The cost-effective use of communications technologies to extend adult learning opportunities is one way state policymakers can face the challenge of responding to growing demands for essential public services. The major new educational technologies that are available are television, radio, telephone, computers, communications satellites, and hybrid systems. Advantages to be derived from their use fall into seven categories: cost savings, ease of use, time-free/space-free convenience, usefulness to a diversity of learners, program quality, accelerated learning times, and improvement of the efficiency of noninstructional services. Factors that inhibit the expanded use of the technologies are startup costs, resistance from those with a vested interest in the status quo, need for staff development, lack of consumer readiness, inequitable access, technical limitations of the devices, political/ideological considerations, public policy restrictions and implications, and need for more research. Of the possible state roles in promoting the use of the new technologies, state goal setting is particularly important. Once a state goal has been defined, a systematic approach should be used in the application of cost-effective instructional technologies to the achievement of that goal. (YLB)