1. CASE STUDIES OF CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

2. INCREASING USE AND ADOPTION OF IT Potter County, PA Volunteers can make a difference Every community can improve use of technology Celebrate every success

3. WI-FI FOR TOURISTS Stevenson, WA Wireless mesh Promote tourism City funded Local vision & leadership “The idea is that this free amenity will encourage tourists to stay longer in our community since they are able to stay in contact with projects and people that might otherwise require them to move on.”

4. TORNADO TURNS TO TECHNOLOGY Saint Peter, MN 1998 tornado caused extensive damage Decided to rebuild with underground utilities including fiber Local vision and leadership Competition benefits consumers

5. BROADBAND IS A PUBLIC UTILITY Coldwater, MI Competition benefits local economy Persistence pays off Focus on future for sustainability Residents prefer local services

6. MENTORING Forks, WA Not all projects require technology Grant program

7. FACTORIES CLOSE – MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITY STEPS IN Princeton, IL Community takes control of their future Broadband necessary for economic survival

8. RUGGED TERRAIN AND SPARSE POPULATION IS NO EXCUSE San Diego County, CA Technological solutions exist for every type of terrain Focus on more than connectivity

9. SMALL TOWN TAKES MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS Buffalo, MN City council willing to invest in technology Wireless is an affordable solution for many communities

10. FIBER CAN SAVE $$$ Pickens County, AL County schools save $140,000/year Jail video arraignment

11. INVESTING IN FIBER IS INVESTING IN THE FUTURE Columbus, KS The entire town is served by a fiber optic network that provides voice, video, and high-speed data to residential and commercial users in the community.

12. DEMAND AGGREGATION Southern Tier region of New York State Working together, three counties negotiated better service and price from providers.

13. Southern Rural Development Center FOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.C ONNECTING C OMMUNITIES. INFO