Handbook for planning telecommunications support projects

This handbook was developed by the Rural Satellite Program to assist planners in using telecommunication technology to support development efforts. Focusing for the most part on the pre-feasibility and feasibility stages of a telecommunications project, the handbook: (1) presents a general planning methodology; (2) delineates socioeconomic and structural issues that may affect communications projects; (3) provides guidelines for assessing communications needs and developing applications; (4) suggests means of assessing available telecommunications infrastructure and services; (5) addresses cost issues and ways of identifying the resources needed for project implementation; and (6) describes ways to organize and analyze information as a prelude to the operational planning phase. Each section includes guidelines for collecting information on factors which must be considered if telecommunications systems are to be an effective development tool. Charts and illustrations are included. (Author abstract, modified)