2005 Year in Review

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Telecommunications in Rural Illinois

Source: Cindy Erickson (217) 244-0433; Author: Bob Sampson

Telecommunications innovations for rural Illinois communities will be the topic at a November 17 conference in Springfield, sponsored by University of Illinois Extension. "Connecting the 'e' to Rural Illinois: What Urban Areas Can Learn" will be held at the Public Affairs Center on the University of Illinois--Springfield campus from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"This is our sixth annual telecommunications conference," said Cindy Erickson, a specialist with University of Illinois Extension’s Laboratory for Community and Economic Development. "We'll be featuring not only telecommunications innovations but new options for development."

Highlights of the program include: Broadband access in rural areas; rural telehealth innovations and demonstrations; funding opportunities for technology projects and grant writing; workshops for community technology centers; small community success stories; and collaboration building. Speakers include: Illinois Commerce Commissioner Robert Lieberman; Jack Lavin, Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; and University of Illinois faculty.

Also sponsoring the November 17 event are: Governor's Rural Affairs Council; Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; Illinois Department of Public Health; Illinois Hospital Association; Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs; Illinois Rural Health Association; Illinois Telecommunications Association; Rural Partners; Southern Illinois University--School of Medicine; USDA Rural Development; and Verizon.

From 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on November 16, the Illinois Community Technology Coalition will hold its second annual conference, also on the University of Illinois-Springfield campus. Also on November 16, an evening reception will be held prior to the Extension program on the future of digital literacy, sponsored by the Illinois Community Technology Coalition and the Illinois Lt. Governor's Office. The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

To register for the November 17 conference or obtain more information about it or the November 16 events, contact Erickson at (217) 244-0433, e-mail: cericksn@uiuc.edu

by  Editor, theCity1.com
November 13, 2005

 

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