Retrospective technology assessment: The Impacts of computer communications on the structure of the public telephone network

Telecommunications Policy

Volumn 21, Issue 9-10, 1997, Pages 845-859

  Lee, Hokyu ^a  

^a INDIANA UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS; TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS; COMPETITION; COMPUTER APPLICATIONS; FORECASTING; PUBLIC POLICY; TELEPHONE SYSTEMS; TELEPHONE TRAFFIC ANALYSIS;

PUBLIC TELEPHONE NETWORKS;

TELEPHONE SYSTEMS; TELECOMMUNICATION;

EID: 0031260774     PISSN: 03085961     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/s0308-5961(97)00051-7     Document Type: Article

References (40)

1. These three Computer Inquiries have produced great changes in telephone regulation. The first Computer Inquiry (1966-1971) held that regulated common carriers should not enter data-processing markets based on the distinction between transmitting messages and processing information. The second Computer Inquiry (1976-1980) distinguished between basic services and enhanced services. AT&T was allowed to sell enhanced services and equipment, but only through a separate subsidiary to ensure that prices more accurately reflected the cost of associated services and to prevent the cross-subsidization of competitive enhanced services by the regulated basic services. In the third Computer Inquiry (1985-1989), the FCC removed the 'separate subsidiary' requirement for enhanced services offered by AT&T and the RBOCs (Regional Bell Operating Companies). In place of this requirement, the FCC ordered that AT&T and the RBOCs adopt an 'open network architecture' (ONA) to provide equal access to the communication networks.
2. Noam, E 'A theory for the instability of public telecommunications systems' in Antonelli C (ed) The Economics of Information Network North-Holland, New York (1992) pp 107-128; Hayashi, K 'From network externalities to interconnection: The changing nature of networks and economy' in Antonelli C (ed) The Economics of Information Network North- Holland, New York (1992) pp 195-216.
3. Noam, E 'A theory for the instability of public telecommunications systems' in Antonelli C (ed) The Economics of Information Network North-Holland, New York (1992) pp 107-128; Hayashi, K 'From network externalities to interconnection: The changing nature of networks and economy' in Antonelli C (ed) The Economics of Information Network North-Holland, New York (1992) pp 195-216.
4. Hamelink, CJ The Technology Gamble Ablex Publishing, Norwood NJ (1988) p 77.
5. Pool, IDeS Forecasting the Telephone: A Retrospective Technology Assessment Ablex Publishing, Norwood NJ (1983) p 156.
6. Jarmon, RW 'It's what's ahead that counts' Telephony, 1969, 176(6), 27.
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8. Noll, M 'Voice versus date: An estimate of future broadband traffic' IEEE Communications Magazine (June 1992) 22-25. First, data about the total traffic of telephone conversations were gathered. Next, the total traffic in digital form for a number of data services involving terminals and transmission of text in digital form as alphanumeric characters was calculated, such as the amount of traffic of video telephones, data file transfers, electronic newspaper, motion picture distribution and network television distribution (the amount of movies and picture transmitted in digital form), people dat (electronic mail, banking and credit transaction), and airline reservations. These are the latest data I have found.
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18. Hayashi op cit Ref 2, 208.
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23. These are the latest available data.
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31. Sawhney, H 'Universal Service: Prosaic motives and great ideals'. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 1994, 38(4), 389; We can find this overlapping consensus also at the state level in the US. A number of states have adopted competition paradigm in local exchange carriers. From the beginning of innovative New York state, around 35 states deregulated local telephone services before the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which removes some barriers of entry into local telephone services. This phenomena might be explained from the many perspectives; however, just like the diffusion theory suggests, the fact that the number of states to introduce competition is increasing can be explained by Sawhney's coalition building.
32. McGarty, TP 'Alternative networking architecture: Pricing, policy, and competition' in Kahin B (ed) Building Information Infrastructure. McGraw-Hill Press, New York, (1992) p 264.
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38. Sheth et al, op cit Ref 11, 30.
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