Communications and Information Policy
Lecture Notes
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LEC # |
TOPICS |
INSTRUCTORS |
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Module 1: Technology |
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1 |
A Quick Guide to the Internet (PDF) |
Clark |
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2 |
Application Design on the Internet (PDF) |
Clark |
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3 |
EE 101 (PDF) |
Clark |
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4 |
Internet Interconnection (PDF) |
Clark |
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Module 2: Policy Rationale and Methods |
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5 |
Why have Regulators been so involved in Telecommunications? (PDF) |
Gillett and Lehr |
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6 |
Overview of Methods of Technical and Policy Analysis Applicable to the Final Project. Discussion of Problem Definition and Issue Framing for Topics with Interwoven Technical, Social, Economic, and Political Dimensions |
Gillett and Lehr |
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Module 3: Deep Dives into Four Topics |
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Module 3a: Spectrum Policy |
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7 |
Lehr |
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8 |
Spectrum Management Reform, Part 2 (PDF) |
Lehr |
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Module 3b: Information Policy |
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9 |
Intellectual Property: Content and Digital Telecommunication Policy (PDF - 1.1 MB) |
Field |
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10 |
Architecture and Control (PDF - 1.8 MB) |
Field |
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11 |
Culture, Content and Copyright (PDF) |
Field |
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Module 3c: Interconnection |
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12 |
Lehr |
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13 |
Challenges for Convergence: Interconnection (cont.) |
Lehr |
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Module 3d: Broadband Access |
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14 |
Gillett |
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15 |
Gillett |
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16 |
Municipal Broadband (cont.) |
Guest Lecturers: Patrick McCormick (Brookline Wireless) and Steven Gag (Technology Advisor to Boston Mayor Thomas Menino) |
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17 |
Network Neutrality (PDF) |
Gillett |
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18 |
Network Neutrality (cont.) |
Gillett |
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19 |
IPTV (PDF) (Courtesy of Marie-José Montpetit. Used with permission.) |
Marie-José Montpetit, Motorola |
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Module 4: Miscellaneous Topics |
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20 |
Internet Governance |
Scott Bradner, Harvard University |
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21 |
Open Access, or Making Money Openly (PDF) |
Clark |
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22 |
One Laptop per Child (aka $100 Laptop); the Internet and Developing Countries |
Michail Bletsas, MIT Media Lab |
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Module 5: Student Presentations |
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23-25 |
Classroom Presentations and Discussion |
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Assignments
Students complete a mid-term paper and a final team project.
Mid-term Paper
The class will be given a written piece of policy advocacy on themes relevant to the course. Students will then be expected to write a paper that analyzes the piece's arguments and rhetorical techniques.
Mid-term Paper Assignment: Deconstructing a Policy Document (PDF)
Mid-term Paper Readings - Industry Comments (ZIP - 2.8 MB) (The ZIP file contains: 3 .pdf files.)
Final Projects
Students will work in teams to develop a final project, based on their selection of one design challenge from several options to be provided by the instructors.
Final presentations are shown courtesy of the students, and used with permission.
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TEAMS |
PROJECTS |
STUDENTS |
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Interconnection Team |
End-to-end Quality of Service (PDF) |
Robert Rudin, Chaki Ng, Clifford Kahn |
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Net Neutrality Team |
Network Neutrality and Harmful Discrimination (PDF) |
Richard Hansen, Elisabeth Maida, Gladys Priso |
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Spectrum Team |
Spectrum Allocation for Municipal Wireless Mesh Networks (PDF) |
M. Hassan-Ali, H. Jones, H. Matsunaga |