Telecommunication and computer networks have different effects in rural areas than in urban and suburban areas.
Likewise, due to economic uncertainty and regulatory complexity, rural communities have different capacities to deal with the introduction of new technology.
In addition, many rural communities are unable to access services because of geographic location and lack of basic infrastructure. These factors can be quite challenging, causing some communities to go without access at all.
For many years, the telephone has been the primary telecommunication mechanism for rural areas.
However, with continuous advancement of technology, rural communities now have a variety of communication mechanism such as the Internet, broadband and satellite broadcasting.
The Internet is the most widely used platform to deliver multimedia application in rural areas. It has evolved to become a tool for economic and social development, as well as a valuable resource for education and entertainment.
Anyone with basic computer equipment and a telephone line can connect to, communicate through and provide information on it.
Broadband is universally regarded as, ?the future of telecommunications? because of its high-speed, high capacity and interactive services.
The additional capacity of broadband enhances the Internet?s ability to provide important services to individuals and communities.
It can be accessed from a home computer, a wireless handheld device and soon through household appliances.
The cost of broadband is relatively more expensive than regular Internet services because of convenience and speed.
Alternative options for access, such as DSL and cable modems are popular in metropolitan areas but typically are not available in rural communities.
The only remaining option in most rural areas is a dedicated leased line.
Dedicated leased lines from the telephone company are generally the most available method of gaining a high quality, high-speed connection.
Satellite broadcasting has also been widely adopted in distance education programs and videoconferencing in remote areas.
These two platforms are expected to converge as Internet broadcasting and satellite-based Internet links continue to be developed.
In addition, new applications such as email, e-commerce, tele-education, tele-health and tele-medicine among others have made access to interactive multimedia services as important.
Because of the availability of these communication mechanisms, rural cities have begun to make great progress in expanding their communication channels, for example:
? The need for multiple agencies to communicate with each other during a crisis was learned from the aftermath of 9/11. In Douglasville, Ga., the city and its neighbors have responded to this need by creating what will be the largest multi-jurisdictional radio system in the state. The plan for the Western Area Regional Radio System (WARRS) should be fully operational by September 2004. It calls for an 800 MHz radio system for the entire region. When completed, WARRS will cover more than 1,000 squares miles, creating seamless communications between state, federal and local agencies.
? Harlan County in rural south central Nebraska wanted dial-up Internet access, but no Internet provider was interested in serving the county seat and surrounding area. The City of Harlan sought assistance from the Nebraska Cooperative Government, a multipurpose organization with 90 member rural communities statewide. As a result, a non-profit pilot project in Harlan County emerged and the county and city each have a DSL system capable of delivering signals at T-1 or better speeds to a three-mile radius. The project was accomplished without any state or federal assistance.
? La Grande, in rural eastern Oregon, has a fiber-optic point of presence (POP) on an interstate cable running through the city. It acquired the POP by making city access to the cable a condition of granting a permit to the telecommunications company that was laying the cable. The city, county and state spent $165,000 to install the POP. Because of the POP, an insurance claims company located its processing center in the town, immediately creating 50 jobs.
? Chase City, with support from Virginia?s Center for Innovative Technology (CIT), renovated a 16,000 square-foot building to house its new Estes Community Center, a rural community telecommunications and distance-learning center. The town decided to make improvements by installing an advanced communications network with a 1.2 mile fiber optic line. In addition, the center also plans to provide community access to Internet and email, distance-learning opportunities through the local community college and specialized programs for high school students and senior citizens.
? The Village of Hemingford, Neb.,board meetings are broadcast live on the Internet through a process called media streaming. The local telephone company provides microphones and other equipment for the meetings and provides an individual to operate the camcorder and other equipment. The service allows residents of the rural community to be aware of what their government is doing without attending the meeting. The meetings are then backed up on compact discs so that they can be referenced in the future.
? Dickenson County, Va., offers high-speed service through a county-wide Wireless Integrated Network. The Network features five satellite towers, placed strategically around the county and a small building that serves as a 911 facility as well as the connection point for the Network. Because the county is located in the Appalachian Mountains, it is far more cost-effective to use a wireless network than to attempt install fiber optic cables. Residents may pay $30 to $40 per month for access DSL service. The Network attracts business to the county and access to inexpensive wireless service is part of an effort to shift the focus of the region?s economy from natural resources to technology.
These are just some of the many examples of how advance telecommunication technologies have enhanced the lives of rural people.
Investing in these kinds of telecommunication services can bring sustainable economic successes for many rural areas and provide services that would otherwise be impossible to access. Expanded telecommunications capabilities allow citizens to interact with their government, businesses to reach potential customers and create new jobs, students to access information resources all over the world and other daily uses that improve the quality of life.
For more information about the Linking Rural Communities to Communication Opportunities, best practices that you would like to share, or ideas about how you may contribute to the network building, contact Deborah George-Feres, manager, local government services at 202-626-3129, or email george-feres@nlc.org, or LaStar Matthews, staff associate at 202-626-3177, or email matthews@nlc.org.