Georgia Tech EDI
Technology Assessment of Tattnall County, Georgia
Overview
The majority of Tattnall’s business and residential customers receive telephone service from Alltel, a large telephone company based in Little Rock. Alltel services Tattnall’s cities of Reidsville and Glennville. Pineland Telephone and BellSouth also service small portions of the county.
Existing Services
Tattnall County has historically not had much access to broadband. Broadband Internet access is not provided by the cable provider. Neighboring telecommunications providers have expressed little interest in competing in the Tattnall marketplace due to the limited market base. The county’s smallest city, Cobbtown, has had access to digital subscriber line (DSL) service, but the remainder of the county was not served. Therefore, Tattnall’s large businesses have relied on integrated service digital network (ISDN) for transmission of large data. However, in July 2002, Alltel deployed DSL service in Glennville; it has announced plans to do so in Reidsville in January 2003. Alltel officials have also discussed with the Tattnall County Development Authority an alternative for providing Reidsville with some level of DSL service in the meantime.
Tattnall’s largest private employer, the Rotary Corporation, as well as other existing industries, have been significantly impacted by the lack of high-speed telecommunications services. Lack of videoconferencing capabilities results in high business costs associated with travel to other national and international offices. There is significant room for technology-based efficiencies at Rotary that could be used to expand market share, and reduce costs, that can now be examined given the availability of DSL service. Accessibility to new services will also assist entrepreneurial activities that have been hampered in the past by Tattnall County’s limited technology capacity.
Limited Internet access, coupled with low technology usage among community members, restricts potential markets. Large Internet service providers, including AOL, do not currently provide a local number option in the county, although several other local companies do provide this service.
Tattnall County has multiple cellular telephone service providers, although coverage is not ubiquitous. Indeed, cellular service has been reported to be particularly difficult outside Glennville and Reidsville.
Although willing to participate when requested, the telephone service providers do not play an active role in economic development activities.
Southeastern Technical College operates a distance learning facility and has a large computer center in Glennville where training is offered to students. Free Internet access is available to residents through the public library.
The public schools have a robust technology program with a
dedicated and capable staff person responsible for technology-based
education. The current superintendent
is committed to technology-led education and is regularly seeking new
opportunities and innovations. In
2001, 87 percent of Tattnall County’s classrooms reportedly had at least one
computer. See Attachment A (Local
Economic Review of Tattnall County, Georgia).
There was approximately one computer per 5.19 students that year. The vast majority of the county’s computers
in the classroom offer an Internet connection.
However, data shows that Tattnall County did not have a classroom
equipped with videoconferencing capabilities as of 2001. All local schools - elementary and
secondary - are networked with a T-1.
The schools’ networks provide students with access to the Internet, and are
used for administrative information sharing (via GroupWise). The schools are
deploying Web-based information for parents called TeacherTalk. The school system operates cooperative
programs with Southeastern Tech.
Although the county and city governments have been late adopters of technology, they recognize its importance and have recently started the computerization of many services. Previously, the government computerization effort has been primarily geared toward internal functions with no public functionality available on-line or via kiosks.
Tattnall County has developed a local technology alliance. Although the alliance is still in the formative stages, it has tremendous support and representation from education, local government, and business (small and large). Basic technologists classes and technology certification are available through Southeastern Tech. Rotary provides IBM training. Some technologists participate in the Business, Education & Technology Alliance (BETA) in Savannah.
No free computer training currently exists
within the county. Although training
is offered in both the public schools and at the Southeastern Tech, it is
primarily geared toward students. The
college is currently seeking a community development block grant (CDBG) to
expand its computer training capabilities.
Tattnall County does not appear to have local programs that enable
citizens to purchase computers at reduced rates, or to refurbish and
redistribute old computers.
Despite the relatively low population of the community, several technologically savvy individuals and companies are present. However, EDI’s technology opportunity assessment revealed that there is little sharing about how the members of the community use technology.
1. Continue to explore options with Alltel officials on how to offer Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) services to non-served areas of Tattnall County. Work to aggregate demand and evaluate competitive options.
2. Engage senior level Alltel officials in economic development activities.
3. Proactively recruit a nationwide Internet company to provide local service.
4. Develop a cell tower ordinance for the purpose of promoting better cellular service and developing wireless network potential.
1. Encourage extensive participation in the new technology alliance for the purpose of identifying and addressing specific community needs.
2. Enroll community leaders in a technology-based economic development class as well as local technologists in a mini-economic development class (Technology Leadership Training).
3. Encourage local governments to provide on-line access for services including bill-payment, ordering, etc.
4. Utilize existing computer labs in schools to hold public computer training programs; consider youth as teachers.
5. Working with local banks, create a community computer purchase program for residents.