Cable Television and Emerging Technologies

Course Web Site: http://excellent.com.utk.edu/~bates/b470home.html

Broadcasting 470, Fall 1999
9:40-10:55 am TR, COM 251

Instructor:

Benjamin J. Bates, Ph.D.
Office hours: TR 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. & by appointment
333 Communications Bldg.
ph: 974-4291 ; fax: 974-2814 ; e-mail: bjbates@utk.edu ; url: http://excellent.com.utk.edu/~bates

Catalog Description:

History and structure of cable television industry. Cable regulations and programming. Entry of telephone companies in distribution video. Analysis of all relevant technologies: direct broadcast satellite, fiber optics cable, high definition television, and others.

Real Course Description & Goals:

This course will examine a wide range of new and emerging telecommunications technologies, with a focus on developing wideband telecommunications systems. We will consider the historical and future impacts of these technologies on existing and emerging industries, the policy and economics driving the implementation of these technologies, and their adoption and use by consumers. It is hoped and expected that students will come out of this course with:

an understanding and appreciation for new technologies and their impact on media and society
an understanding of how historic social, political, and economic forces shape the introduction and impact of new technologies
an ability to critically examine the potential impact of new technologies and/or technological policy

Course Requirements:

Attendance and Discussion (10%):

While attendance is not strictly required, it is expected that students will come to class prepared, and will contribute to the lectures and discussions.

Net Assignments: (20%):

A series of assignments will be given to encourage exploration of, and use of, the Internet and the World Wide Web. Details on assignments will be handed out in class and placed on the class listserve.

Tests (40%):

There will be two tests given in class, each worth 20% of the final grade. The tests will combine multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.

Technology Reports or Term Paper (30%):

Undergraduate students have the option of writing a research oriented term paper, or completing two more focussed reports. Graduate students must do the term paper (either Option C or D).

Technology Reports:

Information Society Book Report (10%)

Students will select (with professor's approval) some book looking at the social, political, or economic impact of some form of cable or new technologies. The book may be fiction or non-fiction. The student will write a review of the book (3-5 pages), focussing on the implications of the technology, and post the review to the class listserv. Reviews must be completed by the end of the scheduled exam period -- 12:15, 14 December 1999.

Technology Update (20%)

Students will select some current or emerging information technology (with the instructor's approval), and research the current status of the technology and its adoption. Students will write and post to the class listserv/website a report on the technology (around 10 pages), and give a short presentation in class. Students must include both Web-based and traditional academic sources. Technology updates must be finished by Nov. 23 so that they may be made available for the class.

Term Paper:

A substantial paper (15-25 pages) examining and analyzing some scholarly or practical question related to cable or emerging technologies. There are four basic options:

Option A:

A report on some existing application of cable or emerging technology. Pick some firm offering a communications service utilizing cable or emerging technologies. Provide a historical overview of that service or usage, a detailed consideration of the current applications and market, and critically analyze the future potential for that firm or service.
examples: use of video-conferencing by UT, DBS, viability of interactive TV or Internet shopping malls

Option B:

An in-depth analysis of a specific technology or application of technology. This should provide a historical overview of the development of the technology, a report on the current level of development and use, and a critical analysis of its future potential (in general).
examples: future of HDTV, development of Information Superhighway, video dialtone, digital radio

Option C:

An examination and analysis of the social, political, or economic impact of cable or other emerging technology. This paper should set forth a thesis, and provide an extensive review of the relevant literature, and should include a thorough development of an argument in support of your thesis.
examples: impact of HDTV and satellites on movie theaters, the impact of new technologies on political change in Eastern Europe, effect of C-SPAN on politics in US.

Option D.

An examination and analysis of how social, political, or economic factors have shaped the development of some aspect of cable or new technologies. This paper should set forth a thesis, and provide an extensive review of the relevant literature, and should include a thorough development of an argument in support of your thesis.
examples: impact of break-up of AT&T on videotext; economics and HDTV; impact of new legislation

The broad range of potential topics and perspectives is designed to allow students to pursue their own interests in this class. In addition, students may approach the paper as an individual or a small group project. If you work in a group, the quality expectations will be commensurably higher, although the page requirements may not be.

You should approach the professor with a topic proposal or a book to review and a technology to report on by Oct. 2. At this time you should also indicate whether you are interested in working solo, or in a group. You can change topic or focus after this point, but you will need to notify and talk with the professor if you do so. You will also be required to turn in (by Nov. 4) an extended abstract (3-5 pages) outlining your topic/research question and proposed direction for the paper, along with an annotated bibliography of sources already collected. The abstract and bibliography is worth 5% of the final grade.

