MPR: The Future of Small Towns: Idea Generator: Telecommunications

Categories : People : Economic opportunity : Human services : Telecommunications : Transportation : Social/cultural opportunities : Education : Government & policy : Other

Do you have an idea about the future of small towns? Are the ideas you see not quite hitting the mark? Propose your own idea for the future of small towns!

Rural economic development relies heavily on telecommunication services such as phone, television and internet. Rural residents usually have the same access to telecommunications services like high-speed internet as metro residents. But they are less likely to use "broadband" internet connections.

A rural disconnect
Surprisingly, rural residents were more likely to have access to high speed internet than urban residents in 2002. So why are fewer interested in using it? [Source 1, Source 2]

Community technology investments pay dividends
Internet and communication experts suggest rural towns should invest in better communication technology like high-speed internet and technology to make communications cheaper and more efficient, and making the community more economically competitive. [Source 1]

More from MPR:

Rural 'digital divide' reversed

High speed Internet extending its reach in rural Minnesota

Rural Homes Being Linked by Fiber-Optic Cable

The Impact of Technology on Rural Minnesota

Ideas for: Telecommunications

Sort ideas by date | Sort ideas by rating | Expand All


(1 vote)		The state should lead development of high-speed broadband The State of Minnesota should take the lead in encouraging and enabling the deployment of true high-speed broadband (100+ Mgbs). Incumbent providers should be given the first opportunity to meet ... Read more From Jim Erickson of Minneapolis, MN on 06/13/05 1 comment \| Vote/comment on this entry

(1 vote)		Offer loans for wireless constuction An REA (Rural Electric Association) type low interest loan program to stimulate interest in providing wireless services to rural areas for both cellular and internet is needed. Tower construction... Read more From Wayne Holt of Fosston, MN on 06/07/05 1 comment \| Vote/comment on this entry

(1 vote)		More fiber please, or high-speed Internet for all I believe the availability of high-speed internet to homes, business and schools will promote growth in all areas. To take advantage of this, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission should set a goa... Read more From Avery Timm of Brooklyn Park, MN on 05/21/05 1 comment \| Vote/comment on this entry

(2 votes)		Create reality TV on local access channels Move over Hollywood! How many small communities have local access channels? Little Falls does and the technology is getting better. What we need is more programming. This would be a great chance f... Read more From Mary Warner of Little Falls, MN on 05/13/05 2 comments \| Vote/comment on this entry

(8 votes)		Bring wireless Internet to small towns Expanding broadband access in small towns can open up a world of telecommuting and expand business opportunites. However, making homes in a small town broadband-ready by wired solutions seems awfully... Read more From Jared Frandson of Minneapolis, MN on 05/12/05 8 comments \| Vote/comment on this entry

(1 vote)		Develop municipally owned broadband I think local governments should develop their own broadband systems. Why should the money flow out of the community to big corporations when a local government can do the job at a lower cost. It wo... Read more From Sanda Oslin of Sturgeon Lake, MN on 05/12/05 1 comment \| Vote/comment on this entry

(12 votes)		Build a municipally owned fiber optic network Windom City Leaders realized several years ago the local telephone provider was not going to upgrade their system and provide high speed internet/data communications to the residents or business in Wi... Read more From James King of Windom, MN on 05/11/05 12 comments \| Vote/comment on this entry

(11 votes)		Formulate a Rural Broadband Act Many of our small towns have yet to witness an affordable broadband (not just 128k high speed) options. The Rural Electrification Act provided an opportunity to fill in market gaps of electrical ... Read more From Ben Winchester of Hancock, MN on 05/09/05 10 comments \| Vote/comment on this entry

Do you have an idea about the future of small towns? Are the ideas you see not quite hitting the mark? Propose your own idea for the future of small towns!

Want to comment on the Idea Generator?
Send your thoughts to publicinsight@mpr.org

	Sign up to receive e-mail newsletters

	Audio help

	Text: Sm : Md : Lg