MaSSSoftech

A Democrat from Ohio and a Republican from West Virginia are teaming together in the U.S. House to bring technical jobs to rural areas.

U.S. Reps. Zack Space, D-Ohio, and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., jointly have introduced legislation authorizing the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the Department of Commerce to make grants for the establishment of information technology centers in less populated communities.

The bill has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, of which Space is a member.

Capito, meanwhile, is a member of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

Money for the program would come from NTIA grant funds that are appropriated through Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations legislation.

"Shelley is a fine legislator," Space said of Capito. "Our districts are similar, and we share a concern about unemployment and bringing technology into our corners of the world."

He added that the intent of their legislation is to draw technology business "to target areas like ours where the unemployment rates are high."

"We can establish call centers, and these can pay good money," Space commented. "Right now, a good bit of this work is being contracted overseas. We have a willing and able work force right here. There's no reason we can't stimulate our economy with these jobs."

"Information technology" can encompass a lot of different jobs -from computerization of information to data collection to telephone assistance centers, according to Space.

"The definition is pretty liberal," he said. "The challenge for us is in accessing the technological revolution, and this legislation is designed to help such areas as Eastern Ohio."

Space noted that he believes the area "holds a lot of promise." He cited strong property values, a "backbone of strong infrastructure" with the proximity of Interstates 77 and 79, and the fact the area is less than a day's drive to many major cities.

"It's a beautiful area," Space continued. "We have a lot going for us - if we can just get our foot in the door."

He predicts the legislation will result in strong, steady jobs for rural communities.

"They live in different states, but they both represent rural areas that could benefit from centers like these," said Jonathan Coffin, spokesman for Capito. "The collaboration simply made sense.