This is George P. Oslin's life work. Among hundreds who told him their experiences were Thomas A. Edison, William Henry Jackson (Civil War soldier, pioneer photographer, and covered wagon bullwhacker), and William Campbell (last surviving Pony Express rider). Facts from company documents, thousands of newspapers, magazines, and books, and more than 100,000 letters and diaries of the pioneers were pieced together and condensed into the real story of their struggles, strategy, and success.
The first comprehensive history of the Information Age... how we got there and where we are going The exchange of information is essential for both the organization of nature and the social life of mankind. Until recently, communication between people was more or less limited by geographic proximity. Today, thanks to ongoing innovations in telecommunications, we live in an Information Age where distance has ceased to be an obstacle to the sharing of ideas. The Worldwide History of Telecommunications is the first comprehensive history ever written on the subject, covering every aspect of telecommunications from a global perspective. In clear, easy-to-understand language, the author presents telecommunications as a uniquely human achievement, dependent on the contributions of many ingenious inventors, discoverers, physicists, and engineers over a period spanning more than two centuries. From the crude signaling methods employed in antiquity all the way to today’s digital era, The Worldwide History of Telecommunications features complete and fascinating coverage of the groundbreaking innovations that have served to make telecommunications the largest industry on earth, including: Optical telegraphy Electrical telegraphy via wires and cables Telephony and telephone switching Radio transmission technologies Cryptography Coaxial and optical fiber networks Telex and telefax Multimedia applications Broad in scope, yet clear and logical in its presentation, this groundbreaking book will serve as an invaluable resource for anyone involved or merely curious about the ever evolving field of telecommunications. AAP-PSP 2003 Award Winner for excellence in the discipline of the "History of Science"
Ten years ago, the United States stood at the forefront of the Internet revolution. With some of the fastest speeds and lowest prices in the world for high-speed Internet access, the nation was poised to be the global leader in the new knowledge-based economy. Today that global competitive advantage has all but vanished because of a series of government decisions and resulting monopolies that have allowed dozens of countries, including Japan and South Korea, to pass us in both speed and price of broadband. This steady slide backward not only deprives consumers of vital services needed in a competitive employment and business market—it also threatens the economic future of the nation. This important book by leading telecommunications policy expert Susan Crawford explores why Americans are now paying much more but getting much less when it comes to high-speed Internet access. Using the 2011 merger between Comcast and NBC Universal as a lens, Crawford examines how we have created the biggest monopoly since the breakup of Standard Oil a century ago. In the clearest terms, this book explores how telecommunications monopolies have affected the daily lives of consumers and America's global economic standing.
Making a neighborhood of a nation -- Professor Morse's lightning -- Antimonopoly -- The new postalic dispensation -- Rich man's mail -- The talking telegraph -- Telephomania -- Second nature -- Gray wolves -- Universal service -- One great medium?
The passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 inaugurated a new and highly volatile era in telecommunications. The first major overhaul of U.S. communications law since 1934--when no one had a television set, a cordless phone, or a computer--the Act was spurred into being by broad shifts in technology use. Equally important, this book shows, the new law reflects important changes in our notions of the purpose of communications regulation and how it should be deployed. Focusing on the evolution of the concept of the public interest, Aufderheide examines how and why the legislation was developed, provides a thematic analysis of the Act itself, and charts its intended and unintended effects in business and policy. An abridged version of the Act is included, as are the Supreme Court decision that struck down one of its clauses, the Communications Decency Act, and a variety of pertinent speeches and policy arguments. Readers are also guided to a range of organizations and websites that offer legal updates and policy information. Finalist, McGannon Center Award for Social and Ethical Relevance in Communication Policy Research
Telecommunications is a major global industry, and this unique book chronicles the development of this complex technology from the electric telegraph to the Internet in a simple, accessible, and entertaining way. The book opens with the early years of the electric telegraph. The reader will learn how the Morse telegraph evolved into an international network that spanned the globe, starting with the development of international undersea cables, and the heroic attempts to lay a trans-Atlantic cable. The book describes the events that led to the invention of the telephone, and the subsequent disputes over who had really invented it. It takes a look at some of the most important applications that have appeared on the Internet, the mobile revolution, and ends with a discussion of future key developments in the telecommunications industry.
The authors analyze regulatory reform and the emergence of competitionin network industries using the state-of-the-art theoretical tools ofindustrial organization, political economy, and the economics ofincentives.
COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE LATEST TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES AND TRENDS Fully revised to address the convergence of the telecom, media, and technology (TMT) sectors, the new edition of this cutting-edge guide provides a comprehensive overview of the current telecom landscape. The book focuses on the interdependence of the IT infrastructure, multimedia content, and broadband transport network in today's hyper-connected mobile environment and discusses the importance of storing, delivering, analyzing, tracking, and monetizing content. Emerging telecom technologies are described in detail. This up-to-date resource is essential for TMT professionals, business decision-makers, marketing and sales staff, and students. Telecommunications Crash Course, Third Edition, covers: Standards and regulations Data communications protocols Telephony, VoIP, SS7, SIP, and IP PBX Premises technologies -- LANs, Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi, ZigBee, FireWire, Thunderbolt, and USB Content -- multimedia, video, and TV Fixed access technologies, including DSL, cable, DOCSIS 3.0, CMTS, and DSLAM Wireless access technologies such as CDMA, GSM, HSPA, LTE, Bluetooth, RFID, and satellite solutions Transport technologies -- frame relay, ATM, high-speed IP switching, optical networking, DWDM, channelized optics, and optical switching IP, IPv6, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), and IP networking IT, telecom, and media convergence Cloud technologies, data centers, analytics, big data, security, Dumb Terminal 2.0, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), and other emerging topics
This book traces the evolution of communications from 500 BC, when fire beacons were used for signalling, to the 1940s, when high definition television systems were developed for the entertainment, education and enlightenment of society.
"This book presents quality articles focused on key issues concerning the planning, design, maintenance, and management of telecommunications and networking technologies"--Provided by publisher.
