Over the last years, the development of telecomunications ad the media convergence have spread new ways of production, generation of wealth, and communication. Liberalisation of telecommunications in many countries removed monopolies. Thanks to digitalisation of information, communication costs were reduced. This led toa boom of new economic activities and exchange of information focused on Internet. Sch new activities are difficult to promote, since most of the time they defy traditional formulae of governement intervention in economics and society. This paper explores the instruments that can be used by public administration to boost and foster new electronic communications both in the social context and in business. Also, it develops some typologies that help to set up plans and strategies for public intervention. The first typolocy makes a distinction of public policy instruments according to the objective . Different strateic choices available for gorenments are provided by using some instruments for faster incorporation of new electronic communication technologies into society. A distinction is made in the emphasis or not on inter-sector co-ordination and the profile of market and civil society intended to be given by the government. Administrative complexity and political difficulties of the four strategic choices are discussed. The possibility of tapping political decentralisation to promote an information society that enables local and intermediate governments to undertake - directly or indirectly - sch plans and strategies is another aspect analysed in this paper. Implications in the relations among different levels of government are discussed. Special features os such public policies are explored. Two European examples are givent to show experiences of policies aimed at decentralisation. The importance of public debate and creation of networks for sucessful promotion and encouraging politices in the use of electronic communication policies is underscored