AID rural satellite program - development communication

PROJECT IS INTENDED TO DEMONSTRATE TO COMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS THE EXISTENCE OF A MARKET FOR THEIR SERVICES IN LDC RURAL AREAS AND TO JUSTIFY INVESTMENTS IN RURAL COMMUNICATIONS PROJECTS BY INVESTMENT SOURCES SUCH AS IBRD. ACTIVITIES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED BY CONTRACTORS WORKING WITH A TEAM FROM AID"S REGIONAL BUREAS UNDER DS/ED SUPERVISION. SEVEN OR 8 LONG-TERM PIOLOT DEMONSTRATIONS IN LOW-COST AND FLEXIBLE SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY, AS WELL AS 3 SHORTER-TERM DEMONSTRATIONS WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN SELECTED LDC"S, MOSTLY IN CONNECTION WITH ONGOING OR PLANNED RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. MODELS WILL BE DEVELOPED USING RURAL EDUCATIONAL BROADCASTING TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS PROVIDING BASIC SERVICES TO THE RURAL POOR THROUGH BROADCASTS AIMED AT EXTENSION WORKERS AND AT THE POOR THEMSELVES. MODELS WILL ALSO BE DEVELOPED USING BASIC COMMUNICATIONS, SUCH AS THE 2-WAY RADIO, TO IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, E.G., BY COORDINATING LOGISTICAL SUPPORT. OTHER DEMONSTRATIONS INCLUDE USE OF SATELLITES TO LINK REGIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS; TO FACILITATE DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS; AND, POSSIBLY, TO PROVIDE US TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LDC"S. A TOTAL OF 22 SATELLITE TERMINALS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO AID, MISSIONS, AND LDC"S IN THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT. LDC PERSONNEL WILL BE TRAINED IN PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EVALUATION OF RURAL COMMUNICATIONS PROJECTS, AND MISSIONS AND LDC"S WILL BE HELPED TO DESIGN LONG-TERM PROJECTS USING COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLIGIES. MODELS WILL BE EVALUATED FOR THEIR ADAPTATION TO SPECIFIC NEEDS AND FOR THEIR COST-EFFECTIVENESS. TO THE LATTER END, THE USE OF SMALL AND INEXPENSIVE GROUND STATIONS WILL BE STRESSED. EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO INTEGRATE COMMUNICATIONS AND SECTORAL PLANNING IN LDC"S. IN ADDITION, A BROAD RANGE OF INFORMATION DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO CREATE AN INFORMATION NETWORK AMONG US, LDC, AND INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.