Discusses how, despite recent Federal Communications Commission claims and some limited successes in state-sponsored programs aiding the needy, evidence suggests that one result of higher local phone charges has been to undermine the often-stated but ill-defined goal of universal telephone service. (JD)

In order to help users make informed decisions when buying communications software, this article suggests that buyers consider communications software compatibility; software protocols for data transmission; software products offering compatibility with Telenet, Prestel, and Ethernet/XTEN; specific intended applications; and specialized features…

Without being able to see people's facial expressions, their mouths moving, or their body language, it's sometimes difficult to understand them. This, of course, is why English as a second language (ESL) students need so much help in this area. The Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council started its Telephone Conversation Program to address these…

Compares three models for satellite systems in terms of design and costs in relation to other communications systems to show the most efficient and economical forms. (JMF)

Teleconferencing technology categories--audio, video, audiographic, and computer--are defined and then discussed by describing the equipment needed, providing examples of test cases, and offering research regarding the effectiveness of the technology as a teaching method. The article concludes with implications of telecommunications technology for…

Presents an interview with Reed Hundt, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), who implemented the Education Task Force to coordinate the FCC's role in educational provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. He asserts that writing clear rules for the communications sector will promote competition and ensure educational…

Examines the implications of the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) program in India for development policy. Assesses the project's performance in terms of the feasibility and usefulness of large-scale rural broadcasting by satellite. Uses the experience to generalize about producing educational programing for heterogeneous rural…

The future of electronic learning was explored in an analysis that viewed the provision of learning at a distance as a continuum and traced the evolution from distance learning to electronic learning to mobile learning in Europe and elsewhere. Special attention was paid to the following topics: (1) the impact of the industrial revolution, the…