Community Connections News Release
On-line Community Development
January 9, 1998
By Chrissy Meyer
Extension to Communities
Communications Intern
By Chrissy Meyer
Extension to Communities
Communications Intern
The mass media are fond of showing the ways in which Internet technologies can change lives, but what they don't show is how Internet technologies can change the lives of those living in rural communities far away from bustling technological centers.
According to Peter Korsching, professor of sociology at Iowa State University, that may be because until recently, harnessing the potential of these technologies was a task relegated solely to cities. But now, as telecommunication technologies move to rural areas, we are confronted by important questions about their impacts. Are they an answer to the many problems of remoteness and isolation of rural communities? Or do they represent yet another way by which a well-connected urban network will gain a further advantage?
In a series of surveys conducted from 1994-1997, Korsching explored the attitudes of seven groups who had a stake in their communities' telecommunications technology future. Telephone companies, community leaders, businesses, economic development professionals, libraries, hospitals and local governments were asked their opinions of telecommunications technologies' impacts on economic development and quality of life in rural communities.
Of those surveyed in all seven groups, a majority of respondents felt that advances in telecommunications will help revitalize rural communities and help narrow the gap between rural and urban areas. Their reasons were simple, rural areas would have access to the same information and valuable resources as urban centers. Those that felt new technologies would widen the economic gap said rural communities would remain information poor inspite of new technologies.
However, when it came to the question of whether telecommunications technologies would be useful for economic development, nearly all of the respondents agreed and many felt they were essential.
Although most respondents believe that telecommunication technologies are useful for economic development and that the technologies are important to the future economic vitality of their communities, few have written economic development plans that include telecommunications. In addition, nearly 59 percent of local government officials surveyed felt telecommunications services were underutilized and 76 percent reported a below average ranking of local governments in promoting use of telecommunications in the local community.
Community promotion of telecommunications technologies is essential for their success. Business leaders, community leaders, economic development specialists and local government leaders report that they know very little about new technologies and what little they do know has come from support outside their communities. Increasing potential user awareness, therefore, would facilitate the adoption of new telecommunications technologies. This awareness could be increased locally through education and training.
Furthermore, Korsching states, because small businesses and individuals do not have the resources to employ a telecommunications technology expert, much less support an information systems department, locally available training and education would help increase the successful implementation of the technologies.
Another consistent restraint identified by the study is accessibility and quality of telecommunications technologies. While many communities have access, it is through a long distance telephone number or is limited to certain locations within the community such as the library or county extension office.
Respondents from telephone companies incicate that because the cost of providing services is going up it is difficult for smaller companies to provide new services. They suggest that money, low interest loans and affordable technology are needed to upgrade services. According to economic development specialists, contact between the local economic development organization and the local telephone company is limited or nonexistent. Better relations between these two groups could help financially support local development activities.
The primary message is that communities need to work together to harness the potential that telecommunications technologies represent and recognize that these technologies are creating permanent changes in the way people work, play and live their lives. It's here to stay--a permanent part of the rural American panorama.
Contacts:Terry L. Besser, ISU Extension Sociology, (515) 294-6508
Del Marks, ISU Extension Communication Systems, (515) 294-9807
