When evaluating alternative designs of subscriber terminals that have been proposed for two-way cable television (CATV) systems we need to use political as well as economic criteria. The political objective a two-way communication system should serve is making government more responsive to feedback from citizens. At the national and state level this means better education about public issues and more effective exchange of information between citizens and their representatives. At the community level this means helping the discussion of public issues, aiding community decision-making, and connecting members of the community with their officials. At the group level this means helping improve decision-making and helping new groups to form and express new interests. Subscriber terminals that have been proposed for CATV systems vary widely, from a simple four-button pad to a full keyboard and printer with display screen and microphone. When political criteria are used the optimum design looks different from the economically ideal terminal. (MG)