Department of Telecommunication, MSU Issues in Information, Policy & Society Johannes M. Bauer Proseminar, August 23, 2002

Department of Telecommunication, MSU Overall narratives Stage model of development (agricultural, industrial, information stage) Notions of an “information society”’ Technology-driven Employment (shift towards services) Economic (“weightless economy”) New configuration of time and space Vastly expanded information flows Centrality of information/knowledge

Department of Telecommunication, MSU Technological opportunities From specialized technologies (telephony, cable, television) … … to general purpose technologies (internet, advanced wireless services, pervasive computing) Significant potential benefits to society (tele-medicine, tele-education, e- government, m-commerce) How can these be harnessed?

Department of Telecommunication, MSU Factors shaping ICT ICT Technical change Policy Economic conditions Business strategy Historical context Cultural context Effects (social, economic, cognitive, …) Applications and uses Socio-cultural framework

Department of Telecommunication, MSU Effects of ICT on society ICT Technical change Policy Economic conditions Business strategy Historical context Cultural context Effects (social, economic, cognitive, …) Applications and uses Socio-cultural framework

Department of Telecommunication, MSU Overall policy framework Until 1980s regulated monopoly (U.S., Canada) and state ownership (elsewhere) Since then, increasing belief in competition, private ownership, regulatory reform Adjustment of industry-specific reforms to digitization and convergence Design of legal and regulatory frameworks that are appropriate for a nation or region Pursuit of non-market goals Policy and financial health of suppliers

Department of Telecommunication, MSU Spectrum policy Wireless applications require electromagnetic spectrum What is the appropriate paradigm? Exclusive rights … Exclusive licenses for broadcasters etc. Full spectrum ownership (privatization) … open access, or spectrum commons? , WLANs, unlicensed spectrum

Department of Telecommunication, MSU ICT adoption What factors influence the adoption of ICT Rapid adoption of black and white television but slow diffusion of digital television Fast diffusion of dial-up internet but slower uptake of broadband access Success of i-mode but sluggish development of WAP-based services What can and should policy-makers (legislators, regulators) do?

Department of Telecommunication, MSU Access to ICT Access to ICT is very unevenly distributed within and between nations (“digital divide”) What factors influence access of groups and regions to ICT? What can public policy do to support access (subsidies, education, awareness) What knowledge infrastructure is necessary to utilize ICTs to the fullest?

Department of Telecommunication, MSU ICT applications What factors shape how organizations (private firms, government, non-profit, …) use ICTs in pursuit of their objectives? Effects on workplace and skills Effects on surveillance and control How can ICTs be used to improve community life? E-government and tele-democracy ICT applications in the home

Department of Telecommunication, MSU Intellectual property rights IPRs (copyrights, patents, trade marks) are intended to promote the production and dissemination of information Is there an optimal degree of protection (duration, exemptions, etc.)? What are the advantages of open source as opposed to proprietary software (e.g. Linux vs. Windows; Ogg Vorbis vs. MP3 or Windows Media Audio)?

Department of Telecommunication, MSU Privacy and data protection Privacy is often defined as “the right to be left alone” (from unwanted intrusion by the government, firms, or other people) On the other hand, authentication in e- commerce often requires release of private information Encryption can provide confidentiality and privacy but may conflict with the law enforcement and national security goals

Department of Telecommunication, MSU International issues Internet governance (no regulation, self- regulation, government policy) International trade in telecommunications services and more homogenous policy framework International digital divide Effects of media and news flows between countries, regions, and cultures International information order

Department of Telecommunication, MSU Selected readings Castells, Manuel (1996-8). The information age. Oxford: Blackwell Fransman, Martin (2002). Telecommunications in the internet age. Oxford: Oxford University Press Mansell, Robin & Silverstone, Roger (1999). Communications by design. Oxford: Oxford University Press Melody, William H. (1997). Telecoms reform. Lyngby, Denmark: Technical University of Denmark Press Mody, Bella, Bauer, Johannes M. & Straubhaar, Joseph D. (eds.). Telecommunications politics: ownership and control of the information highway in developing countries. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Webster, Frank (1995). Theories of the information society. London: Routledge