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This action-based National Science Foundation-funded research project is prompted by the growth of broadband in industries in rural communities in which over 40% of households lack broadband capability. Through the multi-method pursuit of five rural community-focused need and barrier-focused research questions, the researchers are investigating the role of Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways in meeting the needs of rural employers and new technical professionals in rural communities in Northwest Florida. This research will lend important insight into the challenges to, in accordance with the iConference 2014 theme, “breaking down the walls” to sustainable broadband-supported economic development.

For public organizations, the ability to harness web-based Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to make information and services directly available to the public has become an important goal. Simultaneously, the use of volunteers by public organizations has become a crucial component of service delivery within the US. Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs rely heavily upon volunteers to advocate for neglected children. While there is no doubt variation exists across specific CASA programs, their generally ubiquitous reliance on volunteers indicates a need for recruitment, training, and coordination to successfully achieve program goals. While the discussion of User-Centered Design (UCD) factors illustrates issues for consideration, the case study of Florida's Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program more concretely illustrates how a state-level CASA can begin to harness online ICT to achieve programmatic goals. This chapter discusses key information design characteristics needed for online systems to effectively deliver required information to both volunteers and staff.