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The Old West frontier spirit still exists in many rural
counties of the West. The 2000 U.S. census reveals New Mexico retains its Old West character
much more so than any other state (12-p.2). If outreach to rural audiences is successful here,
other rural areas can learn from our experience.
Economic survival in the future will depend to a large degree upon the use of information
technology. Many rural decision makers and businesses are not convinced of the
magnitude of this development. It is possible for businesses in rural New Mexico to compete
nationally and even worldwide, but the necessary adoption of new innovations and technology is
limited. Perhaps even more important than the lack of telecommunications infrastructure in rural
areas is a general lack of understanding of the importance of joining the Information Economy. For
business, "the key question is not whether to deploy Internet technology - companies have no choice
if they wish to stay competitive - but how to deploy it." (13-pp. 63-78).
As a tool, the Internet can help rural communities and businesses overcome many of the traditional
barriers to viable economic development, such as isolation, low population density, and mobility
disadvantages. The Internet has provided a means of defeating distance disadvantages, but
implementing the new technology has not become a high priority for rural communities and businesses.
It makes sense for those in rural areas to turn onto the Internet - today's electronic highway - to take
them where they need to go. It's faster. It's more efficient. It's more convenient. It's the main road to
the mainstream for rural and minority citizens, giving them access to new knowledge, enhanced lifestyles,
more efficient community services, better business practices, and greater prosperity.
As consumers and businesses become used to the convenience of conducting business via the Internet,
they are beginning to demand the same sort of convenience from the government. State and federal
governments are putting more of their services online, and city and county governments are doing
the same. Electronic procurement, paying taxes, registering vehicles, viewing zoning maps and checking
county assessor records are only a few of the things now done on the Internet that were not possible
a few years ago. |
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Involvement in Internet programs is not optional for a prosperous rural community. The need for
broadband Internet access must be recognized, and a policy of activism followed to counter the
lack of infrastructure and information. Even more important, however, is the need to realize we
can join the Information Economy with the infrastructure we now have, however inadequate it may be.
We cannot afford to wait and hope good things will happen. Local Internet activists must be found
or created to drive the process of joining the Information Economy. Becoming an Internet Activist
means understanding what the Internet connection can do for you, making a plan for your community's
future, working with telecommunications companies and Internet Service Providers to make
telecommunications part of that future, and making sure every part of the community buys into and
works toward achieving your goals.
The New Mexico Teleliteracy ABCs program seeks to convince local leaders that joining the
Information Revolution is key to long term economic survival. The question to be answered is how
can your community and your business join the "winners," those who opt to join the revolution and
use cutting edge electronic technologies to their advantage. |
