblies for St. Croix and St. Thomas;
-and authorize Kpufer to negotiate property and liability insurance with Marshall and Sterling Insurance.

Board members present over the phone were Gov. John deJongh Jr., Peter Shultz, Keith O’Neale, Alfred Boschulte and Hugo Hodge Jr.