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Information and Communication Technology for Rural Development in the State of Texas, United States

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Entertainment. Employment and Entrepreneurship. 11. Lessons Learned. Create Demand ... Located in schools, community centers, government buildings ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Information and Communication Technology for Rural Development in the State of Texas, United States


1
Information and Communication Technology for
Rural Development in the State of Texas, United
StatesWorkshop on Information and Communication
Technology for Science and Technology Innovation,
Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development
in Rural ChinaBeihai City, Guangxi Zhuang
Autonomous Region, ChinaFebruary 18,
2008Robert WoodOffice of the Comptroller of
Public AccountsState of Texas
2
Introduction to Texas
  • Located in the Southern United States on the Gulf
    of Mexico
  • Varied Topography and Mild Climate

3
Introduction
  • Texas
  • 696,200 square kilometers
  • Population of 23.5 million people
  • 85 of the Texas population lives in urban areas
  • Approximately 3.3 million people live in rural
    areas

4
In Comparison
  • China has an area of 9,596,960 square kilometers
    and a population of 1.3 billion people
  • Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has an area of
    230,000 square kilometers of a population of 45
    million people

5
Barriers to Technology in Rural Areas
  • Lack of Infrastructure
  • low population density fewer users fewer
    customers
  • Cost
  • Assumption that rural people do not need (or
    want) technology?
  • Aging population older residents are less
    likely to adopt new technology

6
Technology Projects in Texas
  • Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund
  • 1 billion USD over 10 years
  • Schools, Libraries, Universities, Colleges
  • Infrastructure
  • Training
  • Computers in schools

7
Technology Projects in Texas
  • Telemedicine
  • University Health Science Center Began in 1990,
    serves an area about the size of Guangxi Zhuang
    Autonomous Region
  • Connects rural clinics to University Medical
    Doctors
  • Serves rural hospitals, rural clinics and schools

8
Technology Projects in Texas
  • Distance Education and Workforce Training
  • Consortiums of universities and colleges
  • Reaches rural areas across the state
  • Supported by 28 workforce regions with local
    offices
  • Allows continuing education for adults in the
    workforce or agriculture

9
Technology Projects
  • Creating an Online Community
  • www.thebeehive.org
  • A public, private philanthropic partnership
  • Online community development applications that
    are useful health, employment, community
    issues, education
  • Provides training and connections that make
    technology accessible

10
Lessons Learned
  • Create demand
  • Begin locally - provide what the community
    wants
  • Agriculture - technology, markets and regulation
  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Entertainment
  • Employment and Entrepreneurship

11
Lessons Learned
  • Create Demand
  • Create community awareness of the benefits
  • Aggregate the focus so that providers can see the
    demand potential
  • Focus on youth

12
Lessons Learned
  • Collaborate
  • Although most projects rely on initial
    leadership and funding from government,
    successful projects are usually a collaboration
    of several entities
  • Government, private industry and non-profit
    entities must work together

13
Lessons Learned
  • Use A Flexible Approach to Technology
  • Wired
  • Wireless
  • Satellite
  • Cable
  • Phone line

14
Lessons Learned
  • Create Community Technology Centers
  • Free or low cost computer use
  • Located in schools, community centers,
    government buildings
  • Allow residents to explore the Internet to learn
    about jobs, news, and healthcare

15
Lessons Learned
  • Set Goals and Measure
  • You can not improve if you do not measure

16
  • Questions?

17
Thank You
Robert Wood Head of DepartmentTexas Local
Government Planning, Guidance and Economic
DevelopmentComptroller of Public AccountsState
of Texasrobert.wood_at_cpa.state.tx.us
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