COMPANY'S INVESTMENT COULD BOOST TECHNOLOGY

"Distance learning" educational opportunities, "telemedicine" for better medical care and economic prosperity through business development are among the many benefits of the information superhighway say Southwestern Bell Telephone officials.

"Information technology has become integral to businesses and individuals throughout the world," Southwestern Bell Vice President Alfred G. Richter said. "We're in the process of developing the telecommunications infrastructure in Missouri to bring the information superhighway to areas throughout the state."

Richter was in Cape Girardeau last week to discuss the "Missouri Information Superhighway Under Construction," at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee.

The groundwork has been established, he said.

The Missouri Public Service Commission, the Office of the Public Counsel and Bell has entered into an agreement that provides the economic incentive for Bell to invest in the state's communications infrastructure.

"Southwestern Bell has committed to invest at least $1.1 billion over the next four years, helping to create a modernized network that will span the state," Richter said. "This network of fiber-optic cables, provides vital links in suburban and rural areas."

The plan calls for Bell to set up facilities to 75 schools and hospitals each year over the next four years, and to establish five telecommunity centers, to allow community access to advance telecommunications systems.

"These centers will provide businesses and individuals to actually participate in and work with telecommunications," Richter said. "It's sort of like driving a demonstration vehicle before buying. People can try out systems to see if they can be utilized in their businesses."

Telecommunications technology is already changing the lives of children and adults throughout the United States by giving them previously unheard of learning opportunities.

Through "distance learning," which can link remote classrooms to a single location via interactive video, students can "visit distant cities and foreign countries," making learning more exciting and memorable," Richter said.

Schools can pool their resources and broaden their curriculum, adding interactive courses taught by a variety of instructions from around the world, giving children in rural and disadvantaged school systems the same educational opportunities as those in large school districts.

"Telemedicine" is expected to improve the lives of doctors and patients.

Through interactive video, technology can link urban and rural medical facilities all over the world, allowing physicians to send and receive visual information, such as X-rays, across town or across the country instantly. Together, physicians in different cities can then review patients' medical histories, discuss surgical techniques, exchange medical opinions and even examine patients via video before determining a course of action.

For the business world, interactive video in the form of "teleconferencing" is being embraced by businesses that want to keep in contact with remote subsidiaries without expensive travel expenditures. Instant access to photographs, charts and other visuals as well as face-to-face contact will be possible.

The information superhighway is under construction.

"Workers are out there laying fiber-optic cable," Richter said. "A number of central SWBT offices have already been connected...Those offices include Cape Girardeau and Jackson."