Having All the Right Connections

Essays based on five years of survey research in Iowa and case study examples from across the United States examine the implications of telecommunications technologies for rural community development. Supported by data from five years of survey and case study research telecommunications adoption and use is explored in nine sectors of the rural community to determine the influence these organizations and institutions have on telecommunications development within the broader rural community. These sectors include local government economic development business newspapers library services health care university extension to communities and farming. Also considered are the factors that promote and retard telecommunications development particularly the impact of telecommunications policy the availability of state-of-the-art infrastructure and service and the involvement of telephone companies in local community development. Using a community development framework this work discusses the physical financial human and social capitals necessary for holistic community development and the significance of critical mass the roles of internal and external networks as well as vertical and horizontal linkages and the importance of visionary leadership and the championing of telecommunications.Social Science and telecommunications scholars will appreciate the interdisciplinary approach these case studies represent. In addition this research is intended to assist local leaders community service providers businesses community officials and state policy makers in capturing the potential benefits of innovative telecommunications technologies for local economic development while avoiding potential problems and pitfalls. Essays are organized in three sections. The first presents theory policy and issues within a community development framework. The second discusses perspectives and actions of community sectors in their adoption and use of telecommunications. The third examines what occurs within an organization as it implements a new telecommunications system. Charts and graphs enhance the text and a glossary of terms is provided.