Rob: Well the new digital revolution not only allows broadcasters more options,
it also brings the world to our fingertips.
Our Jessica Betts travels to Clarita, Oklahoma, where one man is
connecting with travelers around the world, all from the comfort of his home.
Jessica: Only about 50 people live here, alongside a few animals.
But inside this quiet, peaceful, and definitely remote town of Clarita, is
Winston Rice, also known as Panama Jones, running a popular tourism business
based on his satellite broadband connection.
Winston Rice: We knew in the beginning, we didn't have enough money to
market our company nationally, let alone internationally, so we had
to have access to the Internet.
Jessica: Booking tourists from all over the world to Panama, one of Winston's
favorite places, after he spent time there in the military.
Rice: They see our website.
They inquire about our tour packages which are right on the website, and
after we exchange information and everything, they decide to book.
Then we can handle most of the information over the Internet.
Once we've made the booking for them and got all of their information
for their travel, their flights, their hotels, and all that.
Then they go to Panama, and they meet up with a coordinator on the ground
who takes care of everything.
Jessica: How big is your staff; do you have a staff?
Just you?
Rice: Yep.
Jessica: A profitable business that has allowed him to retire and work on
Panama trips when he's not restoring old buildings near his home.
He credits his business success, to the Internet.
Rice: We needed the Internet to create a website so the entire
world could see us.
If you don't want to punch someone's clock, this is the most important thing
you can do is to be connected.
Jessica: A connection that's allowing Winston to keep his small town roots,
while maintaining a business that's worldwide.
Rob: To see how one rural Oklahoma town is bridging the digital divide, just
go to OkHorizon.com and click on value added.