Telecommunications History & Policy into the 21st Century

Preface

ix Preface This book, Telecommunications History & Policy into the 21st Century, is the first edition of what may well turn out to be a series of several editions on this fascinating, fast moving, ever changing and challenging subject. The speed with which technology, policy, market forces, and security affect the telecommunications industry and environment will determine just when the next edition is launched. If you have suggestions for the next edition, kindly e-mail the author at: rgfiee@rit.edu. Chapter 1 is both an introductory chapter relative to telecommunications and policy as well as a chapter that chronologically covers that period of time from the beginning of telecommunications up through 1984. Chapter 2 is a digression from the chronological progression of this textbook. It covers selected essential Telecommunications Technologies , Notions and Concepts. These foundation topics are necessary in order to understand the essence and ramifications brought about by evolution and change within the industry. Chapter 2 specifically discusses Networks, Numbers, Toll-Free Service, and U.S. Telecommunications Policy and selected Concepts including externality, phatic communications , and several varieties of economic regulation. Knowledge and understanding of these provides the reader with a sound foundation for understanding the rest of the text. Chapter 3 discusses the breakup of the Bell System a.k.a., Divestiture or Modified Final Judgment. This was announced in early 1982 and became effective on January 1, 1984. Chapter 4 addresses the postdivestiture period up until the Internet Age. Chapter 5 discusses the Telecommunications Act of 1996 with special emphasis on Title I services. Chapter 6 covers the New Millennium through 2009 and includes the Internet Dominance and VoIP, the so-called Triple Play, Convergence, and more. Chapter 7 is a Crystal Ball into the Future. Chapter 8 may be considered a Synthesis and Conclusion as well as The End of the Beginning: A New Beginning! The Appendix discusses three cases via examining specific telecommunications issues and explicit corporations. The companies include : PAETEC, Embarq, Ontario and Trumansburg Telephone Company , and Fibertech Networks. Following the Appendix is a glossary of terms. I started writing this textbook in November of 2006 and completed it during the fourth quarter of 2009. Fortunately, I was on sabbatical during December of 2008 through early March 2009 and was able to write unimpaired by teaching and other professorial responsibilities during this period of time as well as during two summers. Many people helped me during the course of writing this textbook. I would especially like to thank the following people: Kruti Bhatt, Arunas Chesonis, Dan Clifton , Franz Foltz, Paul Griswold, Robert Kern, Gidon Lissai, Ann Mary Masterson, Debottym Mukherjee, John Purcell, Gregg Sayre, Ganesh Vidyadharan Girija and Laurence Winnie. Also, I wish to thank the entire undergraduate and graduate Telecommunications Policy classes that used a pre-publication manuscript version during their fall of 2008 classes and then provided valuable input to me. I sincerely wish to thank the folks at RIT’s Wallace Library Scholarly Publications center for early research, assistance, and editing including Marianne Buehler, Sherlea Dony, and Nicholas Paulus. Special thanks also go to the mainstays at the RIT Press including editors Molly Cort and Amelia J. Hugill-Fontanel and design specialist Marnie Soom, copyeditor Paul Remington, and RIT Press Director, David Pankow. Thank you! —Ron Fulle ...