Black On Stuff

US goes further in e-commerce development by starting interesting projects targeting rural areas. Just found the National E-commerce Extension Initiative, which looks quite impresive beginning from the fact that it exists.

I quote from this project background:

This initiative, launched in 2003, is addressing various factors that will dictate the adoption and diffusion of e-commerce innovations in rural areas. These factors include such topics as whether rural areas have the technology in place to embrace e-commerce applications, whether these businesses understand how e-commerce can benefit their operations, and whether Extension educators have the resources to provide adequate educational support to small businesses.

Interested to see if Europe will follow. Computers would not be a problem, however Internet connectivity might be one. Large cable operators and providers seem like they are not interested in going outside the cities, providing Internet services. Can’t hardly wait the moment when I will have broadband connectivity in my grandparents back-yard. And not by using mobile technology like 3G or EVDO, which is already available for sometime now.