Telecomm and Community Economic Development
New Publications from CPA for Community Organizations
Community organizations that aren’t fully using technology are
missing opportunities in community economic development and job
creation, and have decreased access to resources. Only 6 percent of community
organizations use video teleconferencing and just under half (44 percent) have some
type of voice mail system.
Help is available in the form of a new four-volume set of books from
the Center for Policy Alternatives, Community-Based Organizations and the
Telecommunications Industry, which takes a closer look at how well
community organizations are using the technology available to them.
Community-based development organizations must take advantage
of the entrepreneurial opportunities available through the
telecommunications industry. Technology has the
capacity to stabilize communities through job creation, small business
development and increased training opportunities.
Vol. I Involvement of Community Organizations; $20.
This volume reviews current trends for use of telecomm technology and
contains a survey of more than 150 community organizations detailing their
use of communications technology.
Vol. II Selected Federal and Private Programs for Technology
Assistance; $20.
A resource for non-profits seeking funding or technical assistance, with a
focus on the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance
Program (TIIAP).
Vol. III Opportunities for Community
Organizations; $20.
Volume III contains overviews of three categories of telecommunications
markets as they relate to community organizations:
mobile communications, the common carrier market and the broadcasting
and broadcast services market.
Volume IV Federal Funds for Community and Economic
Development; $30.
This volume is a comprehensive list of federal communications and
technology resources. The guide describes objectives of each program, criteria
for obtaining and maintaining grants, procedures for applying for
technology-related grants and a list of key contacts.
All four publications are available as a set for $50.
