Description
This book is the outgrowth of shared interests between the editors and the contributing authors to provide a multidisciplinary perspective in evaluating universal service policy and recommending policy changes to accommodate a more competitive telecommunications environment. In the quest to formulate a multidisciplinary approach, the editors first agreed to organize a conference, soliciting the input and participation of individuals from disparate academic disciplines; local, state and federal government bodies; and industry members. The conference was held in December, 1996 and beared the same name as this volume’s title. Most of the chapters are based on papers that were presented at this conference. However, during the editing process of this book, significant changes continued to be made in the policy arena – not the least of which was the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and ensuing recommendations by the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service in November, 1996. The editors ultimately determined to await the FCC’s implementation order on universal service, which was issued in May, 1997. As a result of both the Joint Board recommendations and the subsequent FCC order, they decided that the volume required modifications. Some chapters were revised to reflect the recent developments, and new authors were sought out to contribute additional chapters in order to provide a more balanced collection of views. Therefore, the resulting volume reflects recent significant developments in US universal service policy – the implementation of which continues to unfold.
