Telecommunications Readiness Index


     Telecommunications Readiness Index

Calculate Your Telecommunications Readiness Index
Internet Service Provider Worksheet
What's Your Telecommunications Quotient?
A Survey to Access Demand For Internet Service
Planning for Internet Connectivity
More Questions
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TRI Workbook In PDF Format

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Why is it important that your community assess telecommunications readiness?
1. Does your community have a web site?
Yes No Don't Know
How Many?
2. Our community has one or more local web sites that promote local activities and bring people together over a common interest
Yes No I don't know
3. If your community has a web site, what sectors of the community are represented?
a. City Government   h. Health Care
b. Schools   i. Transportation
c. Libraries   j. Tourism
d. Businesses   k. Utilities
e. Economic Development   l. Entertainment
f. Civic Organizations   m. Other
g. Service Organizations  
4. Many local leaders understand the importance of investing in telecommunications infrastructure in our community.
Yes No Don't Know
5. Local government and industry are working together to develop a strategy to address technology needs.
Yes No Don't Know
6. Our community technology committee has identified outside funding opportunities for future telecommunications development?
Yes No Don't Know
7. Our community technology committee has applied to federal, state and private funding sources for future telecommunications development?
Yes No Don't Know
8. Our community has developed an ongoing technology plan with goals and a timetable endorsed by various community sectors - government, business, industry, shcools, libraries, hospitals, etc.
Yes No Don't Know
9. Does the community comprehensive land use plan include documentation about telecommunications networking?
Yes No Don't Know
10. Is the approval process for allocating public-right-of-way "friendly" to telecommunications providers?
Yes
11. Our community has collected data to inventory current and potential demand for telecommunications (email and Internet access) within the past two year.
Yes No Don't Know
12. Are the following organizations in your community online? Put a check next to the organization(s) that have access to the Internet. If you don't know whether they have access, check next to Don't Know.
a. School District   Don't Know
b. Library   Don't Know
c. Local Government   Don't Know
d. Chamber of Commerce   Don't Know
e. Local Economic Development Organization   Don't Know
f. Tourism Bureau   Don't Know
g. Hospitals   Don't Know
h. Health Care Providers   Don't Know
i. Social Service Providers   Don't Know
j. Local Retailers   Don't Know
k. Local Professional Offices   Don't Know
l. Local Real Estate Offices   Don't Know
m. Banks   Don't Know
n. Other   Don't Know
o. Other   Don't Know
13. To what extent are the following organizations in your community using telecommunications technologies (Internet, email, internal networks (LANs))? For each organization, identify how often they use telecommunications. If you don't know whether or not or how often the following organizatinos use telecommunications, check next to Don't Know.
Always Often Sometimes Seldom Never
a. School District
b. Library
c. Local Government
d. Chamber of Commerce
e. Local Economic Development Organization
f. Hospitals
g. Other Health Care Providers
h. Downtown business
i. Downtown business
j. Other Businesses in the community
k. Other
l. Other
14. In your community, approximately what percent of households use electronic mail?
Approximately more than 50% between 20%-50% less than 10% Don't Know
15. In your community, approximately what percent of businesses use electronic mail?
Approximately more than 50% between 20%-50% less than 10% Don't Know
16. Are at least 80% of the schools in your community connected to the Internet?
Yes
No Don't Know
17. Are at least 50% of the classrooms connected to the Internet?
Yes
No Don't Know
18. Are at least 75% of the classrooms connected to the Internet?
Yes
No Don't Know
19. Is technology integrated throughout the K-12 curriculum in your community?
Yes No Don't Know
20. To attract new businesses does the community have a web site that provided the any of the following information?
Yes No Don't Know
Map of available sites and facilities
Description of telecommunications
Infrastructures and services
Description of utility services
Workforce statistics
Educational institutions
Training programs
Housing informaiton
Local contact information
21. In our community, the Internet is used to attract new workes and businesses as part of a wider economic development strategy.
Yes No Don't Know
22. Are there businesses in your community that market products or services on the Internet?
Yes No Don't Know
Approximately how many?
Approximately what proportion of the total number of businesses market on the Internet? Select one.
22. Do local households and businesses in your community have options for selecting Internet services?
Yes No Don't Know
