America's rural communities are facing increasing challenges to the provision of equitable services and economic stability. Two major rural concerns are the lack of educational opportunities and resources and potentially inadequate telecommunications infrastructures for economic development. In order to attain economic and educational parity with…

This summary describes the development of the Appalachian Community Service Network (ACSN), an educational cable television network that was originally launched as an experimental demonstration in the use of the latest telecommunications for the delivery of educational services. In describing how the stage was set for the eventual development of…

Intended to provide a comprehensive picture of the Appalachian Community Service Network (ACSN), this report documents its evolution from a federally funded regional educational experiment to a nonprofit corporation delivering educational and informational programming via commercial satellite to cable subscribers across the nation; ACSN's changing…

The cost-effective use of communications technologies to extend adult learning opportunities is one way state policymakers can face the challenge of responding to growing demands for essential public services. The major new educational technologies that are available are television, radio, telephone, computers, communications satellites, and…