In 1983, a project at East Devon College of Further Education sought to identify learning needs in scattered rural communities, particularly among the unemployed, and to meet those needs with distance education technology. The project team identified the characteristics of several types of rural Devon communities and assessed curricular needs through direct contact with the rural unemployed. After several unsuccessful attempts in villages, the project began in the small, isolated town of Okehampton, in mid-Devon. Considerable effort went into publicizing short introductory courses based on identified needs, but only 12 people enrolled in 2 courses. One course, in navigation, was delivered. A teleconferencing bridge with voice and data telephone lines linked East Devon College and the town. Equipment consisted of microcomputer, high resolution visual display unit, graphics pad and light-sensitive pen, and loudspeaker and microphones. Various technical hitches on both voice and data lines resulted from operator inexperience, management problems, and malfunctions. Although the amount of education actually delivered was small, the project demonstrated that this delivery system could circumvent constraints on class size by allowing several scattered small groups to be taught simultaneously. The project also highlighted education provided by local drop-in centers and self-help groups, which bypassed formal educational institutions. Appendices outline identified learning needs and describe low-cost courses offered by local sources. (SV)