A study was conducted to determine how the information highway affects today's children and to develop a set of national children's goals and an action plan for achieving them. The study's methodology included a review of relevant child development and telecommunications literature, identification of model programs, analysis of experiences with earlier technologies, and interviews with educational experts. Key findings included the following: (1) emerging information technologies will affect children's quality of life; (2) most American children do not have the skills they will need for the job market; (3) affluent parents are supplementing the information technology education their children receive at school; (4) America's school system represents the best way to teach every child information and technological skills; (5) the home is where children will most likely experience the widest range of new media; (6) new media bring new threats to children; (7) some of the most innovative uses of new information technologies are taking place in local communities; (8) the commercial marketplace cannot be counted on to take the best interests of children into account; and (9) low-income, disabled, and rural children are at particular risk of being left out. Based on these findings, goals related to information access, at-risk groups, educational needs, high-quality content, protection against abuses, industry responsibility, parent and citizen action, and youth involvement were established. To meet these goals, a seven-step action plan was developed, offering a blueprint for government and industry leaders, leaders in public, private and philanthropic sectors, parents, young people, and children's advocates. Contains 30 references. (AC)