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Virtual Valley was a free-access dial-up public Internet Service Provider/web publishing venture initiated by Metro Silicon Valley with content and promotional support from public television station KTEH and a grant of frame-relay Internet access from Pacific Bell . Operations commenced in 1994. The aim of the project was to provide online publishing services at low- or no cost to individuals, municipal governments and non-profits. Office space, dialup lines, modems and servers were provided by Metro's publisher, Dan Pulcrano.
The service featured an interface designed by Dutch graphic designer Erik van Blokland that offered a clickable map of Santa Clara Valley communities. It was a spinoff of Metro's earlier online service, Livew!re, founded in 1993. The service was announced at a press conference that included San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer.
The importance of this venture cannot be underestimated.[citation needed] At a time when it was exceedingly difficult for a small- or medium-sized organizations to set up a web presence, find an ISP, incur the recurring charges of a new service, etc. in rapidly evolving cyberspace, VV was an ambitious attempt to level the playing field for the non-profit and governmental sectors.
