The course will consist of five modules.
Instructors
Dr. David D. Clark
Dr. Frank Field
Sharon E. Gillett, Instructor in charge
Dr. William Lehr
Course calendar.| LEC # | TOPICS | INSTRUCTORS | KEY DATES |
|---|
| Module 1: Technology |
| 1 | A Quick Guide to the Internet | Clark | |
| 2 | Application Design on the Internet | Clark | |
| 3 | EE 101 | Clark | |
| 4 | Internet Interconnection | Clark | |
| Module 2: Policy Rationale and Methods |
| 5 | Why have Regulators been so involved in Telecommunications? | Gillett and Lehr | Project descriptions due |
| 6 | Overview of Methods of Technical and Policy Analysis Applicable to the Final Project. Discussion of Problem Definition and Issue Framing for Topics with Interwoven Technical, Social, Economic, and Political Dimensions | Gillett and Lehr | Mid-term assignment out |
| Module 3: Deep Dives into Four Topics |
| Module 3a: Spectrum Policy |
| 7 | Spectrum Management Reform, Part 1 | Lehr | |
| 8 | Spectrum Management Reform, Part 2 | Lehr | |
| Module 3b: Information Policy |
| 9 | Intellectual Property: Content and Digital Telecommunication Policy | Field | |
| 10 | Architecture and Control | Field | |
| 11 | Culture, Content and Copyright | Field | Mid-term assignment due |
| Module 3c: Interconnection |
| 12 | Challenges for Convergence: Interconnection | Lehr | |
| 13 | Challenges for Convergence: Interconnection (cont.) | Lehr | |
| Module 3d: Broadband Access |
| 14 | Competition in Access Networks | Gillett | Final project proposal due |
| 15 | Case Studies: VoIP, Municipal Broadband | Gillett | |
| 16 | Municipal Broadband (cont.) | Guest Lecturers: Patrick McCormick (Brookline Wireless) and Steven Gag (Technology Advisor to Boston Mayor Thomas Menino) | |
| 17 | Network Neutrality | Gillett | |
| 18 | Network Neutrality (cont.) | Gillett | |
| 19 | IPTV | Marie-José Montpetit, Motorola | |
| Module 4: Miscellaneous Topics |
| 20 | Internet Governance | Scott Bradner, Harvard University | |
| 21 | Open Access, or Making Money Openly | Clark | |
| 22 | One Laptop per Child (aka $100 Laptop); the Internet and Developing Countries | Michail Bletsas, MIT Media Lab | |
| Module 5: Student Presentations |
| 23-25 | Classroom Presentations and Discussion | | Final papers due in Lec #25 |