23. Does your local government office have any of the following calendars, schedules and or directories available online?
a. Calendar of events
b. City official and staff telephone directory online
c. City officials and staff email directory online
d. Recycling/utilities schedule
e. Recreation schedule
f. Information for newcomers and visitors
g. Other
24. To what extent are local government offices online? (Choose the description that best describes the level of Internet access for local government in your community.)
- Very few government resources are available online.
- Some departments have materials on the web and provide some online information related to hours of operation , their mission, etc.
- Some departments offices provide resource online, such as downloadable forms.
- Most departments have websites but do not allow transactions such as applying for permits or paying fines
- Some department offices have interactive websites that allow residents to conduct transactions (apply for permits, pay fines, etc.) online
- Most government offices are online and allow residents to conduct most transactions online.
25. Do local government officials collaborate with private telecommunications providers to bring, or continue to improve, telecommunications technologies in the community?
Yes No Don't Know
26. Are many health care and medical service providers using email and websites to communicate with patients?
Yes No Don't Know
27. Which of the following telemedicine services are available at your local hospital? If your community does not have a hospital skip to the next question. If you don't know whether the hospital offers these services, check next to Don't Know
Electronic forwarding of test results   Don't Know
Electronic transmittal of x-rays and photos   Don't Know
Electronic transmittal of catscans and MRIs   Don't Know
Video conferencing facility   Don't Know
Electronic sharing of records   Don't Know
Other   Don't Know
Other   Don't Know
28. Are there locally available Internet training or computer applications classes?
Yes
No
Don't Know
Where?
Local library
Public schools
Community colleges
University of Illinois Extension Office
Local government offices
Other
29. Are there public access points to access the Internet at no charge, in your community?
Yes No Don't Know
30. Where are these public access points and how far are they from the majority of people living in your community?
 Location in the community Less than 15 minutes 15 to 30 minutes 30 minuts to 1 hour More than 1 hour Don't Know
a. Local library
b. Public schools
c. Community Colleges
d. Extension Office
e. Local government offices
f. Other
31. Do local households and businesses in your community have options for selecting Internet services?
Yes No Don't Know
32. What type of telecommunications services are afforded in you community? Check next to the type of infrastructure and/or services currently available. If there is more than one provider of services, insert the number in the blank. If you don't know whether a certain service exists, check next to Don't Know.
a. Touch tone telephone service   Don't Know  
b. Voice mail/call waiting service   Don't Know  
c. Wireless Internet access   Don't Know  
d. Cable modem Internet access   Don't Know  
e. Frame relay data transmission   Don't Know  
f. One-way video conferencing   Don't Know  
g. Two-way video conferencing   Don't Know  
h. Internet Service Provider(s)   How many?  Don't Know
i. Broadband Internet Services   How many?   Don't Know
j. Cable Television Provider   How many?   Don't Know
33. How reliable is Internet access in your community? (choose one)
- Not at all reliable, sometimes residents cannot get a dial-up connection and local web sites are not always reached.
- The infrastructure is adequate, few connections fail and local web addresses can be usually reached.
- Excellent infrastructure, we have room to grow.
- I'm not sure.
34. How would you describe the overall quality of services offered by local Internet providers?
- Poor, there is a long waiting period for connectivity, and the provider does not address service problems on a timely basis (poor customer service).
- Moderate, one week waiting period for connectivity, problems are resolved in a reasonable timeframe.
- Good, provider responds promptly.
- I'm not sure
35. Does fiber optic cable reach the majority of households in the community?
Yes No Don't Know
36. Does fiber optic cable reach the majority of businesses in the community?
Yes No Don't Know
37. Are broadband services available in your community at a competitive price?
Yes No Don't Know
38. Have telephone service providers in your community invested in wireless technology to bring Internet access?
Yes No Don't Know
39. Have cellular and paging companies located cellular towers in your community?
Yes No Don't Know
40. Does the community comprehensive land use plan include zoning regulations for locating cellular towers?
Yes No Don't Know
 

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Telecommunications Readiness Inventory?

 
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