Evaluation of IVC as an instructional tool

I agree that IVC is a wonderful instructional tool. I have a few problems with it however. I realize that it costs money to produce a conference and I understand that the equipment is expensive but wow are the programs expensive. Last year I wanted to do an IVC with colonial Williamsburg. They offer a series on the computer but not a video conference for over $500.00 I can't imagine what school could afford that. I also have been looking at everything that is offered through CILC and the lowest price I have found besides free is $75.00. I know that money is what makes the world turn as seen by our recent financial woes but please, how can we make this less of a novelty and more of a piece of the educational puzzle. The ECORS grants are a step in the right direction and earning e-bucks is great. I think that if I had more time I could probably apply for some but who knows. The other drawback I see is using it as a high school or middle school tool. Most MS and HS teachers need to have more than one class of the same subject and how are they going to share the benefits of an IVC with more than one class without paying for the program twice or messing up schedules for that day and with the student limit how can a mass lesson be accomplished. So what I am trying to say is that this is a wonderful system with many many applications. I see how this could connect us and build a generationo f enlightened kids but it is so expensive that we need to figure out a way to make it accessible.