With each new generation, our acceptance of, and desire for, faster and more capable technologies increases. Ideas that once seemed to belong in a techno-fantasy, such as videophones and laptop computers, are quickly becoming mainstream. Telecommunications technology is evolving rapidly, in the near future we may hold our medical records on a pocket sized card, learn Spanish from teachers located in Spain, and have simultaneous discussions with electronic pen pals across the globe. Technology will continue to evolveat a phenomenal rate. Our task, therefore, is to recognize the potential, learn the capabilities and join the parade.
Telecommunications offers a unique opportunity for rural development.
Rural areas are at a particular disadvantage, however, because they do not receive the technology as quickly as urban areas do. Rural communities must ensure that they are not left behind. Rural communities must stay abreast of new developments and participate in the technological revolution if they expect to compete in the new global village. Telecommunications can provide rural communities with a connection to the world, facilitating information exchange and development. In rural areas where agriculture was once the mainstay of employment, the emergence of the Information Age has seen the service sector generating over 65 percent of all new jobs.