Rural communities have been isolated from the health, educational,
and public services available in more densely populated areas. Advances in telecommunications
technology, including low-power television, direct broadcast satellites, and
satellite-fed cable services, offer the opportunity to alleviate rural isolation,
to improve the quality of rural life, and to promote economic development. Despite
such technological advances and the recognized need, rural telecommunications
networks have not been established. Rural markets have been considered unprofitable
and lacking in sufficient consumer demand. Thus, commercial suppliers have not
made the substantial investments necessary to provide rural telecommunications
services. Government subsidies will be required to motivate the private sector
to invest in rural telecommunications. Once rural communication networks are
in place, they should become self-supporting.