Educational Materials

Resources at your fingertips...

FRS provides pertinent educational materials for both the telecommunications community and the general public. Materials range from telecom-related white papers to informational DVDs and mailers that can be used by schools, local businesses, and government agencies. Many of our products and materials are free of charge, while others are available for purchase.

Below are just a few featured products available. For a complete listing of products and for more information about each, visit the eStore or contact FRS at 703-351-2026 or here.

Guide to Careers in Rural Telecommunications

The Guide to Careers in Rural Telecommunications provides a look into jobs and positions you might find at your rural telecommunications provider. This is an excellent resource for companies to show a wide range of job opportunities for high school and college students in rural communities.

Print PDF   Get Printed Guide to Careers

Glossary of Rural Telecom Terms

The world of telecommunications is filled with complicated terminology. Knowing this, FRS developed a helpful glossary to aid consumers and policymakers alike in navigating the industry’s lexicon—and added an overview of the history of the Universal Service Fund as well for context. Enjoy!

Updated: September 2021

Preview the Glossary   Order Copies

Future Proof: Economics of Rural Broadband

COMPARING TERRESTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES & INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS TO MEET INCREASING CONSUMER BROADBAND DEMANDS

A white paper that examines the key technical, deployment, and investment characteristics of each broadband technology in the context of an actual “greenfield” rural case study area to illustrate the short- and long-term economic considerations. Prepared by Vantage Point Solutions, Inc. for the Foundation for Rural Service.

Download the Paper   Download the Summary Infographic

Broadband Today: Rural America's Critical Connections

A new white paper, Broadband Today-Rural America's Critical Connectionsprovides a basic overview of broadband and explores how the pandemic has impacted broadband providers and consumers in the important areas of remote learning, working from home, telehealth, business and consumers, and social connections. The paper also explores issues such as the technologies used to provide broadband and policy reforms that could impact the future of broadband deployment.  Many thanks to the support of RTFC, whose generosity made the project possible, and to WordSouth and VantagePoint for preparing the report.

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Job Creation From Rural Broadband Companies

Commissioned by the Foundation for Rural Service and written by the Purdue Center for Regional Development, this white paper demonstrates the positive job creation and retention impacts of rural broadband providers as well as the far-reaching economic impacts arising from those jobs.

Major Findings Include:

  • 77,000 Multi-sector jobs generated by small telco providers in 2017
  • $10 billion economic output from industries powered by rural broadband
  • $2.35 billion in compensation for workers

Download

A Cyber Economy: The Transactional Value of the Internet in Rural America

This report examines the nature and quantifiable value of online transactions, and draws comparisons between online usage habits among urban and rural consumers. The report was produced by iGR, a market strategy consultancy focused on the wireless and mobile communications industry, and commissioned by the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS).

Major findings include:

  • Internet usage among urban and rural consumers is largely similar.
  • Rural consumers are responsible for approximately 15% of all consumer, internet-driven transactions annually, which equates to more than 10.8 billion online transactions altogether.
  • Internet-driven transactions make up nearly 50% of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) or $9.6 trillion annually. These transactions are estimated to grow to more than 65% by 2022, to $14 trillion per year.
  • The estimated value of rural online transactions is nearly $1.4 trillion—or 7% of GDP.

Read the Report View the Infographic Order Copies

Lifeline: Yes, You Can Afford Telephone or Internet Service

The Lifeline program is available to eligible low-income consumers in every U.S. state, territory, commonwealth and on Tribal lands. In 2016, the Federal Communications Commission adopted a comprehensive reform and modernization of the Lifeline program that began to include broadband as a support service. This educational pamphlet was created to help telecommunications providers educate consumers on their Lifeline options.

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The Economic Impact of Rural Broadband

This study, commissioned by FRS and written by the Hudson Institute, takes a look at the direct and indirect economic effects of the rural telecom (or broadband) industry on Gross Domestic Product, as well as the economic impact of rural broadband on other industries.

Major findings include:

  • Rural broadband supported over $100 billion in e-commerce.
  • While economic activity accrues both to the rural and urban areas, more of this benefit goes to urban areas.
  • The rural broadband industry supported 69,595 jobs.

Read the report   Order Copies