For several years, the Office of Telecommunications Policy has initiated projects investigating the potential of telecommunications as a method for alleviating some of the problems of rural America. In the course of these investigations, a number of insights have been gained relating both to the match between rural problems and telecommunications solutions and to some of the issues involved in service delivery via telecommunications wherever the delivery takes place. Covering some of the issues raised during these investigations, this paper discusses: (1) the rural setting, trends, background, and traditional public services (education, health, public works, public safety, and recreation); (2) some of the alternative technologies (telephone, coaxial cable, radio, video broadcasting, microwave, and satellites); (3) significant characteristics and comparative advantages of cable and local telephone systems; (4) some aspects of the "software problem"; (5) the development of methodology for identifying the communications requirements of localities; and (6) the compilation, codification and analysis of information already available. Several representative studies and demonstrations pertaining to health services, services to the elderly, educational services, public safety, and administrative services are outlined. (NQ)