Course Syllabus TLEN 5210: Principles of Telecommunications Policy Spring 2015 (11:00 a.m. 12:15 p.m., M & W, ECCS 1B12, 3 credits) Course Description and Objectives TLEN 5210 provides a basic introduction to the information and communications policies and regulations governing how broadband application, telephone, mobile, cable, and Internet providers offer their services to customers. Students will learn the key issues and principles that shape current telecommunications policy development, engage in critical debate, and develop instincts for the appropriate regulatory models to be applied to new technologies. There are no prerequisites for the class. This course examines the justification and approach for the current laws and regulations impacting the telecommunications sector with the following key objectives in mind: Understand the core problems that telecommunications policies attempt to address Learn the key laws and regulations shaping telecommunications policy in the U.S. Develop a framework that will provide students the ability to critically evaluate the efficacy of past and current policy initiatives and how they can be improved Write concise policy briefs that effectively establish and advance clear, wellreasoned positions on current policy issues and debates. TLEN 5210 covers these topics from an interdisciplinary perspective, emphasizing the significant intersection of technology, economics, and public policy in the telecommunications environment. The course is split into the following four parts: Unit 1: Communications Policy Review of past and present policies governing traditional delivery of telephone and data services Unit 2: Wireless and Spectrum Management Need and regulatory tools for regulating services dependent upon spectrum Unit 3: Media Technology and Regulation Review of past and present policies governing delivery of video over cable and broadcast networks Unit 4: Broadband Topics Survey of key policy topics shaping the future broadband transport and application ecosystem Instructor Dr. David Reed Faculty Director, Interdisciplinary Telecom Program and Scholar in Residence david.reed@colorado.edu 303-492-1457 Office Hours Time: 3:00 5:00 p.m. Monday and Wednesday Location: ECOT 312
Teaching Assistants Alex Kreilein (alex.kreilein@colorado.edu) Office Hours: 9 11 a.m., Monday and Wednesday Location: ECOT 313 Xinyang Zhou (xinyang.zhou@colorado.edu) Office Hours: 1:30 3:30 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday Location: ECOT 316 Grading Item Percent of Grade Homework, Quizzes, and Class Participation 25% Mid-Term Exams (2) 25% Policy Brief 25% Final Exam 25% To do well in this course, you will need to be prepared on a daily basis (i.e., do not miss a reading or homework assignment), and exercise critical thinking skills in analyzing questions presented during class. Be forewarned: if you do not keep up on your reading prior to class and/or you do not regularly attend class, then this course is not for you. Pop quizzes will be given at the start of most classes on the assigned reading material for the class. The quizzes will be administered using iclickers, and performance on these quizzes will be an important part of your score for the class participation portion of your grade. There will be two mid-term exams, each of which will count for 15% of your grade, and a paper that will count for 20% of your grade. For the policy brief, students will be graded on both the substantive content as well as writing skills such as spelling and grammar. The paper will be no longer than 10 pages in length (double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font, exclusive of title page, appendices and references) and styled as a Comment for Filing in a pending or suggested docket before the Federal Communications Commission. The final exam will count for 25% of the grade, and will cover material presented throughout the full course. All assignments are due for in-class students at the start of class on the due date. No exceptions to deadlines for course work will be made absent an emergency. Required Textbook and Readings Digital Crossroads: Telecommunications Law and Policy in the Internet Age (MIT Press, Second Edition, 2013), by Jonathan E. Nuechterlein & Philip J. Weiser. Telecommunications Law and Policy (Carolina Academic Press, Third Edition, 2012), by Stuart Minor Benjamin, Howard A Shelanski, James B Speta, and Philip J. Weiser. Additional readings will be posted on the Desire2Learn web site. To access Desire2Learn, go to: https://learn.colorado.edu/. You can login using your IdentiKey
username and password. Once you login, click on TLEN 5210 Principles of Telecommunications Policy to go into our course. 1 Course Syllabus (Subject to Change) Date Topic, Reading and/or Work Assignment (DC Digital Crossroads, TLP Telecommunications Law and Policy textbooks) Jan. 12 Lecture 1 Intro: Why Do We Regulate? Unit 1: Communications Policy (Lectures 2-10) Jan. 14 Lecture 2 Administrative Structures, or How Do We Regulate in the U.S.? Jan. 21 Lecture 3 Jan. 26 Lecture 4 Group B Jan. 28 Lecture 5 Feb. 2 Lecture 6 Feb. 4 Lecture 7 : TLP Chapters 1 and 2 (pp. 3-39) Intro to Telephone Regulation DC Chapter 1, Chapter 2 II III (pp. 32 50) TLP Chapter 8 (pp. 331 342) Homework #1 Due Today at 11 a.m. Regulating the Telephone Monopoly TLP Chapter 9 (pp. 343 362), Chapter 10 (pp. 363 367) Regulating the Telephone Monopoly (continued) TLP Chapter 9 (pp. 343 362), Chapter 10 (pp. 363 367) Homework #2 Due Today at 11 a.m. Telecom Act of 1996 DC Chapter 2 IV V (pp. 51 75) TLP Chapter 11 (pp. 385 397) Interconnection and Intercarrier Compensation TLP Chapter 12 C (pp. 427 430) DC Chapter 7 I III (pp. 243 279) Homework #3 Due Today at 11 a.m. 1 Please visit http://oit.colorado.edu/d2l/students to watch videos and learn more about using D2L. If you run into any problems using Desire2Learn, contact the help desk at: help@colorado.edu or at (303) 735-HELP.
