| In March 2001, the Telecommunications
Infrastructure (TIF) Board awarded El Centro
College a two-year Discovery grant of $505,232
(with an additional $50,523 matching funds from
the College) for producing and implementing streaming
audio and video content in the distance education
courses of El Centro College's Allied
Health and Nursing Programs. Project
funds are used to purchase hardware, software,
and Internet access resources, as well as training,
to integrate Tegrity
and RealNetworks
streaming media files into online Ecampus
Health Occupations courses.
Starting in June 2002, the Coordinator of the
Invasive
Cardiovascular Technology Program initiated
the Advanced Technical Certificate option in partnership
with at least four non-profit/public hospitals
throughout Texas. The streaming media files will
greatly enhance the quality of the information
available to the online students. These resources
will also be used to supplement information for
the oncampus ICVT students.
There is a critical need to provide better training
to health care workers throughout Texas, as well
as to implement new ideas to help solve the critical
shortage of health care professionals. Implementation
of streaming media will improve the quality of
online health occupations courses. This content
will be used in both "enhanced" classes
oncampus and our totally online courses.
TIF (Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund)
grant is dedicated to connecting people through
a viable and sustainable telecommunications infrastructure
for schools, libraries, health care facilities
and higher education institutions. The
mission of the Telecommunications
Infrastructure Fund Board is to help Texas
deploy an advanced telecommunications infrastructure
by stimulating universal and scaleable connectivity
for public schools, higher education, public libraries,
and nonprofit healthcare facilities.
The TIF Board has a mandate to promote universal
service in Texas, by the development of telecommunications
infrastructure that meets its education, healthcare,
and information-sharing needs. It also effects
technology training programs and encourages quality
content that strengthens education, healthcare,
and libraries in Texas.
State legislation was enacted that anticipates
a global marketplace in which Texas is destined
to play a major role. This legislation, House
Bill 2128 (also referred to as the Public Utility
Regulatory Act of 1995, or "PURA ‘95"),
transformed Texas’ regulatory environment
for telecommunications to spur economic development
throughout the state. As part of that legislation,
TIF was created as a catalyst and supporter of
public access to an advanced communications technology
network.
Via TIF grants, models of innovative collaborative
projects have deployed advanced telecommunications
technologies to solve educational, information
sharing, healthcare, and connectivity problems.
The TIF grants awarded to El Centro College are
perfect examples of this initiative.
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