The New Concept of Universal Service in a Digital Networked Communications Environment

Burri, Mira (2007). The New Concept of Universal Service in a Digital Networked Communications Environment. I/S: A Journal of Law and Policy for the Information Society, 3(1), pp. 117-146. The Ohio State University : Michael E. Moritz College of Law

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Digitization, sophisticated fiber-optic networks and the resultant convergence of the media, communications and information technology industries have completely transformed the communications ecosystem in the last couple of decades. New contingent business and social models were created that have been mirrored in the amended communications regimes. Yet, despite an overhaul of the communications regulation paradigm, the status of and the rules on universal service have remained surprisingly intact, both during and after the liberalization exercise. The present paper looks into this paradox and examines the sustainability of the existing concept of universal service. It suggests that there is a need for a novel concept of universal service in the digital networked communications environment, whose objectives go beyond the conventional internalizing and redistributional rationales and concentrate on communication and information networks as a public good, where not only access to infrastructure but also access to content may be essential.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

02 Faculty of Law > Department of Economic Law > World Trade Institute
10 Strategic Research Centers > World Trade Institute

02 Faculty of Law > Department of Economic Law > NCCR International Trade Regulation
02 Faculty of Law > Department of Economic Law > Institute of European and International Economic Law

UniBE Contributor:

Burri, Tihomira

Subjects:

300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 340 Law

Publisher:

The Ohio State University : Michael E. Moritz College of Law

Language:

English

Submitter:

Tihomira Burri

Date Deposited:

25 Aug 2014 17:15

Last Modified:

02 Mar 2023 23:24

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.51532

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/51532

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