1. Montana

1.1 The Montana Test-Bed:
1.2 Tribal College Access:
1.3 Content:

2. Arizona
3. Calgary, Canada
4. Mini-workshop

1. Montana

1.1 The Montana Test-Bed:

Montana's large geographic distances and diverse terrain, sparse population distribution, poor economic climate, and lack of broadband Internet and telecommunications infrastructure makes it an ideal test bed for establishing technical and education program models that can be replicated globally in developing countries and remote and geographically isolated areas. Current network infrastructure in Montana is fragmented and uncoordinated. Many rural areas have inadequate phone service, and even more limited Internet access. Distance learning and telehealth efforts in Montana are far from economical, and are limited in their ability to establish accessible, affordable, engaging, and reliable resources. In addition, there are few economic incentives that would indicate that corporate investment in infrastructure will be forthcoming in the near future.

In spite of the barriers, the demand for distance learning and telehealth capabilities is great. People recognize that access to education and resources through telecommunications will allow them to maintain communities that are competitive and economically viable. Although these distance learning challenges are not unique to Montana, it is a valuable laboratory for exploring alternative solutions that might enable us to better serve Montana citizens and simultaneously establish quality distance learning programs that can be utilized by the Global University System (GUS).
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1.2 Tribal College Access:

Montana is home to seven Native American reservations and tribal colleges (more than any other state), with most located in rural and isolated geographic areas of the state. Native American's are the largest minority population in the state, and although the reservations are often geographically attractive, the prospects for education, employment, and personal and professional development for those living on the reservations are bleak. Average unemployment on the reservations is over 60% and more than 50% of the population lives below the poverty line. Over 50% of the pre-college students never complete high-school.

Although numerous government agencies have programs dedicated to improving technology access to traditionally underserved communities, Montana reservation communities continue to fall further behind in their ability to access and use new information and communication technologies. In a recent report by the Benton Foundation, the Crow Reservation in Montana reported that over 50% of the homes on the reservation were without telephone service. Access to T1 lines on the reservations is almost non-existent. Lack of training in the use of new technologies is also prevalent.

This pilot project will utilize the capabilities of broadband Internet access to extend high end multimedia distance learning and telehealth programs throughout Montana, especially to tribal colleges and to the many Montana citizens that live in areas surrounding the reservation communities. The program will increase connectivity for Montana Tribal Colleges, and create high-speed imaging capability for hospital and emergency medical services in these rural areas. In addition the project will make connections and extend programs and resources to other western states and to Hawaii, the South Pacific Islands, and Asia, establishing a prototype for international distance learning and telehealth connections that can be replicated worldwide.
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1.3 Content:

In addition to establishing pilot projects for the technical deployment of broadband internet connectivity, the Burns Telecommunications Center (BTC) at Montana State University in Bozeman will expand several existing high-quality distance learning programs to insure target audiences with access to meaningful resources. These target programs are designed to meet the unique needs of rural and underserved populations and include content that is applicable to both Montana populations, tribal communities, and people living in the Pacific/Asia regions of the GUS.

• Nursing: Montana State University offers a graduate Family Nurse Practitioner program with an emphasis in rural nursing. This program is currently offered using a distance delivery format that includes a partnership with the Salish Tribal College in western Montana. We propose to expand the distance delivery portion of the program and to collaborate with other tribal colleges as well as the Philippines Open University program.
  
  
• Emergency Medical Services: Meeting the needs of emergency medical service providers is a tremendous challenge in rural and remote areas. The Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program is a highly successful training program that includes specialized care techniques and equipment for children and is in high demand among developing nations as well as U.S. states and territories. Training in EMSC can lead to academic credit, as well as meet continuing education and licensure/certification requirements. We propose to expand the deployment of the EMSC program by adapting training to a distance delivery format that serves tribal populations throughout the west, as well as expands these services in the Pacific basin region.
  
  
• Science Education: MSU is the home of the NSF funded National Teachers Enhancement Network, recognized as a model distance learning professional development program by NSF. This program provides graduate education in the sciences for secondary science teachers both nationally and internationally. Improving the quality of science education, particularly for underserved and minority populations is a priority for the NSF Teacher Enhancement initiative. We propose to expand this program to reach teachers at tribal colleges and reservation schools, as well as increase access to quality graduate education in the sciences for teachers worldwide.
  
  
• Technology Education: Recent reports regarding access and deployment of information and communication resources all point to a lack of training available that will enable people to effectively use these new technologies in their personal and professional lives. We propose to expand the BTC Technology Leadership program (originally funded by AT&T) which provides a variety of technology training for education and business leaders living in rural areas. With an emphasis on rural access, applications, and economics, this program provides customized training that can be offered in a multimedia distance learning format.

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2. Arizona

Arizona State University West constructs a web site for Heard Museum in Phoenix with the use of advanced 3D and multimedia web technologies for artifacts of native Americans with the locations where they were found. The web site and the native American communities in Arizona may be connected with the Montana network mentioned above.
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3. Calgary, Canada

The University of Calgary and Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Canada will join in this project to improve cultural connections among Native Americans and Canadians.
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4. Mini-workshop

A mini-workshop is now planned by the BTC in the summer of 2000, specially for the feasibility study of deploying broadband Internet in the Native American community in Montana.
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