Telecommunication Policy Act

The passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 inaugurated a new and highly volatile era in telecommunications. The first major overhaul of U.S. communications law since 1934--when no one had a television set, a cordless phone, or a computer--the Act was spurred into being by broad shifts in technology use. Equally important, this book shows, the new law reflects important changes in our notions of the purpose of communications regulation and how it should be deployed. Focusing on the evolution of the concept of the public interest, Aufderheide examines how and why the legislation was developed, provides a thematic analysis of the Act itself, and charts its intended and unintended effects in business and policy. An abridged version of the Act is included, as are the Supreme Court decision that struck down one of its clauses, the Communications Decency Act, and a variety of pertinent speeches and policy arguments. Readers are also guided to a range of organizations and websites that offer legal updates and policy information. Finalist, McGannon Center Award for Social and Ethical Relevance in Communication Policy Research

The Second Edition of Communications Law and Policy, by Jerry Kang (University of California, Los Angeles), will be published by Foundation Press. This teachable work provides a comprehensive introduction to the technology, economics, law, and policy of modern communications. Its unique strength is that it is organized by analytic concepts instead of current industry lines, which are constantly outdated by technological convergence. The basic ideas'power, entry, pricing, bad content, good content, structure, and access'equip students with a durable and yet flexible intellectual structure that can help parse a complex and ever-changing field. Replete with clear, concise technological and legal summaries, the text provides carefully edited opinions and FCC reports. Technical diagrams, flowcharts, concept maps, and mind maps also help students navigate between minutiae and the big picture. The Second Edition also expands coverage to include greater discussion of mobile telephony, the spectrum "commons," public broadcasting, direct broadcast satellite (DBS), media consolidation, local telephone competition, interconnection, Voice-Over-IP (VOIP), and "open access" to broadband pipes. A brand new Research Appendix provides the definitive guide on how to research communications law with clear explanations of the FCC rulemaking process and the documents generated along the way. With myriad refinements and substantial additions, the Second Edition maintains the conceptual clarity and teachability of the first edition while providing greater coverage, currency, and detail. An updated companion website provides links to useful resources provided by government, industry, and other stakeholders. If you are looking to teach a complete communications class, and not just Cyber or Internet law, this casebook provides the most pedagogically coherent and sophisticated text available. For more information, consult the casebook's website: http://jerrykang.net/commlaw. "This is the best casebook I have purchased for a HLS class and is the best investment I have made in books in my three years here." ?from an anonymous teaching evaluation by Harvard 3L student, Spring 2004