Internet Radio: A New Engine for Content Diversity?

While traditional radio stations are subject to extensive government regulations, Internet radio stations remain largely unregulated. As Internet radio usage has increased certain stakeholders have begun to argue that these Internet radio broadcasters are providing significant and diverse programming to American audiences and that government regulation of spectrum-using radio station ownership may be further relaxed. One of the primary justifications for regulation of ownership has been to protect diversity in broadcasting. This study hypothesizes that Internet radio broadcasting does add diversity to the radio broadcasting industry and that it should be considered as relevant by regulators. This study evaluates the role of Internet radio broadcasters according to five criteria intended to gauge the level of diversity being delivered to listeners online. By measuring the levels of format, channel, ownership, location and language diversity among Internet radio stations, it is possible to draw benchmark lessons about the new medium's ability to provide Americans with diverse broadcasting options. The study finds that Internet radio broadcasters are in fact adding measurable diversity to the radio broadcasting industry. Internet broadcasters are providing audiences with access to an increasing number of stations, owners, formats, and language choices, and it is likely that technologies aiding in the mobility of access as well as broadband evolution will reinforce these findings.Comment: 29th TPRC Conference, 200

Re-Examining the Digital Divide

Much media and public policy attention has been attended to a presumed ?Digital Divide.? This refers to those who have access to information tools and the capability of using information and those who presumably do not. This paper looks at the forces and trends in the information technologies themselves and the economics of information. It concludes that the divide at its outset was much the same as many gaps that have and continue to persist in a capitalistic society. It further concludes that costs are falling so steeply and ease of use improving so rapidly that market forces already seem to me eliminating the greatest portion of the divide. Policy-makers may have less of an issue to deal with in a few years than seemed likely just a few years ago

Information gaps: myth or reality?

The rising importance of information technologies is said to threaten ever wider gaps between groups in society. This article considers to what extent the warning are valid. The author traces the history of the introduction in the USA of the telephone, electricity and other innovations and finds that all have followed the same pattern -- access was limited in the early stages. He concludes that there is no need to act precipitously to improve access to information technologies and, in any case, the type of action needed is not at all obvious. As the world's work force becomes wealthier and technology costs decline, the differences in all aspects of living standards will decrease.