Contents -- Foreword -- 1. Introduction -- Notes -- 2. Development of China's Rural Information Infrastructure -- Fixed Line Telephony -- Mobile Telephony -- Radio and Television -- Internet -- Notes -- 3. Rural Informatization Initiatives and Organizational Models -- Key Rural Informatization Actors and Initiatives -- Organizational Models for Rural Informatization -- Notes -- 4. Lessons from International Experiences -- Government and Donor driven Initiatives and Sustainability -- Private Sector Participation -- The Appeal of the Franchise Model -- Hybrid Organizational Models -- 5. Challenges for Rural Informatization in China -- Lack of a Coherent Strategy -- Weak Coordination across Ministries and Integration at the Provincial Level -- Unsustainable Business Models and Over reliance on Government Financing -- Lack of Demand Driven, Locally Relevant Information Resources -- Low Levels of Public Awareness and Capacity Building -- Weak Links to Domestic ICT Industry and Research and Development for Rural Applications -- Lack of Systematic Learning and Impact Evaluation -- 6. Recommendations -- Formulate a Comprehensive and Coherent Strategy -- Support Innovative Business Models -- Consolidate and Share Resources -- Raise Public Awareness and Build Capacity -- Develop Intermediary Institutions and Networks -- Ensure Learning, Monitoring, and Evaluation -- 7. Conclusions -- References -- Appendixes -- Appendix 1. Central Government Strategies and Initiatives for Rural Informatization -- Notes -- Appendix 2. Analysis of Eighteen Pilot Projects in China -- Appendix 3. Impact Evaluation: Rationale, Definitions and Framework for Rural Informatization Pilots -- Note -- Appendix 4. A Framework for Evaluation of Eighteen Pilot Projects -- Tables -- Table 2.1. Information Infrastructure Coverage in China, 2007.

Table 3.1. Rural Informatization Initiatives by Central Ministries and Agencies -- Table 3.2. Rural Informatization Problems and Attempted Solutions -- Table A.3.1. A Framework to Evaluate Project Impact -- Table A.3.2. Indicators to Assess Project Impact -- Figures -- Figure 2.1. Ownership of Television in Urban and Rural Households, 1990-2006 -- Figure 2.2. Internet Penetration in Urban and Rural China, 2005-07 -- Figure 2.3. Personal Computer Ownership in Urban and Rural Households, 1999-2006 -- Figure 2.4. Place of Internet Access, 2007 -- Figure 3.1. Key Elements of Rural Informatization Pilot Initiatives -- Figure 5.1. Population and Investment Segmentation in China -- Figure A.3.1. Developing Performance and Impact Indicators -- Boxes -- Box 2.1. Central Government Strategies for Rural Informatization, 2001 to Present -- Box 3.1. Government Model -- Box 3.2. Telecommunications Provider Model -- Box 3.3. Professional Association/Cooperative Model -- Box 3.4. Franchise/Entrepreneurial Model -- Box 3.5. Private Sector Model -- Box 4.1. Public Programs of Access Centers in Chile -- Box 4.2. E Choupal: An Evolving Infrastructure for Rural Transformation -- Box 4.3. CDI: A Social Franchise Targeting Disadvantaged Urban Youth -- Box 4.4. Gyandoot Program in India.