Partner Profiles: Wisconsin Rural Partners
Tell us about your organization.
The mission of Wisconsin Rural Partners (WRP) is to develop leadership, networks and voice for rural Wisconsin. The organization is essentially a network of networks, tying together public and private organizations alike on a number of rural issues important to rural people. The WRP is recognized by the USDA as Wisconsin’s state rural development council – (SRDC).
What kinds of technology does your organization utilize?
Mostly web and email. We use email to communicate with rural folks and policy makers on a variety of issues. Our website has a great archive of successful rural best practices, so these models are available so anyone can get basic information on what has worked elsewhere.
Our technological capabilities are limited by slower speed Internet service at our rural office. In many instances anything that’s streamed or participation in webinars is difficult or impossible.
What technological challenges does your organization currently face?
WRP is concerned about access to broadband by rural residents, especially those who live in the country (outside a city or village). In economic terms broadband is quickly becoming an integral tool of the rural entrepreneur. Farmers can find new markets for products and quickly purchase supplies and parts – at any time of day.
The incidence of self-employment in rural Wisconsin is far higher than in urban areas. For example, 28% of the workforce of Iowa County, where the WRP office is located, is self-employed. Many rural entrepreneurs run at-home businesses and can use broadband to do research, participate in educational offerings and market products using the web. But only if they can get a decent speed connection. If broadband can start to be offered to those who live in “last or middle-mile” situations, there is a strong possibility that we could start to reverse the trend of rural workers traveling to metro areas for jobs.
Rural students also face extraordinary barriers to learning when they cannot access broadband. Today’s many web-based educational resources are graphic intensive and utilize full motion video. It is near impossible to utilize these tools with a dial-up connection. This can be especially relevant to advanced learning opportunities. Students taking Advanced Placement courses, for example, often work after hours out of the school buildings (which usually have good connections), so are dependent on broadband at home, or at a public library. The latter option is good but severely limiting for people who do not live near town.
Broadband can be critical for adult education, too. In rural areas the most critical public services are provided by volunteers, not professionals. And these volunteers have continuing educational requirements that can often be met through the Internet. So local firefighters and EMT personnel could utilize inline training orgrams offered by Technical Colleges or other institutions if they have a minimal speed broadband connection.
This is critical at a time when rural fire departments and rescue units are desperately seeking new recruits, who then must receive training. The easier it is to train them, the easier it is to recruit them. The fire department that serves the Wisconsin Rural Partners office has only 4-5 firefighters available during the day – barely enough to staff one truck. One pumper does not carry much water – remember that most rural areas do not have water systems – no fire hydrants to connect to. So all water must be brought in by tanker truck.
What, if any, technology policy issues are of importance to your organization? (green technology, broadband deployment, privacy, etc.)
Broadband deployment is critical to economic development, quality of life and minimal provision of community services. WRP works to help rural people work together in networks to affect the development of public policy and to help people dispersed geographically work together. With even minimal speed broadband groups of concerned citizens can develop educational presentations and materials, work together in webinars and enjoy video conferencing.
In a recent instance, the WRP director was not able to participate in any video aspects of an online meeting of the Wisconsin State Superintendent’s Rural Advisory Council because his broadband connection was too slow (700kbs). This is the fastest speed available, and most in his community cannot access that because it is wireless technology and many in the area live in valleys. They cannot access the signal from local watertowers where the transmitting equipment is.
How does your organization see the future of technology in Wisconsin?
We hope that technology is something that will be available to all, regardless of where they live. Like electricity. Technology is important to rural entrepreneurs, and the incidence of self-employment is very high in rural Wisconsin. Advanced technology is also critical to learning, and rural children and families deserve the equal learning opportunities that technology can bring.
Why did you decide to partner with Wired Wisconsin?
Wired Wisconsin represents the interests and goals of groups like ours, so it makes sense to join together.
