Deck 5: Communication Policy and Technology

Question 1

The most sophisticated communication technology available when the First Amendment was written was:

A) Handwriting
B) Printing press
C) Telegraph
D) Telepresence

Answer 1

Printing press

Question 2

The most important, recent set of regulations covering today's electronic media technologies is:

A) The First Amendment
B) The Communication Act of 1934
C) The Telecommunication Act of 1996
D) The Media Diversity Act of 2009

Answer 2

The Telecommunication Act of 1996

Question 3

AT&T's long-distance telephone monopoly

A) Was protected by Alexander Graham Bell's initial patents.
B) Was forced by the Department of Defense during World War I.
C) Was created by the Communication Act of 1934.
D) Was created by Theodore Vail to preserve AT&T's position in the market.

Answer 3

Was created by Theodore Vail to preserve AT&T's position in the market.

Question 4

Which law did the most to de-regulate cable television?

A) Communications Act of 1934
B) Cable Communications Act of 1984
C) Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992
D) Communication Decency Act

Question 5

The National Broadband Plan

A) Was created and funded by AT&T to preserve market share.
B) Was created and funded by the Federal government.
C) Was created and funded by state governments.
D) Was created and funded by a consortium of broadband companies.

Question 6

The primary reason for spectrum reallocation since 2000 is to:

A) Create additional bandwidth for digital radio.
B) Create additional bandwidth for digital television.
C) Create additional bandwidth for cable television.
D) Create additional bandwidth for mobile telephone and data.
E) All of the above.

Question 7

Network neutrality is:

A) Another term for the elimination of digital interference.
B) Policies that prevent ISPs from privileging one type of traffic over others.
C) Policies that provide multiple options for wireless telephone service to consumers.
D) Another term for the rules limiting competition among television channels.

Question 8

According to the text, which of the following is true about U.S. broadband penetration (both fixed and wireless):

A) The U.S. has the lowest broadband penetration in the world.
B) The U.S. is not in the top five in the world in either wired or wireless broadband penetration.
C) The U.S. is in the top five in the world in both wired and wireless broadband penetration.
D) The U.S. has the highest wireless broadband penetration in the world.

Question 9

Discuss the history of regulation of cable television. What are the factors underlying the swings from regulation to deregulation and back?

Question 10

Assume that you have the power to change how technologies are regulated. What changes would you propose in these regulations? Why do you propose those changes?

Question 11

Newspapers, broadcasting, and Internet communications are subject to different regulations. Explain the differences and the reasons for these differences.