The Village Area Network (VAN) provides information and communication services to an entire rural community, supporting a range of roaming and fixed services. Schools, rural clinics, government offices, police stations, agricultural cooperatives, and local residences will be empowered with access to information and new means to communicate with each other and the world. The first VAN is being implemented in the rural community of Bohechio, Dominican Republic. Last year, a LINCOS telecenter was installed in Bohechio. The VAN will be centered around a LINCOS multipurpose community telecenter and will extend the LINCOS facilities with mobile handheld and fixed wireless services in strategic local centers such as schools and hospitals.