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For Immediate Release 
 
Press Contacts: 
Kathie Blankenship 
Smart Valley, Inc. 
(415) 813-3136 
Internet: KathieB@svi.org 
 
Rona Brodrick 
Cunningham Communication, Inc. 
(408) 764-0740 
Internet: Rona@ccipr.com 
 
                Smart Valley Delivers on Promise of  
                Free Public Access to the Internet 
 
              **URL:  http://www.svi.org/pan.html 
 
PALO ALTO, Calif. =97 June 14, 1995 =97 Smart Valley, Inc. announced   
the opening of its Public Access Network (PAN) on June 12, 1995.   
The PAN project, announced last fall, provides free-of-charge,   
high-speed public access to the Internet=92s World Wide Web (WWW). 
 
A live demonstration of one of the first PAN sites took place at   
The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California. Along with   
a demonstration, the agenda included comments by Larry Irving,   
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce and National   
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)   
director; Peter Giles, president and CEO of The Tech Museum; and   
Regis McKenna, chairman of Regis McKenna Inc. and a Smart Valley,   
Inc. director. 
 
PAN is focused on bringing Internet-based resources and   
information to those individuals who have had limited or no   
access to these services and applications.  While the Internet   
was once a place for the latest computer or scientific   
information, its explosive growth has turned it into an   
information resource for everyone.  By providing free Internet   
access, PAN encourages community involvement in the acceptance,   
development and usage of information technology. 
 
=93Many people know about the Internet, but few have had the   
opportunity to see and use it for themselves,=94  said Dr. Harry J.   
Saal, president and CEO of Smart Valley, Inc.  =93Providing the   
public with access to today=92s state-of-the-art information   
services will help reduce the             socio-economic barriers   
to technology and allow us to reach our goal of providing the Bay   
Area community with a true public resource.=94 
 
Islands of Information 
Computers located at each PAN site provide high-speed connection   
to the Internet=92s WWW.  To simplify searching the vast amount of   
material available, Smart Valley has developed =93The PAN Islands.=94   
 The PAN Islands Home Page categorizes information in an   
easy-to-use, fun and intuitive environment, with each of the   
eight islands representing an area of interest.  For example, an   
individual seeking a list of local restaurants would explore the   
information listed in the =93Community=94 island while someone   
looking for a list of local job postings may start a search at   
the =93Business=94 island.  Individuals who take advantage of PAN   
will be able to retrieve information including community events   
calendars, educational resources and government services. 
 
An important part of the project is the voluntary on-line user   
survey which will be used to provide insight and understanding as   
to how PAN is being utilized and to determine if the project is   
making progress toward its objectives. 
 
=93The =91information superhighway=92 is about connections =97 people   
connecting to other people, services and information,=94  said   
Larry Irving, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce.   =93Smart   
Valley=92s PAN project provides access for all people to build   
stronger communities and improve their lives.=94 
	 
=93The PAN project combines The Tech Museum=92s charter to create   
technology awareness with Smart Valley=92s mission to provide the   
Silicon Valley community with a true public technology resource   
for the future,=94 said Peter Giles.  =93Everyone now has the   
opportunity to see the =91information superhighway=92 for themselves   
in a fun, friendly environment.=94 
 
PAN Sites 
In addition to The Tech Museum site, additional PAN sites at the   
Main and Hillview branches of the San Jose Public Library and   
Fry=92s Electronics in Palo Alto will be available for immediate   
access.  Other sites to be available by August of this year   
include The City of Palo Alto=92s public Internet site at City   
Hall, University of California at Santa Cruz Extension (Santa   
Clara) and the Cable Co-op in Palo Alto.  Smart Valley will   
continue to work with its partners to launch sites in other   
public libraries, city and county administrative offices and   
retail outlets throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. 
	 
Current PAN partners include:  3Com Corporation, Arthur D.   
Little, Inc., BBN Planet, Cable Co-op, Cisco Systems, Fry=92s   
Electronics, I/PRO Corp. Pacific Bell, Regis McKenna Inc.,   
SurfWatch Software Inc., TGV, Inc., University of California at   
Santa Cruz Extension and Yahoo Corp. 
 
For more information on The Tech Museum=92s PAN site, contact   
Gloria Chun Hoo at (408) 279-7157.  Additional information on   
future sites and the PAN project should be directed to Kathie   
Blankenship of Smart Valley, Inc. at (415) 813-3136. 
 
Smart Valley, Inc. is a non-profit organization committed to   
creating a regional electronic community by developing an   
advanced information infrastructure and the collective ability to   
use it.  Smart Valley=92s mission is to facilitate the construction   
of a pervasive, high-speed communications system in conjunction   
with information services to benefit all sectors of the Silicon   
Valley:  education, health care, local government, business and   
the home.  Smart Valley, Inc. is affiliated with Joint Venture:   
Silicon Valley, a broad-based, grassroots coalition of   
initiatives begun in 1992.