Wanted — wise policy not restrictive regulation

This article begins by restating some familiar tenets of information processing and telecommunications theory: that our emerging post-industrial economy is becoming increasingly service-oriented with a corresponding emphasis being placed upon information-intensive activities;¹ that technical improvements in telecommunications systems are forthcoming at an almost exponential rate of increase;² that a wide array of developed or developing telecommunications systems (including computer-based word processing, cable/satellite TV, interactive video, videotext, etc) are being considered for possible application in varied settings (ranging from the home to the office to the delivery of governmental services).