UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A new online guide developed by a Penn State Cooperative Extension-led team is helping rural Pennsylvania communities close the "digital divide" of access to the Information Superhighway.

Called "Connecting Rural Communities," the project is a Web-based resource intended to help communities, organizations and individuals increase the availability and use of broadband service and other digital tools. The online guide can be found at http://www.connectingcommunities.info.

William Shuffstall, community and economic development extension educator, says the project is part of an initiative by the Penn State-based Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development to train educators to help economically-stressed communities increase the adoption and use of broadband services and other technology tools. Three Pennsylvania counties -- Potter, Susquehanna and Somerset -- are piloting the project, which Shuffstall hopes to expand to additional communities.

"Rural leaders can use 'Connecting Rural Communities' to improve their community's ability to participate in the global economy and information age," Shuffstall says.

Extension educators in participating rural communities receive in-depth training in such topics as "Introduction to Digital Development Framework" and "Connecting Your Community," which they draw upon to teach residents and community leaders.

"Digital technology is impacting every segment of our society," Shuffstall says. "Communities that lack affordable broadband services and individuals and organizations that are unable to use these tools will be left behind.

"The availability of affordable broadband services in a community does not ensure the community is truly connected," he adds. " Connectivity also depends on the ability of organizations and individuals in the community to use the Internet and digital tools (computers, video teleconferencing, etc.) to meet their goals."

Shuffstall says the "Connecting Rural Communities" project was developed by a team of cooperative extension staff from Penn State and the University of Minnesota. The work was funded through the Southern Rural Development Center at Mississippi State University.

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EDITORS: For more information, contact Bill Shuffstall by phone at 814-865-5665 or by e-mail at wcs2@psu.edu.

Writer Bethany Fehlinger E-mail: brf5002@psu.edu Phone: 814-865-3636

Editor Gary Abdullah Phone: 814-863-2708 E-mail: gxa2@psu.edu