Homesteading the Electronic Frontier in Montana
http://lone-eagles.com/montana.htm

What’s the best that we, as Montanans, can do to enable rural citizens in dying rural communities to allow them to derive income from their broadband connections and create sustainable jobs and communities?  The opportunity exists to articulate the high end vision supported by real success stories which could inspire rural citizens and communities to learn how to realize their full potential using broadband effectively.  

Ecommerce and Telework opportunities are booming internationally, but heartland America has yet to understand what’s possible. The Goverment Services Agency will soon announce a $2 billion federal telework initiative. Creating a citizen skills database and telework management corporation is viable and there is a significant working model from Scotland we can build upon.    www.work-global.com

The following good questions deserve real answers, as a place we can all begin:

1.      What’s the best a Montanan can hope to learn about viable income producing opportunities using broadband?
 

a.       Access free online self-directed lessons based on the rural ecommerce and telework successes of others

b.   Access online success story videos with links to self-directed learning resources and free web tools

c.      Access peer mentors with expertise for help getting started and building confidence

2.      What’s the best a rural community can do to stimulate economic rural broadband applications?

a.       Provide a local community technology center and ecommerce/telework incubator with training and support personnel.

b.      Match local mentors with expertise with those needing help getting started

c.       Link with other rural communities to share expertise, success stories, and economies of scale.

d.   Identify the importance of local community initiatives and peer mentoring for helping all potential beneficiaries get started learning how to benefit.

3.     What's the best a regional rural development corporation do to gather and share successful ecommerce and telework strategies?

            a. Advocate for the collection and dissemination of regional ecommerce and telework success stories

            b. Maintain an e-newletter showcasing new individual and community success stories, awareness-raising initiatives,

            c. link with other regional development organizations and initiatives to grow rural capacity for broadband
          economic development

4.  What’s the best the Governor’s office, Congresspersons, and state agencies can do to stimulate rural innovation associated with realizing widespread rural broadband innovations? 

a.       Advocate for the collection and dissemination of regional ecommerce and telework success stories

b.   Identify and broker the best support systems and resources for getting connected to these opportunities

c.   Establish a citizen skills database and telework management business like Oracle's www.contractxchange.com

d.   Engage higher educational and K12 institutions in delivering 21st Century Workforce instruction

e.   Engage the private sector, non-profits, and foundations in addressing innovative initiatives

4.      What’s the best the State can do to support individuals and communities understanding how to connect to the “promise of broadband?”

a.       Specific suggestions are in the letter to the Gov. at
http://lone-eagles.com/support-montanans.htm

b.      Showcase success stories and provide a Rural Ecommerce and Telework Support Network with funding incentives for local Community Learning Centers.

c.       Implement a statewide Youth Entrepreneurship program to stop youth out-migration

d.      Advocate for Rural Community Foundations (following the Nebraska Model www.ruraleship.org )

Who exactly is championing the sustainability of Montana’s rural communities?

Let’s work together to understand what opportunities exist related to appropriate training to realize the promise of rural broadband to produce economically sustainable communities. Here’s a model for Montana:

Montana Ecommerce Proposal Summary:
Montana’s economic development leaders are invited to consider creation of a Rural Ecommerce Support Network which would begin with a Rural Ecommerce Champions Award Program to celebrate Montana’s early adapters’ Ecommerce successes. An online Resources Clearinghouse would quickly evolve showcasing short video success stories, self-training online lessons, and a peer-mentoring program to establish a convenient means for Montanans to share successful strategies and learn new skills. (The letter to the Governor and the Ecommerce proposal are at http://lone-eagles.com/support-montanans.htm)