COMMUNICATIONS LAW AND POLICY - CASE AND MATERIALS

This teachable work provides a comprehensive introduction to the technology, economics, law, and policy of modern communications. The book is organized by analytic concepts instead of current industry lines, which are constantly made out-of-date by technological convergence. The basic ideas power, entry, pricing, bad content, good content, consolidation, access, and classification equip students with a durable and yet flexible intellectual structure that can help parse a complex and ever-changing field. Replete with concise technological and legal summaries, the text provides carefully edited opinions and FCC reports. It provides just-in-time delivery of the text of statutes and regulations so that students get accustomed to parsing statutory material as they analyze legal questions. Technical diagrams, flowcharts, and mind maps also help students navigate between minutiae and the big picture. This edition covers all major communications industries including broadcast radio and TV, cable TV, DBS, wireline and mobile telephony, and the Internet. Cutting edge issues such as Voice-Over-IP (VOIP), IPTV and the Open Internet net neutrality are also discussed. A useful 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, this edition maintains the conceptual clarity of the first three editions while improving on lean coverage, currency, and teachability. An updated companion website provides links to useful resources from government, industry, and other stakeholders.