Deregulation and Restructuring in Telecommunications Services in the United States and Germany

[Excerpt] Because of the slower pace of reform, however, Telekom also stands to learn from the mistakes made in the United States, where deregulation has led to increased inequality among consumers and workers. For consumers, the restructuring has benefited businesses because they no longer pay rates that subsidize universal residential service. Both business and high-end retail customers can take advantage of falling prices for long-distance calling, high-speed networks, or enhanced features such as voice messaging. For lower-income consumers, however, the basic costs of local service have risen, and these consumers are less likely to be able to take advantage of new products or enhanced features, even if they are less costly than before (Keefe and Boroff 1994, p. 318). For labor, restructuring has not only displaced employees and reduced union strength, but it has also created more unequal labor market conditions both within and between union and nonunion segments. To the extent that Germany wishes to preserve equality for consumers and workers, this chapter provides an analysis of how inequality in U.S. outcomes has occurred

Cyberidentities

This innovative study explores diverse aspects of Canadian and European identity on the information highway and reaches beyond technical issues to confront and explore communication, culture and the culture of communication

Labor, Business, and Change in Germany and the United States

The chapters explore the proposition that the benefits of either the German coordinating institutions or the United States\u27 more decentralized political economy each entail trade-offs that may be necessary but politically unpleasant. The authors also offer comparisons of sectoral and firm-level adjustment processes for change.https://research.upjohn.org/up_press/1181/thumbnail.jp

Processes for regulating interconnection rates in India and South Africa

South Africa‟s high telecommunication costs are attributed partly to high interconnection rates. High costs negatively impact developmental objectives. This paper analyses the processes engaged in by ICASA in regulating interconnection rates, using a qualitative case study methodology. Enabling legislation, regulatory administration and rules and the bringing to bear of regulatory rules on institutions are stages of regulatory processes that are examined. Perspectives are taken from processes executed by TRAI, India‟s regulatory authority. South Africa followed a market review process which contrasts with India‟s cost-based process. South Africa‟s process although arduous did not achieve the desired result of establishing cost based rates. The root cause is attributed to a combination of factors that include an onerous market review process prescribed by the ECA, institutional problems at ICASA and a politically driven process that ran alongside and engulfed the process managed by ICASA. India‟s process meanwhile has yielded some of the cheapest telecoms retail rates in the world. Gaps exist between processes in the two countries and lessons learnt provide an improved understanding of South African shortcomings

Net Neutrality

This book is available as open access through the Bloomsbury Open Access programme and is available on www.bloomsburycollections.com. Chris Marsden maneuvers through the hype articulated by Netwrok Neutrality advocates and opponents. He offers a clear-headed analysis of the high stakes in this debate about the Internet's future, and fearlessly refutes the misinformation and misconceptions that about' Professor Rob Freiden, Penn State University Net Neutrality is a very heated and contested policy principle regarding access for content providers to the Internet end-user, and potential discrimination in that access where the end-user's ISP (or another ISP) blocks that access in part or whole. The suggestion has been that the problem can be resolved by either introducing greater competition, or closely policing conditions for vertically integrated service, such as VOIP. However, that is not the whole story, and ISPs as a whole have incentives to discriminate between content for matters such as network management of spam, to secure and maintain customer experience at current levels, and for economic benefit from new Quality of Service standards. This includes offering a ‘priority lane' on the network for premium content types such as video and voice service. The author considers market developments and policy responses in Europe and the United States, draws conclusions and proposes regulatory recommendations

Managing stakeholder communication in the Ghanaian telecommunication industry

Thesis (PhD (Communication Management))--University of Pretoria, 2022.The telecommunications business in Ghana has grown rapidly during the previous three decades. Thus, it is critical to establish effective communication among key stakeholders and consumers. This study's main purpose is to design a strategic framework for managing consumer and stakeholder interest in Ghana's telecommunications industry. Pragmatic research philosophies were used to support quantitative and qualitative research methods. Inductive and deductive research methods were utilised to collect data from 421 respondents for analysis, interpretation, and discussion. Awareness raising, discourse, education, training, capacity development, relevant operational information, implementation and monitoring are important communication strategies. The study found that most consumers and key stakeholders are unaware of telecommunications interests. However, those few stakeholders aware of telecommunications interests claim the communication strategies are not well managed. National Communications Authority, telecommunications service providers, and the Ministry of Communications oversee telecommunications interests. A lack of effective communication resources, insufficient information, and poor service quality are some of the challenges key stakeholders and consumers face in managing communication interests. In addition to properly defined communication channels, regular interaction, the development and implementation of a communication plan, regular feedback, open and thorough engagement, and effective involvement of stakeholders and consumers in the formulation and implementation of communication policies, the findings revealed are means of improving communication interest. The study developed a strategic communication plan to be adopted by the key stakeholders and consumers. The study also employed theories that formed a solid foundation for the study.Communication ManagementPhD (Communication Management)UnrestrictedFaculty of Economic And Management Science