The Technology Opportunities Program (TOP): Networking Our Nation—A Decade of Lessons Learned

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the mission and strategy of the Technology Opportunities Program, a grant program in the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunication and Information Administration. It discusses key characteristics, model projects, and lessons learned in three categories related to community development: rural resource development, urban asset mapping, and community economic development. It includes a summary of the results of program-wide evaluations conducted periodically since the program started. The paper concludes with a section that discusses elements which successful projects have in common, for the use of community development practitioners who are considering using ICTs to amplify, support, or augment their efforts.

Keywords:

• information and communication technologies (ICTs)
• Technology Opportunities Program
• community technology
• community informatics
• complexity theory
• mapping social networks
• asset-based development
• social capital