Rural Telecommunity Center's Telecommunications

So, what is the Telecommunications Infrastructure used by the RTC? At the heart of the RTC is access to advanced telecommunications to communicate within a community, between communities in a regional area and to other individuals and/or institutions throughout the world. The telecommunication infrastructure can help overcome the geographic boundaries experienced by many rural communities and promote rural participation in the world wide economy.

Since the goal of the RTC is to provide advanced technologies to rural communities Rural Health Futures works very closely with existing telecommunication providers within a community and a region to acquire the necessary telecommunication capabilities. As a result of current and future state and Federal efforts to deregulate local telecommunications markets several options exist for communities to acquire the needed capacity, including the existing telephone company, cable operators, and private telecommunication providers. If adequate telecommunications exists to support the community's needs, the RTC makes use of that capability. But for those communities experiencing limited telecommunications capability, Rural Health Futures, Inc. and its partners have the ability to provide advanced communication capabilities ranging from digital switching equipment to the construction of wide-area fiber optic networks. In all cases, the goal is to find the most cost and quality effective means to provide the necessary telecommunications capability so that cost does not discourage the use of the technologies within the RTC.

While telecommunications is at the heart of the RTC, it is also the technology that simply provides or enhances "access" to services, other individuals and communities. The RTC, though, seeks to "empower" rural communities by providing additional technologies, such as an imaging warehouse, Internet hub, bridging service, telecommuting service, and interactive teleconferencing, that impact the applications of rural health, education, government and business and enhance the economic opportunities for rural communities

Benefits

1. Affordable Telecommunications
2. Aggregate Assessment of Telecommunication Needs
3. Cost-Effective Capital Improvements
4. Improved Local Education
5. Ability to Share Resources
6. Improved Services to Public
7. Increased Opportunities to Attract Professionals from Urban Areas who Continue to Work for Urban Companies
8. Improved Professional Recruitment

Applications

1. Distance Learning, Administrative Conferencing and Visual Access
2. Community and Regional Health Information Networks and Telemedicine
3. International, National and Regional Marketing of Local Services, Culture and Recreation, and Climate
4. Virtual Educational and Library Services
5. Access to Community, Regional and National Political Processes
6. Virtual Office Environments and Business Opportunities