June 23, 2001 Research Subcommittee Committee on Science United States House of Representatives Re: WirelessTechnology-Hope for Rural Education/Research Dear Sir or Madam: I am writing this letter in strong support for Federal funding to assist in the development, enhancement and implementation of wireless technology so that it can benefit educational/research programs in rural America. In my career spanning 25 years as a educator/researcher, I have been involved in working with rural communities in the states of Minnesota, Washington and California to develop innovative educational/research programs for American Indians and migrant workers. Until the advent of wireless technology, the power of the Internet to assist in the educational/research programs in rural American was greatly minimized. Wireless technology allows for rural Americans to become conversant with our rapidly changing world and to take advantage of educational and research programs. Presently, the College of Sciences at San Diego State University and the Super Computer Center at University of California San Diego are jointly developing interactive educational programs for rural American Indian reservations. The educational programs will cover the physiology and clinical implications dealing with diabetes and obesity. These programs will be transmitted-wirelessly- from University of California to the Indian Reservations. Without the wireless technology, it would be impossible to mount an ongoing educational program due to the distance of the reservations from the Universities. In the near future, we anticipate developing research protocols in conjunction with the American Indian communities in which the data could be gathered at remote sites and transmitted back to San Diego State University. Funding for support of the implementation of wireless technology should go to agencies such as NSF and NIH which have educational and research programs for under-represented groups as well as rural America. Sincerely, Robert S. Pozos, Ph.D.