The National e-Commerce Extension Initiative

Issue No. 50  November 2012 eNews: The National e-Commerce Extension Initiative
Related Information and Resources

The Geography of the App Economy

According to this report released in September by the Wireless Association in association with the Application Developers Alliance, the number of app economy jobs reached 519,000 as of April 2012. The report also provides a breakdown by state of where these app economy jobs are located. Read the full report for more information.

e-BEAT Annual Report Highlights

The Mississippi State University Extension Broadband Education and Adoption Team (e-BEAT) recently unveiled their first annual report. According to this report, over 380 events (including trainings, workshops, presentation, etc.) took place reaching more than 5,000 Mississippi residents between January and September 2012. For more information, check out the report or visit the website at ebeat.ms.

USDA Community Connect Grant Program Changes

The USDA undersecretary proposed a new rule to spur development of rural broadband networks. This change, among others, would allow USDA to give funding priority to broadband projects in areas of greatest needs through the Community Connect grant program administered by the Rural Utility Service. Read the news release for more information or the proposed changes.

Replace Landlines with Wireless, part of AT&T's Rural Plans

AT&T said in an FCC filing in early November that it is planning to offer rural customers a wireless-based landline replacement service in parts that are "particularly high-cost areas." Read the article for more information.

Facebook Unveils Job Board

Facebook partnered with the U.S. Department of Labor and other government agencies to create the "Social Jobs Partnership" board, which aggregates 1.7 million openings from recruiting companies. This new page allows users to search and share jobs by location, industry and skill, and apply through Facebook. Read the article for more information.

Small Businesses Say Digital Literacy Essential Skillset for New Hires

According to a survey of small- and medium-sized businesses, 53 percent said it is important for new hires to possess a strong proficiency in basic computer skills, as it relates to the online safety and security of their business. In addition, 87 percent of small businesses have one or more employees using the Internet for daily operations. Check out the article.

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