rural areas and the internet

[Sue Easun <EASUN@FIS.UTORONTO.CA>]

I received the following message from another listserv to which I
belong.  Please forward to any schools or libraries you know which
could benefit from such an opportunity.

Sue




 ------- Forwarded Message Follows -------

Date sent:      Mon, 17 Oct 1994 11:52:54 -0400
From:           Bob Zenhausern <DRZ@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU>
Subject:        Rural
To:             Multiple recipients of list EDSTYLE <EDSTYLE@SJUVM.BITNET>

We are planning to apply for a grant to bring rural areas on to the
Internet.  The goal is to place a center in a school, library, or
medical facility available to the public in person or by modem.  The
center, a Unibase system, will provide full local bbs and internet access
The purpose of the Center is for either education or medicine...or both!

The term "rural" is on a sliding scale with more "credit" given to the
more rural.  So I need to know your population statistics, nearest
center of population, and any other facts that speaks to the degree of
your "rurality"

Can you describe your current site where you would consider the
is the best place to put Unibase.  The more computers in one place
and the more open the access the better.

What will it cost to bring an Internet line to that site.  For example,
the phone company will do it for $$$ per month.  A local university
provides access, pro bono.  The cable company, competing with the
phone company will do it for $$.

And most importantly, you must match 20% of the cost of starting the
site.  The exact costs will depend on your particular circumstances
but a setup of Unibase will normally be less than $15, 000.  Add that
to the cost of your internet access and those are the basic costs.
Add your overhead and you have to pay 20% of the total.

Let me know if you deal with special populations like natives or
migrant workers, or on special sites like migrant workers camps,
and any similar diversity.

Institution     __________
Addresss
City            __________
State (WY,CA)   ___________
Zipcode         ___________
Phone           ___________


------------------------------------


Sue Easun
Assistant Professor and Child Emerita

Faculty of Information Studies
University of Toronto
140 St George St
TORONTO, Ont  CANADA  M5S 1A1
phone:  (416) 978-7802
fax:    (416) 971-1399
e-mail:  easun@fis.utoronto.ca