Modeling the Introduction of Internet Services into Rural Communities

While the Internet may promise the potential of increased access to services and information, obstacles make access to such technology by rural businesses, educators and individuals difficult. Much research has been conducted about bringing Internet services into K-12 education, and projects have in initiated to bring better Internet access to rural communities, yet the rift between urban and rurual access may be increasing as urban information and telecommunications companies rush to fulfill the demand in urban areas, while greater distances, lower population density and older, existing telephone technology make rural business less viable. Partly as a result of these problems, there is less Internet education and knowledge in rural communities. Existing approaches to Internet education have severe economic drawbacks. APU proposes to design and test the introduction of Internet concepts and technologies to a rural high school and then to a rural community using an innovative educational model that may be more efficient than traditional methods. The proposed program is directed at demonstrating the feasibility of this approach to introducing Internet technology in rural areas.