Telecommunications Law & Policy

• Semester: Spring 2019
• Course ID: 279M
• Credit Hours: 2
• Unique: 28410

Description

This introductory course examines the policies, laws and regulations applicable to one of the most important industry segments of the United States – telecommunications. The course will cover wireline, wireless, cable, video, satellite, Internet and broadband technologies/services in this exciting, dynamic and converging industry. This study will review historical regulatory policies such as Universal Service that shaped the early industry and include current policy debates such as Net Neutrality and privacy. Topics will include the Communications Act of 1934 and the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and discussions of what changes to related laws may be warranted in the future. This survey course will also cover important subjects such as divestiture, mergers, scope of regulatory treatment and the public interest, use of valuable spectrum, key characteristics of the different modes of communication as well as the developing issues of technological convergence and "permissionless innovation." The goal of the course is to introduce students to important policy and legal concepts and issues in an industry segment that impacts their daily lives and perhaps reveal an area of career interest whether it be in the government, industry, consumer or private practice arenas.