Feb. 9 Lecture 8 Universal Service Group B TLP Chapter 10 B (pp. 368 384) DC Chapter 8 (pp. 295 313) Feb. 11 Unit 1 Exam Unit 2: Wireless and Spectrum Management (Lectures 10-13) Feb. 16 Lecture 9 Spectrum Management Feb. 18 Lecture 10 Feb. 23 Lecture 11 Feb. 25 Lecture 12 DC Chapter 3 I II (pp. 83 95) TLP Chapter 3 B E (pp. 52 76) Spectrum Auctions and Zoning TLP Chapter 4 (pp. 77 105) Is Spectrum Scarce? DC Chapter 3 III IV (pp. 96 126) Mobile Services Group B DC Chapter 4 (pp. 127 158) Unit 3: Media Technology and Regulation (Lectures 14-20) Mar. 2 Lecture 13 Radio Broadcasting Mar. 4 Lecture 14 Mar. 9 Lecture 15 Mar. 11 Lecture 16 Chapter 4, The Internet Challenge to Television (Harvard University Press, 1999), by Bruce M. Owen (pp. 52-78) (posted on D2L) Television Broadcasting Chapter 6, The Internet Challenge to Television (Harvard University Press, 1999), by Bruce M. Owen (pp. 90-102) (posted on D2L) TLP Chapter 6 (pp. 181 198) Homework #4 Due Today at 11 a.m. Cable Regulation TLP Chapter 13 (pp. 435 452, 456 461, 469 478) Competition in Delivery of Video Programming
Group B DC Chapter 9 (pp. 327 359) Mar. 16 Lecture 17 Digital Television TLP Chapter 9 (pp. 297 321) Homework #5 Due Today at 11 a.m. Mar. 18 Units 2 & 3 Exam Unit 4: Regulating the Internet (Lectures 19-26) Mar. 30 Lecture 18 Writing Policy Briefs Topic for Policy Brief Announced Apr. 1 Lecture 19 FCC s Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet Rules Apr. 6 Lecture 20 Apr. 8 Lecture 21 Group B Apr. 13 Lecture 22 Apr. 15 Lecture 23 In the Matter of Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet, Report and Order on Remand, Declaratory Ruling, and Order, 2015 (pp. 1-25) (posted to D2L) History of FCC s Net Neutrality Rules DC Chapter 6 (pp. 187 242) FCC s Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet Rules In the Matter of Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet, Report and Order on Remand, Declaratory Ruling, and Order, 2015 (pp. 25-47) (posted to D2L) FCC s Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet Rules In the Matter of Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet, Report and Order on Remand, Declaratory Ruling, and Order, 2015 (pp. 47-77) (posted to D2L) Policy Brief Outline Due Today at 11 a.m. Broadband/Internet Technologies Influenced by Policy TLP Chapter 18 (pp. 713 726) Apr. 20 Lecture 24 Internet Governance Apr. 22 Lecture 25 First Draft of Policy Brief Due Today at 11 a.m. (Optional) National Broadband Plan
Executive Summary http://www.broadband.gov/plan/executivesummary/ Apr. 27 Class Debate: Preserving the Open Internet Policy Brief Due Today at 11 a.m. (mountain time) In-class students will debate the key points of their policy brief with other class members Apr. 29 Lecture 26 Review for Final Exam University Policies Policy on Academic Honesty. All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-735- 2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and at http://honorcode.colorado.edu Religious Obligations. Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. In this class, students with religious obligations that conflict with a test or other assignment should contact the instructor at least two weeks in advance to arrange an alternative time or assignment. See the University policy at < http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html >. Classroom and Course-Related Behavior. Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, color, culture, religion, creed, politics, veteran s status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, disability, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. See policies at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code Policy on Discrimination and Harassment. The University of Colorado Boulder (CU- Boulder) is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working, and living environment. The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status in admission and access to, and treatment and employment in, its educational programs and activities. (Regent Law, Article 10, amended 11/8/2001). CU-Boulder will
not tolerate acts of discrimination or harassment based upon Protected Classes or related retaliation against or by any employee or student. For purposes of this CU-Boulder policy, "Protected Classes" refers to race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or veteran status. Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Student Conduct (OSC) at 303-492-5550. Information about the ODH, the above referenced policies, and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at http://hr.colorado.edu/dh/ Students with Disabilities. If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to your professor a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner (for exam accommodations provide your letter at least one week prior to the exam) so that your needs can be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact Disability Services at 303-492-8671 or by e-mail at dsinfo@colorado.edu. If you have a temporary medical condition or injury, see Temporary Injuries under Quick Links at Disability Services website and discuss your needs with your professor.