June 3, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of broadband internet connections in maintaining economic and social activities. In the COVID-19 context, how has U.S. broadband infrastructure performed under the unprecedented load placed on it by the pandemic? Have existing disparities in affordable broadband access been exacerbated by the pandemic, and are policy responses needed to remediate inequities? And is the migration of economic and social activities online likely to be irreversible? LBJ Professor Kenneth Flamm is joined by Tony Grubesic, UT's associate dean of research for the School of Information, and Sharon Strover, professor in UT's Moody College of Communication.
Deeper Dive
The Broadband Problem: Anatomy of a Market Failure and a Policy Dilemma
By Charles H. Ferguson, Brookings Institution Press, 2004
Broadband has great potential to improve efficiency and productivity, even to improve national security in some cases. Broadband service and affordability, however, have consistently lagged well behind demand and progress in information technology, with damaging results. Economist and technology entrepreneur Charles H. Ferguson explains the causes and ramifications of this damaging bottleneck, and he offers suggestions on improving the current state of affairs. He asserts that current telecommunications law and policy have not provided sufficient levels of new entry, competition and innovation in the local telecom market. The continuing dominance of ILECs (incumbent local exchange carriers) in that market impedes the healthy, and much-needed, development of an efficient broadband market. The result of these policy and market failures is inadequate technological progress, innovation, and productivity in advanced internet services and telecommunication services generally. The broadband problem is holding us back, and thus must be addressed and solved.
Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan
Federal Communications Commission, 2010
Broadband networks only create value to consumers and businesses when they are used in conjunction with broadbandcapable devices to deliver useful applications and content. To fulfill Congress's mandate, this plan seeks to ensure that the entire broadband ecosystem—networks, devices, content and applications—is healthy. It makes recommendations to the FCC, the Executive Branch, Congress and state and local governments.
The Evolution of Broadband Competition: A Distributional Analysis
By Kenneth Flamm and Pablo Varas, TPRC 46: The 46th Research Conference on Communication, Information and Internet Policy 2018
There were highly statistically significant changes in the distribution of counts of local broadband service providers serving U.S. census tracts and census blocks over the eight-year period from December 2008 to December 2016, with competition generally increasing after 2011. But surprisingly large numbers of U.S. residential consumers still face what is effectively a duopoly market for residential broadband service. One key insight from this analysis is that the degree of spatial disaggregation greatly influences conclusions about numbers of competing ISPs relevant to consumer choices.
Public libraries and 21st century digital equity goals
Communication Research and Practice, 5:2, 188-205, June 10, 2019
To examine libraries' roles in expanding internet access and digital literacy, we discuss the ways that libraries expanded their repertoire and how they approach remediating local digital divides in a North American context, focusing specifically on results associated with their loaning of hotspot devices. We investigate the decisions and controversies across different digital information strategies, and examine the library's emerging role in digital divide efforts.
The Platform Society: Public Values in a Connective World
By José van Dijck, Thomas Poell, and Martijn de Waal, Oxford University Press, 2018
A comprehensive analysis of a connective world where platforms have penetrated the heart of societies-disrupting markets and labor relations, circumventing institutions, transforming social and civic practices and affecting democratic processes. This book questions what role online platforms play in the organization of Western societies. First, how do platform mechanisms work and to what effect are they deployed? Second, how can platforms incorporate public values and benefit the public good?
Fiber: The Coming Tech Revolution — and Why America Might Miss It
By Susan Crawford, Yale University Press, 2019
The world of fiber optic connections reaching neighborhoods, homes, and businesses will represent as great a change from what came before as the advent of electricity. The virtually unlimited amounts of data we’ll be able to send and receive through fiber optic connections will enable a degree of virtual presence that will radically transform health care, education, urban administration and services, agriculture, retail sales, and offices. Yet all of those transformations will pale compared with the innovations and new industries that we can’t even imagine today. In a fascinating account combining policy expertise and compelling on-the-ground reporting, Susan Crawford reveals how the giant corporations that control cable and internet access in the United States use their tremendous lobbying power to tilt the playing field against competition, holding back the infrastructure improvements necessary for the country to move forward. And she shows how a few cities and towns are fighting monopoly power to bring the next technological revolution to their communities.
Evaluating barriers to adopting telemedicine worldwide: A systematic review
By Clemens Scott Kruse, Priyanka Karem, Kelli Shifflett, Lokesh Vegi, Karuna Ravi, Matthew Brooks, Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, Oct. 16, 2016
Studies on telemedicine have shown success in reducing the geographical and time obstacles incurred in the receipt of care in traditional modalities with the same or greater effectiveness; however, there are several barriers that need to be addressed in order for telemedicine technology to spread. The aim of this review is to evaluate barriers to adopting telemedicine worldwide through the analysis of published work.
Broadband Telecommunications and Regional Development
By Tony H. Grubesic, Elizabeth A. Mack, Routledge, 2015
Broadband is one of the most transformative technologies of the 21st century, yet our understanding of its regional impacts remains somewhat rudimentary. Not only are issues of broadband pricing and speed relevant in this context, but the overall quality of service for broadband can often dictate its impacts on regional development. This book illuminates the regional impacts of this pervasive and important technology.
The emergence and promise of telelactation
By Lori Uscher-Pines, Ph.D., Ateev Mehrotra, MD, Debra L. Bogen, MD, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vol. 217, Issue 2, August 2017
Although professional breastfeeding support positively influences breastfeeding behaviors, access to International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) is limited in many communities. Recognizing their unique role in the provision of breastfeeding support, the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding identifies increasing access to IBCLCs as a policy priority. Since 2015, a number of direct-to-consumer telelactation services have emerged to increase convenient access to professional breastfeeding support. This innovation in healthcare delivery allows IBCLCs to connect with breastfeeding mothers in their homes through 2-way video on personal devices such as tablets and smartphones. In this Viewpoint, we discuss the recent emergence of this form of lactation support, describe the offerings, and discuss the potential of telelactation to transform the delivery of professional breastfeeding support.