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Rural Communities
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Project
Sponsored by the USDA Rural Utilities Service
Strategy for Rural Information Networking.
RAIN's comprehensive planning approach has enabled it to take on projects that would be ambitious even for a large system. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's distance learning and telemedicine (DLT) program and the California Department of Education's technology literacy program have supported RAIN's efforts to date. The 1997 and 1998 DLT grants total almost $557,000.
RAIN's comprehensive strategy began by identifying four major problems facing rural communities in deploying computer networking utilities (including telemedicine):
RAIN has developed a variety of solutions to address these barriers. Because these problems are common in many areas, telehealth and telemedicine advocates are monitoring RAIN's progress to see if the alliance will be able to continue services once grant funding ends.
Cost to access computer hardware.'
RAIN is providing new computers and online access to member organizations, many of which could not otherwise afford Internet access. In addition, RAIN is using WebTV systems to improve Internet access for rural residents. To provide online access in homes, RAIN loans these set-top TV boxes that only require a tel evision and telephone line.
Technology literacy.
Improving technology literacy is a critical to RAIN's success. The alliance has developed a neighbor-to-neighbor training method. This "Master Family Program" trains parents, children and neighbors at schools, libraries, and other local community centers how to use the Internet. These volunteers, in turn, train others or act as change agents in the community.
Some technology training is site-specific. RAIN trains practitioners at rural clinics to access diagnostic and referral resources from larger medical centers. Residents learn how to access online research. To promote distance learning, community coordinators are sent to schools to teach students and teachers how to use RAIN's training programs and resources.
Access to programming content.
For the duration of the grant period, RAIN is deepening the level of access to health, education, business and environment information. The first step has been to increase the number of online access points at public libraries, public schools, after-school programs participating in the distance learning program, medical clinics in the telemedicine program, 4-H youth camps, and recreational centers. In the future, RAIN plans to send a traveling Internet training van - much like a book mobile - to local communities on a regular schedule.
RAIN, is also working with public and private health care providers to develop bilingual medical resources for the large Spanish-speaking population in the area.
Low-cost, local-dial access.
Improving low-cost, local-dial Internet access has been challenging. The central coast, like many rural communities, lacks the population base for telecommunications companies to provide affordable services. In areas where it is too expensive to provide better telecommunications access, RAIN encourages communities to bring greater political visibility to the issue. At present, RAIN's grant funding underwrites computer equipment and Internet access.