Under the terms of the contract, Telesat Canada's newly unveiled Multimedia Satellite Technology Development and Trials Program will identify and develop a number of advanced multimedia services and applications, and design leading edge technologies to deliver these new services. Possible new applications may include very high speed two-way access to the Internet, and services such as tele-health, tele-work and tele-education.

The Comprehensive Telehealth Act of 1997 would promote the development and use of advanced telecommunications and diagnostic technology in health care.

Conrad's bill would do four things:
* Make telehealth services eligible for Medicare reimbursement.
* Ask the secretary of Health and Human Services to study state-to-state licensure barriers for health professionals who provide services through telehealth.
* Require annual telehealth reports to Congress from the Federal Joint Working Group on Telehealth.
* Provide grants and loans to rural hospitals, clinics, universities, libraries and other organizations to develop telehealth networks and foster rural economic development.

Tele-Health, a medical information network using the Telidon system, is being developed by a group of computer scientists in Montreal.