Information, communication and telecommunications are all important to the lives of citizens. This paper reviews the literature on the information-seeking, communication and telecommunications behaviour of citizens and then reports on a pilot study to test empirical measures being developed by the Telecommunications Policy Research Group at RMIT As a result of the pilot study, an information-communication continuum is proposed to overcome the problems of definition of information and communication needs. There is also a suggestion that a distinction between purposeful information seeking and incidental information acquisition is required. The role of telecommunications in meeting information and communication needs is explored. Policy implications are included.