For most folks, when they think about technology, the broadband and the internet, and the 'ultra' rural (as we like to denote in Alaska) communities in Alaska...a manifest destiny vision of 'the lost souls of digital divide' are oft-times conjured-up...visions of folks just 'out of the loop', without access to information resources, backwoods hobo technologists with little or nothing to offer the outside world!
It has always been my pretense that 'once connected' to the 'net' and having the ability to participate via a broadband standard, with full access and complete reliability, rural Alaskans would have a tremendous amount to offer the outsiders.
It wasn't so much that rural residents wouldn't benefit greatly, as the underserved recipients of the digital information age - that was a given. To me it was more that rural Alaskans had so much to offer than most regulators, policy makers, and urban jockeys could ever imagine.
It's been years since my rant was published on MSN...and I'm happy to call-up some new visions of 'the possible'. Rural Alaskans, known for their innovation, acceptance and use of technologies that enhance (and dutifully unaccepting of those that don't) their well-being and improve the quality of life for their communities are here and now!
I'm happy to present a few on this blog...
John and Sheila Wallace, Bethel
http://www.alaskatechnologies.com/
Greg and Kelley Lincoln, Bethel / Toksook Bay
http://www.deltadiscovery.com/
Jim and Esther
http://www.wholewheatradio.org/
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We're real people. We have an outhouse out back. We don't have a professionally polished webpage, flashy banner ads, overblown self-promotion and lots of glitz. If you came here because you're tired of other webcast's hype and just want to connect with down-to-earth people and great music --- stick
http://www.wholewheatradio.org/
Whole Wheat Radio is an unpretentious, interactive, independent music world community. Our webcast originates from a cramped 12x12 cabin in Talkeetna, Alaska. It's as close to Northern Exposure's funky radio station as you can get. (Yup, there's a moose that hangs around the cabin. And an adorable monkey too.) We broadcast 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year with the help of our tireless DJs - human and otherwise. We've been on-the-air since August of 2002 and have served up well over a million individual 'listens' to independent musicians' tunes.
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The Delta Discovery is the newest and most widely circulated weekly publication serving the people of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and Bristol Bay regions of Southwestern Alaska.
http://www.deltadiscovery.com
The newspaper was established and continues as a locally owned and operated Bethel newspaper with support from the people of the region who contribute letters, commentaries and columns which shapes the news of rural Alaska.
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Purchasing, Upgrade, and Training Assistance. Specializing in remote and creative solutions to the problems of Rural Alaska's needs. Alaska Technologies, LLC (ATL)
http://www.alaskatechnologies.com/
ATL provides IT services to Companies and Organizations that do not need or want an internal IT department. ATL is a FirstClass partner offering what we feel is the best eMail and internal communication product on the market. ATL provides end user and other corporate training. We design individual and group packages based upon YOUR system.
http://www.kusko.net/
kusko.net is the community service arm of ATL and provides web and technology services throughout the Y-K Delta, connecting other community service orgs to their community and the www. Years of development, support and outright contributions to the YK Delta community through technology.
