Author(s)
Source
Alfred A. Knopf, 2010
Summary
This book looks at how radio, television, and the telephone evolved, and argues that the Internet might be similar.
Policy Relevance
Government may have a role in regulating the effects of media monopolies.
Main Points
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As AT&T’s telephone business evolved over time, the government became increasingly involved with the business, and it evolved from a competitive industry to a monopoly.
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Radio, television, and movies evolved in a similar way. Each type of business uses a network, either a network of theatres or a physical network of underground cable.
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Networks have a tendency to become monopolies, and government must then become involved to control the political effects of monopoly on communications.
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The Internet is likely to evolve in a similar way, with many hobbyists contributing to what began as a government defense network. Government may have a role in ameliorating trends towards monopoly by enforcing network neutrality rules or antitrust regulations.