You are encouraged to think about turning the paper in early. Every effort will be made to grade papers and return them quickly. If you turn them in early enough, you will have an opportunity to revise and resubmit the paper by the final deadline of 14 Dec. 1998, at 12:15 p.m. (end of scheduled final exam period). Only the last grade on the paper will be used in the calculation of the course grade.

You will also be expected to make a short presentation of your technology update or your paper's findings and/or conclusions at one of the class meetings. Early term paper presentations will be treated as works in progress (that is, students are not required to have a completed paper at the time of presentation if they are presenting prior to 14 Dec 1995.) The presentation will count for 5% of the final grade.

General Requirements and Notices:

All materials to be turned in for this class must be typed, or printed on at least a NLQ computer printer. They should be double-spaced, with normal font sizes and margins. Short assignments may be sent via e-mail.
No extensions on the technical reports or the term paper will be given. Students with extremely valid excuses may be given an opportunity to make up tests and other assignments. The instructor is the final arbiter of excuses and their acceptability. You must contact the professor as soon as you are aware of any problems or conflicts.
While students are encouraged to study and work together, it is also expected that all work turned in will be original and individual-- plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a score of 0 on the plagiarized work and/or notification of appropriate authorities. If you still have any doubts as to what plagiarism is, consult your various handbooks and guides, or ask the instructor.
The instructor is willing to work with students with special needs, and make any necessary special arrangements possible to facilitate their learning experience in this class. However, those individuals will need to consult with the instructor about their needs as soon as possible.
The instructor reserves the right to modify the course schedule and requirements. Any changes will be announced during class meetings and in the class listserve.

Readings:

These books may be ordered from the professor's website, and are available at various campus bookstores.

Thomas F. Baldwin, D. Stevens McVoy, & Charles Steinfield. (1996). Convergence: Integrating Media, Information, and Communication. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Patrick R. Parsons & Robert M. Frieden. (1998). The Cable and Satellite Television Industries. Boston: Allyn and Bacon

John V. Pavlik. (1998). New Media Technology: Cultural and Commercial Perspectives. 2nd edition. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Tentative Course Schedule

The readings assigned for each class session should be completed prior to that session.

Session	Topic	Readings
26 Aug	Introduction to Class & General Housekeeping Matters
31 Aug	New Technologies and Society: Overview	BMS: 1; P: 1; PF: 1
2 Sept	Electronic Communication: Technological Basics and History	BMS: 2; P: 2, 3
7 Sept	Developing from Telephony	BMS: 3
9 Sept	Guest Speaker: Prof Ken Harwood - Digital Hollywood
14 Sept	Developing from Computers	BMS: 5; P: 4
16 Sept	Developing from Broadcasting & Cable Internet Assignment 1: E-Mail & Joining the Listserve	BMS: 4 PF: 2, 3, 4
21 Sept	Cable Programming	PF: 5
23 Sept	Cable Management	BMS: 7; PF: 6
28 Sept	Cable Markets Internet Assignment 2: Usenets, Gophers, & Archives	BMS: 8
30 Sept	Advertising & Shopping	BMS: 9
5 Oct	Catch-up & Review
7 Oct.	Exam # 1
12 Oct	Satellites & DBS	PF: 8
14 Oct	Broadcasting Goes Digital	BMS: 6
19 Oct	Broadband Networks Internet Assignment 3: Web E-Papers, E-Zines, Etc.
21 Oct	Fall Break (no class)
26Oct	Implications for Content	P: 6, 7
28 Oct	Convergence & Competition	BMS: 10; P: 5 KMP: 6
2 Nov	Shaping the Future Through Policy	BMS: 11; P: 8; PF: 7
4 Nov	Going International/Multinational Internet Assignment 4: Finding research materials	BMS: 12
9 Nov	Social and Cultural Consequences I	BMS: 13; P: 9; PF: 9
11 Nov	Social and Cultural Consequences II
16 Nov	Catch-up & Review
18 Nov	Exam # 2
23 Nov	Technology Update Presentations
25 Nov	Thanksgiving
30 Nov	The Future of Electronic Media - Technologies & Systems	P:10
2 Dec	The Future of Electronic Media - Impacts and Implications
7 Dec	Presentations (if needed)
9 Dec	Presentations
14 Dec	10:15-12:15: Presentations - Term Paper /Book Review Due