Cover/ OTFC Vision

Acknowledgements

OTFC: History and Goals

• Goals

Introduction

• Getting There: Guiding Principles
• Communities: What Are They?
• About Using This Toolkit

Getting Started

• Key Checkpoints
• How to Get People Interested and Involved, and Why (Top Ten Reasons to Invest in Telecommunications)
• And Some Reasons to Think Twice

Key Steps in the Planning Process

• Conduct a Community Assessment
• Identify Goals, Applications and Opportunities for Rural Telecommunications
• Analyze the Gap Levels of Telecommunications Services
• Develop the Business Plan

Examples and Case Studies

Examples

• Extended Area Service (EAS)
• Trunk Lines: Inter-Connections Between Cities
• Telecenters

Case Studies

• Small-Scale Local Aggregation: Fossil, Oregon
• Community-Wide Network: Central Oregon Telecommunications Task Force
• Community Media Center: Tualatin Valley Community Access
• People's Utility District: Central Lincoln People's Utility District
• Non-Traditional ProviderExample 1: Springfield Utility Board, Eugene Water & Electric Board
• Non-Traditional Provider Example 2: Lusk, Wyoming
• Municipal Ownership Example: Glasgow Electric Plant Board
• Community-Wide Access, Network and Technical Assistance: Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
• Virtual Enterprise Zone: Colorado Rural Development Council
• Statewide Network, Training and Information: NCexChange
• Statewide Aggregation of Demand and Technical Assistance: New Mexico Rural Development Response Council
• Non-Traditional Partnerships: FiberCom

Funding Sources

OTFC Clearinghouse: Sample Clearinghouse Web Pages

Communities of Interest: Issues, Strategies and Resources

• Lifelong Learning and Education
• Health Care
• Community Development
• Sustainable Economic Development

Appendices

• Appendix A: Levels of Telecommunications Services
• Appendix B: Glossary of Telecommunication Terms
• Appendix C: Directory of Contacts