Oak View Technology Challenge

RAIN already provides the Internet access for the public library, which at the beginning of the DLT Project had one public Internet access computer available through a grant-funded afterschool homework program. The schools are not connected to the Internet and following a 1998-99 renovation project, will have a new multi- media center with Internet access after 1999. RAIN also has local dial home, school, and office access to the Internet available at the start of the DLT Project, and will be working with its existing subscribers to do outreach into the community to assist more families in getting on the Internet.

The public schools are in need of receiving connectivity combined with teacher training and student training in accessing information resources via the Internet. RAIN will have community coordinators working with the schools to deliver training programs, to supply equipment, to assist in accessing distance learning materials, and will provide local dial Internet at no cost to the schools during the DLT project.

There is a strong need to host Internet education programs for the public to encourage greater use of theInternet, and to set up a technology loan program that allows more families to sample the Internet and RAIN’s DLT programs from their television screen.

The Telemedicine wing of the RAIN DLT Project will be working with the Oak View Family Practice, a rural health clinic in the center of Oak View in conjunction with The Ojai Valley Community Hospital and Ventura County Health Care Services. With the high level of Spanish speakers in the population, the project will be developing bi-lingual medical resources and training as a public health service. It will also be training the practitioners at the rural clinic to access diagnostic and referral resources at its urban counterparts.