About Connecting Rural Communities

The Connecting Rural Communities guide is designed to provide the information and tools community leaders need to identify, develop and implement projects that improve:

1. The availability of access to broadband connectivity across the community;

2. The ability of organizations in the community to use digital technology to achieve their mission and goals; and

3. The ability of individuals in the community to use digital technology to improve their social and economic well-being.

Connecting Rural Communities is sponsored and funded by the Southern Rural Development Center through their 2005 Rural E-Commerce Extension Initiative Grants Program.

Connecting Rural Communities was developed by:

• William Shuffstall - Senior Extension Educator, Penn State Cooperative Extension - shuffy@psu.edu

• Sheila Sager - Candidate for PhD in Mass Communications, The Pennsylvania State University - sss2@psu.edu

• Rae Montgomery - Extension Professor, University of Minnesota Extension - rae@umn.edu

• Dana Noonan, Internet Consultant (http://www.infomaven.com) under contract with University of Minnesota Extension. Dana is also the author of the Access eCommerce, Access eGovernment, Access eNonProfit, Access eInternet, and Access eBroadband tutorials.