Nebraska Use of
Information Technology
Nebraska Use of
Information Technology
Empower rural communities
to take advantage of
new technology and opportunities
conNEcting Goals and Objectives

Cutting edge technology education to
rural communities

Maintain/sustain current programming

Community planning
conNEcting Nebraska Technology
conNEcting Nebraska Technology
conNEcting Nebraska Technology

Community Planning



Build community capacity by establishing
forums
Learn the benefits of enhanced
telecommunications infrastructure
Use telecommunications to move
communities forward
Business Survey



Partnered with the Nebraska
Information Technology Commission,
the AIM Institute and UNL CARI
Mail survey sent to 900 businesses in
rural Nebraska
Response rate = 45% (382 returns)
About the Businesses


22% were in retail trade, 18% in professional
and related services
96% of respondents owned, operated or
managed the business



Average length of time was 15 years
54% had owned or operated the business for at
least 10 years
72% of businesses were located in a retail
office space or manufacturing site
About the Businesses


45% of the businesses were located in towns
with populations of 20,000 or more
The businesses employed, on average, 13
people including the owner operator


80% employed 10 or fewer employees
35% had gross annual sales in 1999 of
$500,000 or more. 29% had gross sales less
than $100,000
Current and Future Computer Use
50%
45%
44%
40%
35%
30%
31%
29% 26%
25%
Present
Usage
28%
22%
21%
Future Usage
- Somewhat
Important
20%
15%
13%
9%
10%
11%
7%
3%
5%
0%
Database
management
Process and
management
Develop
presentations
Online banking
Future Usage
- Very
Important
Those Considering the Use of
Information Technology to Expand
and/or Restructure Business
65
80
70
60
50
40
18
30
20
10
0
Percent saying "yes"
Non-users
Proficient users
Current and Future Internet Use
45%
38%
40%
35%
40%
34%
28%
30%
26%
25%
25%
20%
19%
17%
15%
14%
15%
9%
10%
5%
3%
3%
1%
7%
2%
4%
2%
0%
Link to vendors &
suppliers
Present Usage
Post catalogs/
prices/ services
on web
Complete
sales/purchase
with online
payments
Use Internet for
inventory control
& mgt
Future Usage - Somewhat Important
Use Internet for
customer info &
support
Use Internet to
take/provide
educational
services
Future Usage - Very Important
Availability of Specialized Skills
41%
Making electronic payments
Developing Security Services for online
transactions
9%
1%
11%
44%
2%
Programming Web-based applications
1%
Developing a basic Web site
48%
12%
1%
Developing graphics for the Internet
40%
47%
17%
34%
50%
16%
33%
3%
19%
3%
18%
51%
27%
46%
Conceptualizing Web site attributes
0%
I have skill
35%
44%
Graphic animation
Not Available
15%
33%
10%
20%
Someone in Business
30%
40%
50%
60%
Someone in Community
Technology Infrastructure Resources Available
14%
Infrastructure support personnel
28%
10%
49%
23%
Hardware/software suppliers
35%
11%
31%
15%
12%
Educational opportunities about IT
34%
39%
23%
Electronic banking availability
Internet access providers
29%
6%
42%
31%
32%
30%
7%
15%
Web development professionals
Bandwidth/Internet access speed
42%
10%
12%
26%
52%
12%
Technology infrastructure
0%
Don't Know
31%
12%
25%
7%
10%
Not at all Adequate
56%
20%
30%
Somewhat Adequate
40%
50%
Very Adequate
60%
Perceptions of the Importance of
Computer/Internet Applications by Industry
18%
Promote business
15%
24%
28%
42%
26%
42%
33% 36%
Information & Research
31%
E-mail
40%
37%
47%
43%
58%
46%
40% 35%
45%
47%
Internet Access
64%
63%67%
Record Keeping
77%
84%
44%
52%
50% 36%
58%
General Communications
0%
10%
Agriculture, Forestry, & Fisheries
Retail & Wholesale Trade
Other
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Constuction, Manufacturing, Transportation
Services
Specialized Skills Access By Community
Size
29% 36%
Making electronic payments
Developing Security services for online
transactions
Graphic animation
44%
59%
33% 37%
26%
Developing graphics for the Internet
52%
28%
51%
29% 21%
Programming Web-based applications
24%
Developing a basic Web site
18%
49%
40%
27% 27%
Conceptualizing Web site attributes
0%
Less than 5,000
45%
34%
10%
20%
5,000 - 19,999
30%
40%
20,000 or more
46%
50%
60%
70%
Adequate Technology Resources By
Community Size
Percent saying “very adequate”
20%
Infrastructure support personnel
9%
7%
30%
Hardware/software suppliers
15%
Educational opportunities about IT
7%
20%
21%
14%
28%
Electronic banking availability
23%
15%
Internet access providers
Web development professionals
20%
19%
17%
9%
Bandwidth/Internet access speed
7%
Technology infrastructure
9%
0%
5%
Less than 5,000
10%
37%
34%
12%
12%
14%
13%
15%
20%
5,000 - 19,999
25%
30%
35%
20,000 or more
40%
Technology Use By Firm Size
79%
Computer
82%
52%
54%
98%
76%
Internet Access
63%
37%
31%
47%
Web site for business
11%
29%
41%
Will use IT to expand or
restructure
0%
Less than $100,000
35%
20%
40%
$100,000 - $500,000
38%
56%
60%
$500,000 or more
80%
All firms
100%
Use of IT Applications By Firm Size
General Communications
15%
17%
78%
Record Keeping
Internet Access
E-mail
Information & Research
Promote business
0%
39%
14%
10%
25%
26%
55%
29%
10% 15%
17%
7% 14%
3%8%
1%
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Less than $100,000
$100,000 - $500,000
Over $500,000
Perceived Future Importance of IT
Applications by Firm Size
68%
General Communications
28%
87%
Record Keeping
56%
22%
Information & Research
Promote business
0%
Less than $100,000
69%
37%
Internet Access
E-mail
39%
22%
34%
56%
34%
48%
24% 36%
35%
22%
12%
20%
40%
$100,000 - $500,000
60%
80%
Over $500,000
100%
Nebraska Use of Information
Technology
For a complete copy of the Survey Results
contact the
University of NE Center for Rural Innovation at 1-800-328-2851
or go to
http://cari.unl.edu/ (Survey Research) or
Connie Hancock, chancock1@unl.edu
University of NE Extension Educator
308-254-4455.