This paper is a response to a presentation by Joseph Pelton at the 15th World Congress on Distance Education (Caracas, Venezuela, November 1990). The response argues that, while newer technologies will impact on distance education, they will not be the panacea suggested by Pelton. The response also points out that not all "new" technologies are interactive or "two-way": but they will impact on both existing and new distance teaching institutions. However, if interactivity is to be maintained, this will be mainly for courses with relatively low numbers for many developing countries. Print-base courses will remain essential, both for economic and quality reasons. Americans need to be aware that "tele-education" is not the only, nor even the most effective, form of distance education. (DB)