provides a comprehensive overview of the major milestones in United States international communications and information policy, from the early days of the Morse telegraph to the current Internet explosion. The book underlines the growing importance of the communications issues, particularly as they affect American leadership in a rapidly changing information environment.Dizard, a former foreign service officer, rejects the idea of a computer-based telediplomacy, arguing instead that the new technologies should be used primarily to strengthen the capabilities of American diplomats in dealing with information-age issues. A must read for those interested in the future of United States foreign policy, and a stimulating overview for scholars, researchers, and students involved in the subject.