This field study of a small midwestern town undergoing development suggests that external resources (such as state and federal aid) do not necessarily diminish local decision making if the community has shared values, conflict resolution mechanisms, local issues, and healthy social networks. (SK)

The ATS-6 Educational Satellite Communications Demonstration-Alaska (ESCD), was viewed as a way to give isolated population groups greater voice in their educational future, by bypassing bureaucratic levels and allowing the local people to have a direct say in the school curriculum and programs that were shown via satellite. This study focused on…