We are regularly asked why BOLC (The Bilston-Online Centre) isn't free to use. Let me explain, BOLC is located within BCC (Bilston Community Centre) and is financed by Bilston Community Association, neither BOLC or BCA get any financial support from Wolverhampton City Council quite the opposite in fact. There are several rooms and a hall for hire within BCC for which there are a range of set hire charges. BCA has to pay the City Council for using the Centre Building as well as charges for refuse collection and compulsory Insurance charges, this is why BCA has to charge for room hire.
The BOLC is a special case, in addition to the costs outlined above we have to pay an additional insurance premium for the cost of the computer equipment, then there is the cost of providing Broadband Internet Access - about £50 per month. Last year all the computers were replaced with newer (they are not state of the art, but they are out of date*!) faster models at a cost of over £4000.
A well known Sci-Fi writer - Robert A Heinlein coined the phrase TANSTAAFL (There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch).
If it at some future time, someone offers to pay all the operating costs for BOLC then we might well decide to make it Free for everyone to come and use, until then sorry but charges are a necessary evil.
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* The rate of development with computers is such that by the time you see a shiny new model in the shop and part with your cash (or plastic) take it home and set it up, it's probably been replaced by an ever newer and shinier model. Addvice on buying/upgrading a PC will appear here in due course.
Part of The Bilston Online Network