The objectives of the demonstration were to determine the technological feasibility of offline EBT; whether it would be accepted by stakeholder groups; and whether it would be cost-effective.

The 1994 study of WIC program and participant characteristics (PC94), like the 1992 study (PC92), is substantially different from earlier efforts to collect data on WIC participants. PC94 employs the prototype reporting system which was developed by FNS for the 1992 study and which routinizes the collection of participant information from state WIC agencies.