High definition systems in Japan

The successful implementation of a strategy to produce high-definition systems within the Japanese economy will favorably affect the fundamental competitiveness of Japan relative to the rest of the world. The development of an infrastructure necessary to support high-definition products and systems in that country involves major commitments of engineering resources, plants and equipment, educational programs and funding. The results of these efforts appear to affect virtually every aspect of the Japanese industrial complex. The results of assessments of the current progress of Japan toward the development of high-definition products and systems are presented. The assessments are based on the findings of a panel of U.S. experts made up of individuals from U.S. academia and industry, and derived from a study of the Japanese literature combined with visits to the primary relevant industrial laboratories and development agencies in Japan. Specific coverage includes an evaluation of progress in R&D for high-definition television (HDTV) displays that are evolving in Japan; high-definition standards and equipment development; Japanese intentions for the use of HDTV; economic evaluation of Japan's public policy initiatives in support of high-definition systems; management analysis of Japan's strategy of leverage with respect to high-definition products and systems

DBS Under FCC and International Regulation

This Article examines the legal and technological development of DBS in both the domestic and international fora. Part II examines the development of DBS and information policy concerning DBS in the United States. The Article then in part III discusses the international positions of the developed nations, the developing countries, and the Soviet bloc on the DBS issues and reveals the results thus far in the policy debate among these nations and the United States. Part IV concludes the Article with a brief outline of the possibilities for international cooperation to solve the DBS controversy

National systems of innovation in the Japanese and American consumer electronics industries.

Innovation is a hallmark of the consumer electronics industry as firms compete to capture greater shares in a competitive market. The culmination of such innovation recently promoted a trend toward digital convergence within the industry as products from the consumer electronics and computer industries incorporate similar characteristics and capabilities. As such, consumer electronics offers a unique perspective on the role of innovation and national systems of innovation within a technologically motivated industry. National systems of innovation are those systems within a state that promote innovation through educational institutions, technical or scientific institutions, cultural traditions, and government policies. Innovation’s link to economic prosperity and the knowledge base associated with innovative behavior confers a highly valuable competitive advantage for nations in an increasingly globalized world. Thus, the incorporation and promotion of national systems of innovation and the trend toward a digital convergence oriented market within the consumer electronics industry could allow American consumer electronics and computer firms the ability to level the balance of power in this heavily Japanese dominated industry. An industry innovation award is used to illustrate differences between Japanese and American firms as well as note the innovative capability of American firms

Technological Convergence: a Strategic Perspective

The information and communication technologies (ICT) sectors are in a process of technological convergence. Determinant factors in this process are the liberalisation of the telecommunications markets and technological change. Many firms are engaged in a process of mergers and alliances to position themselves in this new framework. Technological and demand uncertainties are very important. Our objective in this paper is to study the economic determinants of the strategies of the firms. With this aim, we review some key technological and demand aspects. We shed some light on the strategic motivations of the firms by establishing a parallel with the evolution of the retailing sector.Technological Convergence; Demand Uncertainty; technological Uncertainty; Technology Life Cycle; Internet; Multimedia; Strategy

Broadcast Technology as Diversity Opportunity: Exchanging Market Power for Multiplexed Signal Set- Asides

This Article proposes an access system based on a theory of quid pro quo: a bargained.for-exchange in which broadcasters would trade media access for market power. Under this quid pro quo approach, the FCC would administer a scaled metric whereby the greater a media company\u27s audience reach, the more access that company must provide to citizens with diverse and local content. Since digital technology permits broadcasters to multiplex their television signal bandwidth into multiple signal programming streams, an opportunity exists for the government to require public access to one or more of these programming streams in return for relaxing caps on broadcast ownerships that currently prevent a company from owning stations that reach more than 39% of the national television audience