3.3: Telecommunications Technology

Increase the Accessibility and Use of Telecommunications Technology

Other Information:

Communities across the Appalachian Region, especially those in rural or economically distressed areas, face serious challenges in taking advantage of new information, computing, and telecommunications technologies that have the potential to expand their economic development horizons. Changing regulations have resulted in access issues for rural communities and reluctance on the part of service providers to make capital investments in less-dense areas where it is more difficult to generate adequate returns on investments. Selected Strategies: Make strategic investments in telecommunications infrastructure to increase local and regional connectivity. Help citizens learn to use information technologies to access distance-learning opportunities and to identify markets and consumer groups. Promote the adoption of e-commerce methods by existing and new businesses. Support telemedicine applications for communities. Encourage the use of telecommunications applications for use in education and government initiatives. Provide planning assistance for telecommunications development that coincides with other public infrastructure development.

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

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