A central argument for the existence of the South Carolina Educational Television Network (ETV) follows an economic theme. In the last three years ETV has conducted 319 teleconferences to provide specialized training for 74,000 people. The use of teleconferences during that period of time has provided services that could have cost the state eight to nine million dollars by traditional methods. Prior to each general election, South Carolina has some 8,000 poll workers who must undergo mandatory training by the State Election Commission. For the last three elections, these 8,000 people have received their two days of training through ETV at a savings to the state and to the trainees of over $1,300,000. Over the past ten years, the cost of delivering a television course to a school in South Carolina has dropped over 47 percent, while the average cost of a school textbook has risen approximately 300 percent during the same period. It is predicted that telecommunications will play an increasingly important role in the delivery of instruction for children in school, programs for college credit, continuing professional education, technical education, the visually handicapped, and other special groups. (LLS)