Geeks, Cowboys, and Bureaucrats: Deploying Broadband, the Wireless Way

The advent of new unlicensed wireless technologies allows a variety of new actors – from co-operatives to municipalities – to deploy and operate communication networks. This article reviews the evolution of the new breed of wireless technologies, in particular Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), and discusses its implications for the architecture and control of emerging wireless broadband networks. Drawing on the social constructivist history of large technical systems and the work of economic historians concerned with the evolution of technology, the article explores the largely unexpected success of Wi-Fi. It then reviews the evidence to date on the bottom-up deployment of wireless networks by local actors in the United States, focusing on three types of initiatives driven by different deployment dynamics: end-user co-operatives (the “geeks”), wireless internet service providers (“cowboys”), and municipal government (“bureaucrats”). The conclusion discusses the policy and institutional issues most likely to affect the balance between centralised and decentralised deployment of wireless broadband networks in the near future, and suggests possible implications for the developing world

The Regulation of Interactive Television in the United States and the European Union

The broadcasting industry is rapidly entering the era of digitization, distributed intelligence, and interactivity. The case of interactive television offers an opportunity to investigate how desirable policy goals should be implemented in the post-convergence environment. This Article first reviews the evolution of the broadcasting industry through three successive models: the traditional Fordist television model, the current multichannel television model, and the emerging ITV model. Second, it characterizes the basic components of ITV and explores the concerns raised by the evolution of multichannel video programming distributors into ITV platform operators. Next, the Article reviews how regulators in the United States and the European Union have so far responded to these concerns by contrasting two prominent cases: the AOL/Time Warner merger and British Interactive Broadcasting joint venture. Finally, the Article concludes with a general framework for regulatory thinking about open network access that reflects the convergence of communications industry sectors and the need to integrate seemingly conflicting policy goals

The Regulation of Interactive Television in the United States and the European Union

The broadcasting industry is rapidly entering the era of digitization, distributed intelligence, and interactivity. The case of interactive television offers an opportunity to investigate how desirable policy goals should be implemented in the post-convergence environment. This Article first reviews the evolution of the broadcasting industry through three successive models: the traditional Fordist television model, the current multichannel television model, and the emerging ITV model. Second, it characterizes the basic components of ITV and explores the concerns raised by the evolution of multichannel video programming distributors into ITV platform operators. Next, the Article reviews how regulators in the United States and the European Union have so far responded to these concerns by contrasting two prominent cases: the AOL/Time Warner merger and British Interactive Broadcasting joint venture. Finally, the Article concludes with a general framework for regulatory thinking about open network access that reflects the convergence of communications industry sectors and the need to integrate seemingly conflicting policy goals

Internet Policy Formation in Latin America: Understanding the Links Between the National, the Regional, and the Global

Until recently, internet governance was a relatively obscure topic in most technology policy agendas in Latin America. But in mid-2013, revelations about widespread surveillance of internet communications dramatically transformed conversations about the issue. The work addresses the institutional consolidation of emerging experiences in national contexts to address internet governance and policy as well as their effectiveness in shaping regional and global processes. This paper takes a comparative approach, by looking at several national cases; the experience of Argentine Commission for Internet Policy (CAPI) created in 2014; Costa Rica with the Internet Consulting Committee (in 2012) and Mexico with the Initiative Group (2012). These cases were examined against the backdrop of the well documented Brazilian experience and its Internet Steering Committee (CGI)( 2005). The research analysed the national internet governance mechanisms in the early stages of the institutionalization process, looking at the main developments that have shaped actors’ strategies as well as the evolution of internet regulations in these countries. The three cases differ in both the degree of formality, working mechanisms and stakeholder representation in these new bodies. In each national context, it is clear that governments are now working to formalize policymaking arrangements, as the original informal coordination mechanisms that gave rise to the internet in these countries are no longer sufficient. The bridges between the international and the domestic field will tend to rely on more formally institutionalized spaces as states become more involved with the issue

Measuring the effectiveness of digital inclusion approaches

Expanding access to quality, affordable broadband is an urgent national priority and billions of dollars in new investments are in the pipeline for infrastructure deployment and adoption, including $65B in the infrastructure bill recently passed by the U.S. Senate and pending before the House of Representatives. The literature review to date reveals that despite many existing and new initiatives at the federal, state, and local level, over 76 million Americans remained unconnected or underconnected (connected through a smartphone data plan only) in the first quarter of 2021, most of whom lived in low-income households. This study aims to analyze existing broadband affordability programs and to propose recommendations about how best to connect low-income households sustainably to high-speed Internet services they can afford and use for today’s online activities. To meet the research goal, this study will apply a mixed methods framework to identify and analyze case studies that illustrate best practices and challenges. The cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the programs will be evaluated, and representative stakeholders of these programs will be interviewed

Connected for development? : theory and evidence about the impact of internet technologies on poverty alleviation

Governments are investing heavily on Internet connectivity projects, based on the assumption that increased access to Internet services will accelerate economic growth and improve the wellbeing of the poor. This paper reviews the existing evidence about the impact of Internet diffusion on various development dimensions, and articulates the empirical evidence into a theoretical framework that seeks to conceptualize the microlinkages between Internet adoption and poverty alleviation. The findings suggest the need for more careful consideration of differentiated effects in the design and implementations of connectivity initiatives

Discrimination in online contracting : evidence from Latin America

Also related to the Proceedings of the 9th CPRLatam Conference, Cancun, July 13-14th, 2015 (project 107601)Findings shed light on how differentials in traditional labor markets play out in online labor environments. Results corroborate that discrimination takes place based on a worker’s country of origin, yet also indicate that this discrimination decreases when more information about workers’ quality is available to employers. Further, contrary to some findings in traditional labor markets, women have a small hiring advantage particularly among female employers. However, women are less likely to submit bids and tend to ask for lower wages, particularly when bargaining with male employers. Payoffs for landing the first job are large for individual contractors, but also help build country reputation

Comunicación e integración en la era digital: un balance de la transición hacía la televisión digital en Brasil y Argentina

En este trabajo se analizan las bases\ud sobre las que se está desarrollando el proceso\ud de transición hacia la TV digital en\ud Brasil y Argentina, y se discuten las posibilidades\ud que la transición presenta para\ud replantear la estructura de mercado y el\ud modelo de regulación de la TV abierta en\ud los países del Mercosur. La principal hipótesis\ud es que la TV digital abre una oportunidad\ud única para reformar el actual modelo\ud de radiodifusión basado en la concesión de\ud un número reducido de licencias a operadores\ud de tipo generalista. Al multiplicar la\ud capacidad de transmisión y facilitar el desarrollo\ud de servicios interactivos tanto de\ud entretenimiento como educativos y de información,\ud la transición a la TV digital se\ud ofrece como instrumento de política pública\ud para alcanzar objetivos clave en materia\ud de comunicación, como el pluralismo, la\ud apertura del mercado y el achicamiento de\ud la llamada brecha digital