
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 17, 1995                   TAG: 9508170019
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                 LENGTH: Short

CHRISTIANSBURG WON'T UNDERWRITE ADS ON COMPUTER HIGHWAY

Town Council has turned down a request to offer grants to Christiansburg businesses to advertise on Blacksburg's Electronic Village, saying such a move would give certain businesses privileges over others.

Council member Ray E. Lester said Tuesday he supports businesses entering the computer age, "but studying this thing I really feel like it's no different than advertising on any other media - newspaper, television." Because a relatively small number of Christiansburg businesses most likely would advertise on the Electronic Village, Blacksburg's much-publicized townwide computer network that provides access to the Internet, Lester said such grants would be "discriminatory."

Scott Weaver said the town's money is collected to benefit everyone, and "this would affect only a small minority." Lester and Weaver make up council's finance committee. They recommended that council not offer any grants, and council voted unanimously not to.

Council considered the proposal after Michael Abraham, owner of Christiansburg Printing, asked them to two weeks ago. He had tried to get one of 30 $500 grants Blacksburg is offering to businesses there, but he does not qualify because his firm is located in Christiansburg.

"I'm disappointed obviously. I think it's a good idea. I think the town has a vested interest in healthy companies, but the other hand is that I understand that opinion and I respect it," Abraham said Wednesday.

Abraham said his company would use its own money to advertise on the Electronic Village.

by CNB