an introduction to the history of European computer science and technology

(essays and documents

Handbook of solar-terrestrial data systems, version 1

The interaction between the solar wind and the earth's magnetic field creates a large magnetic cavity which is termed the magnetosphere. Energy derived from the solar wind is ultimately dissipated by particle acceleration-precipitation and Joule heating in the magnetosphere-ionosphere. The rate of energy dissipation is highly variable, with peak levels during geomagnetic storms and substorms. The degree to which solar wind and magnetospheric conditions control the energy dissipation processes remains one of the major outstanding questions in magnetospheric physics. A conference on Solar Wind-Magnetospheric Coupling was convened to discuss these issues and this handbook is the result

Restructuring telecommunications tariffs in Europe: A historical analysis of the political-economics of tariffs in four EC member states

This thesis researches the influence of national and international political-economic factors on the evolution of telecommunications tariffs in four European countries: the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and Germany. It argues that in the past as in the present tariffs are far from an outcome of a simple, ’objective’ and straightforward cost calculation combined with an uncomplicated valuation and depreciation of existing assets and new investments. The reason for this is not just the traditional public ownership of the telecommunications operator, the PTT, nor just because of its legal monopoly: the main reason why telecommunications tariffs did not and do not reflect their ’true costs’ is that they cannot reflect ’true costs’ as that concept itself turns out to be a myth; or to be more precise: an ideological construct veiling the actual (re-)distribution of costs, revenues and profits between user groups and operators, nationally and internationally. Using the French regulationists’ school of political-economy and their interpretation of International Relations a multi-disciplinary and multi- facetted concept called the Telecommunications Regulation Mode (TRM) is constructed. It incorporates national as well as international developments in technology, production, consumption, accumulation and regulation in a non-functionalistic and non-deterministic manner. This TRM is subsequently studied in a abstract, logical fashion (its logical working, consistency and stability) as well as in a historical fashion (its concrete international development as well as its concrete evolution in the four EC countries). For both the pre-Fordist as well as the Fordist TRM the specific variations per country are analysed, as well as the developments of cost accounting, cost allocation and pricing. Much attention is given to the demise of the Fordist TRM throughout the 1980s and the recent shift towards what is categorised as a post-Fordist TRM. The latter is, contrary to the Fordist model, characterised not by a highly centralised and standardised, relatively inflexible and monopolistic operator and standardised, inflexible and averaged tariffs, but by emerging competition in some market segments, network fragmentation, internationalisation and de-averaged, flexible tariffs

EU competition law and sector-specific regulation in the converging communications industry

Part I traces the evolution of EU telecommunications policy (from 1987 to 1998) and presents an overview of and commentary on the main provisions of the current EU telecommunications regulatory framework. It discusses the principal policy documents which set the tone for the transition from a monopoly to a fully liberalised market and focuses on both liberalisation and harmonisation legislative measures in the EU.Part II concentrates on specific abusive behaviour of the incumbents aimed at preserving their key bottleneck positions against newcomers, and examines how competition law can deal with such cases. In particular, it discusses the jurisprudence of the ECJ involving cases of refusal to supply and the European Commission's essential facilities cases, and attempts to define to what extent Article 82 (ex 86) of the Treaty is applicable to the control of bottlenecks. Furthermore, it analyses EU competition policy on the strategic alliances and mergers arising from the accelerating convergence of the telecommunications, media and information technology sectorsPart III examines how the current EU telecommunications regulatory regime should be adapted to the emerging multimedia environment. It concludes that, at least during the transition phase towards the realisation of an effectively competitive market, specific regulation will play a fundamental role alongside competition law. It also assesses the scope and nature of the new regulatory regime in the converging environment and submits that a light-touch and predictable regulatory framework - based on the new commercial realities rather than on arbitrary and obsolete regulatory distinctions - is required. This means that a large majority of the prescriptive regulations currently in place will need to be replaced by a harmonised framework of general principles and overall targets which can identify and monitor barriers to competition within a converging market and can ensure equal and fair conditions for market players.Part IV comments on the proposed Framework, Access, and Licensing Directives. It attempts to assess whether the forthcoming regulation for electronic communications networks and associated services is in line with the main policy objectives and those regulatory principles that underpin the existing regulatory framework and whose significance has been affirmed in responses to consultation: legal certainty, flexibility, continuity, and transparency