Meeting by teleconference Wednesday, V.I. Next Generation Network board members quickly voted to allow the company’s president to negotiate a contract with Computer Solutions to provide software and computer hardware for three public computer centers currently under renovation.

At previous meetings, viNGN President Lawrence Kupfer has spoken about various centers in need of more renovations. On Wednesday, he explained that four packages were received in response to a request for bids to provide the equipment in which Computer Solutions was selected by an evaluation committee as the prospective vendor.

The board approved the company’s recommendation of Computer Solutions and Kupfer said he would move forward with negotiating the contract. Kupfer said he expects renovations on those centers to be completed by the end of the month.

Kupfer said the company contines to focus on closing out the grants it received to build a territorywide broadband network that is meant to bring faster speeds and more reliable Internet service to residents.

Kupfer said the process of getting local anchor institutions – public sites such as universities, schools, libraries, community centers and government agencies – turned over to various Internet service providers is also ongoing.

A regular board meeting will be called once all board members are available, but Kupfer said Wednesday’s meeting was necessary in order for viNGN to move forward with buying the materials quickly for the PCCs.