News

Broadband Wireless Launches Rural Deployment Initiative
The Wireless Communications Association and the License Exempt Alliance have launched their "Rural Broadband Task Force," aimed at helping service providers who want government aid for rural deployments.

The Department of Agriculture will make available $1.4 billion in rural broadband loans, under a program administered by the agency's Rural Utilities Service. This program will continue to subsidize the deployment of enhanced telecommunications technologies in rural America, which is essential to the continued economic and social development of the country. These subsidized loans are often the only way small telecommunication service providers can afford to deploy technologies.

The task force has posted links to federal rules, documents and other information about the program on its Web site: www.wcai.com/rural/index.htm

ARC News

Information Age Appalachia
Information Age Appalachia is a new ARC telecommunications program designed to help bridge the digital divide in the Appalachian Region. Focusing on four main areas—access and infrastructure, education and training, e-commerce, and technology-sector job creation—the program seeks to bring advanced services and the corresponding benefits into the Region.

Events

Rural Telecommunications Congress Fall Conference
"Putting Broadband to Work"
October 10-13, 2004
Spokane, Washington
The conference will highlight successful investments in rural America in the areas of distance learning, telemedicine, e-government, and e-business. ARC is supporting the conference with $28,000 in travel related subsidies for travelers from the Appalachian Region. A number of other federal agencies are also promoting this conference through their Web sites. Early registration is available through August 27 for $330.00. For more information, visit www.ruraltelecon.org

ARC Demand Aggregation Workshops
ARC is offering community workshops throughout the Region on demand aggregation. Demand aggregation is a technique used to identify and accumulate existing and potential demand for telecommunications in an area, creating enough volume to entice private-sector investment in facilities.

Who should attend? City and county government officials (economic development specialists, industrial development authority specialists, and others), health service providers and administrators, educators, and people from chambers of commerce and the business community at large.

To schedule a workshop in your community, contact ARC telecommunications staff at telecommunications@arc.gov or Harry Roesch, Telecommunications Advisor, at 202-884-7774.

ARC E-Rate and Funding Workshops
ARC is offering community workshops on telecommunications funding opportunities, including e-rate funding for schools and libraries. The workshop will discuss ways of seeking sources of funding, include public- and private-sector sources, foundations, and others.

Who should attend E-Rate workshops? School administrators, IT school staff, general educators, librarians, and education officials at city, county, and state levels. Who should attend Funding workshops? Anyone interested in tapping the funding resources available to their community.

To learn more or schedule a workshop in your community, contact your state ARC program manager or ARC telecommunications staff at telecommunications@arc.gov.

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