The Rural Economic Policy Program (REPP) fosters collaborative learning, leadership and innovation to advance rural community and economic development in the United States. Resources include Rural Update Newsletter, an on-line calendar of upcoming events, recent publications, foundation resources and community networks, and on-line resources for rural community economic development.

Center for Rural Affairs - www.cfra.org/

The Center for Rural Affairs, an unaffiliated non-profit organization, has been serving and advocating for America's family farms and rural communities for 25 years. On-line resources include specific recommendations for sustainable agriculture and resources for rural development.

Civil Rights Forum on Communications Policy - < www.civilrightsforum.org/mira.htm >

MIRA is a grantmaking initiative of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation which seeks to draw upon the reservoirs of strength, tenacity, and civic commitment in rural communities and to help rural people use technology (electronic communications and information systems) as a tool to meet current and future challenges. People first, with technology serving communities second. CTCNet and the Civil Rights Forum on Communications Policy have been funded as Policy Support Organizations and are currently offering grants to support rural policy activities (see p. 10).

National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) - < www.nado.org/ >

NADO offers meetings and training, the Economic Development Digest information, and public policy representation for regional development organizations serving small metropolitan and rural America.

National Rural Research Institute - www.nrri.ohio-state.edu/teletbls.htm

Has produced a report that includes state level information on nine important topics facing state public utility commissions and the telecommunications industry in general, including local competition, Section 271 implementation, interconnection, resale, alternative regulatory plans, universal service, service quality, numbering, and other issues.

Rural Coalition/Coalicion Rural - < www.farmworkers.org/rcpage.html >

The Rural Coalition/Coalicion Rural is an alliance of over 90 culturally-diverse community-based groups in the United States and Mexico who collaborate to advance social justice and sustainable development in rural areas.

Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) - < www.rupri.org/ >

RUPRI conducts policy-relevant research and facilitates public dialogue to assist policymakers in understanding the rural impacts of public policies and programs. Resources include the results of Rural Telecommunications Research, and many publications.

Rural Telecommunications Conference - < http://ruraltelecon.org/ >

The Rural Telecommunications Conference is an annual meeting in Aspen, CO. The website includes speaker roster, workshop information, and registrant list for the 1998 conferenceŅand workshop schedule and registration information for the upcoming 1999 conference in October.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - < www.usda.gov />

The USDA offers many on-line resources, including information about the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community (EZ/EC) Program, Information Superhighway, Office of Policy and Planning, Office of Rural Health Policy, Rural Telephone Bank, and Telecommunications Program.