The instructional designer (ID) plays a critical role in the development and viability of each course taught at a distance, particularly in the incorporation of immediacy behaviors, or communication behaviors that convey approachability and communicate interpersonal warmth and closeness. Faculty development must be fostered to encourage immediacy behaviors for the distance instructor. Immediacy must be part of the infrastructure that provides the interactive television system, and IDs must be involved in establishing the infrastructure. The attributes of the technology must be clearly recognized by IDs so that they can be used to their greatest advantage. The ID also must consider the people-related issues, whether they involve students or faculty. Faculty development provides the opportunity for distance education instructors to learn to exploit the attributes of video conference technologies and to practice using the technology. (Contains 9 references.) (SLD)