Opportunities for the application of information & communications technologies in rural areas

In order to explore the opportunity for the European Community actions specifically for rural areas, the Commission of the European Communities (CEC) has carried out a set of studies and has developed a series of ideas for action. The paper sets out the main results of one of the supporting studies, which examined how advanced telecommunications and IT can contribute to economic activity and employment in the rural areas of Europe. It also summarises the results of one of the other studies, and outlines the context for possible strategies for implementing advanced technologies in the rural areas of the member states