THE PURPOSE WAS TO CONDUCT A SYSTEMATIC INVESTIGATION OF THE NEEDS THAT AN EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM MIGHT MEET AND THE LEVEL OF INTEREST NOW PREVALENT AT THE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY LEVEL. CONTACTS WERE MADE WITH PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS, RESEARCHERS, COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS, AND GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL. QUESTIONNAIRES AND PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WERE USED TO GATHER DATA. REPRESENTATIVES OF NEARLY 50 MAJOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING INDICATED THAT ELECTRONIC INTERCONNECTION IS BELIEVED TO BE ACADEMICALLY AND ADMINISTRATIVELY VALUABLE. PROJECTED USES HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED FOR ELECTRONIC INTERCONNECTION IN STUDENT RECORD TRANSFERS, COOPERATIVE RESEARCH TECHNIQUES, AND COOPERATIVE TEACHING. A FOLLOWUP STUDY PHASE WAS RECOMMENDED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES, TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS, ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION, AND COSTS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF AN EDUCATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM. (HB)