Universal service in the European Union

Since the late 1980s, the European Union (EU) has pursued a program of comprehensive telecommunications liberalization. The increased reliance on competition necessitated the establishment of explicit universal service policies. European universal service policies define the scope and cost of universal service as well as permissible funding mechanisms. Emphasizing competition over social goals, the EU has adopted a rather narrow version of universal service. Future revisions may provide an opportunity to adopt a more ambitious universal service model.     

Universal service in a participatory democracy: A perspective from Australia

This article places universal service policy in telecommunications in Australia in an historical context. Given the dynamic growth in information technologies, universal service should be reconceptualized within a knowledge-based discourse critically linked to considerations for deepening participatory democracy. As a consequence of the discussion this article recommends that funding universal service obligations in telecommunications be based on the preferred notion of a maximally open democratic debate. The universal service obligation in telecommunications should be funded from consolidated revenue with its parameters set by democratic debate.     

The prospects for broadband deployment in rural America

A great deal of policy attention over the past two years has been directed at insuring that more communities within the country have access to high speed or “broadband” connections. The 1996 Telecommunications Act promises through its universal service provisions that telecommunications services will be roughly comparable across urban and rural areas, but the rapid development of new Internet-based services and the networks on which they depend illustrates huge discrepancies in broadband availability. This paper analyzes some of the programs and policies that claim to address this network divide, using existing data to comment on their efficacy. These analyses suggest that the prospects for near-term broadband services in rural region are dim, and that the existing policy approaches appear insufficient to achieve the goal of widespread rural deployment.     

The telecommunications content of state public utility commission Web sites: Remaining relevant in a changing marketplace

The role and continued relevance of state telecommunications regulators have been challenged by the development of competition, the introduction of new technologies, and the increasing dominance of federal authority. An important role that state utility commissions can play in the current telecommunications environment is to provide consumer education and information about consumer protection, competition, and universal service. Commissions can use their Web sites as effective tools in educating and informing consumers. This study analyzes the consumer-related telecommunications information included on the Web sites of the commissions in the 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine whether, and how well, state commissions are using their Web sites to educate and inform.     

Predictors of on-line services and e-participation: A cross-national comparison

Effective e-government creates an environment for citizens to have greater access to their government and, in theory, makes citizen-to-government contact more inclusive. Our research examines two distinct but related measures of e-government effectiveness, namely the online service index and the e-participation index, both reported in the 2010 e-government survey conducted by the United Nations. We analyze the impact of political structure, public sector performance and policy initiatives on both indices in more than 150 countries. Our multiple regression analysis shows that there is greater e-government capability in countries that have more effective public sector governance and administration, and policies that advance the development and diffusion of information and communication technologies. More democratic institutions and processes, however, appear to have a negative impact on e-government. In addition, countries that practice effective governance and promote competition in the telecommunications sector demonstrate more extensive provision of e-participation. These results suggest that the path to e-government leverages different strategies depending on a nation's political structure, and that authoritarian countries may be utilizing e-government to maintain the status quo.     

Earnings Management of Acquiring Firms in Stock-for-Stock Takeovers in the Telecommunications Industry

This article investigates whether acquiring telecommunications firms managed their earnings by means of discretionary accruals prior to the announcement of stock-for-stock takeovers in the U.S. telecommunications industry during the period of 1990 to 2006. The results show that acquiring telecommunications firms manage earnings upward prior to stock-for-stock takeovers. In addition, this article finds that there is a negative short-term wealth effect over the days surrounding stock-for-stock takeover announcements, and there is an inverse relation between earnings management and short-term wealth.     

Public Policies and Research on Cultural Diversity and Television in Mexico

The issue of how to preserve and promote cultural diversity in Mexico has not been central in policy debates and regulations. However, scholars, politicians, and public officials increasingly are debating how to promote and maintain cultural diversity here. This article reviews the current Mexican debate on policies related to the promotion of cultural diversity through television, using the concepts of source, content, and exposure diversity. The article argues that current commercial strategies in Mexico do not stimulate cultural diversity in media content. Instead, it advocates a mixed system of media with different mandates and modes of financing.     

To talk or not to talk? From Telkom to Hellkom: A critical reflection on the current telecommunication policy in South Africa from a social justice perspective

With the development of new information and communication technologies, the right to communicate assumes new dimensions, since it is almost impossible to fully participate in the globalized world without access to modern information and communication technologies. South Africa held its first democratic elections in 1994 and has subsequently returned to the international arena. Its citizens should rightly expect to be able to participate in all that this return offers, not only politically, but also economically and socially. Telecommunications are vital to making such participation possible. In recognition of this fact, the newly elected government developed policies and enacted legislation to ensure that the telecommunications sector, and specifically the sole fixed line service provider Telkom, provides South African citizens affordable access to the telecommunications infrastructure whilst providing acceptable levels of service. However, rather than meeting its obligation to the government and the people of South Africa, Telkom has misused its monopoly. The social injustice that this situation creates is critically examined against the background of the right to communicate based on Rawls' principles of social justice and Sen's capability approach.     

Universal service in a global networked environment: Selected issues and possible approaches

This article provides an overview and summary of selected issues related to the development of universal service to networked information resources and services in a global networked environment. Complex issues have yet to be addressed regarding basic concerns such as defining the term “universal service” as it suggests a range of meanings and uses given different societal contexts. The model for universal service being developed in the United States offers some lessons and concerns for other nations attempting to promote universal service as a national policy. The article concludes with a number of recommendations that address selected policy issues related to universal service in a global networked environment.     

Foreword

With the development of new information and communication technologies, the right to communicate assumes new dimensions, since it is almost impossible to fully participate in the globalized world without access to modern information and communication technologies. South Africa held its first democratic elections in 1994 and has subsequently returned to the international arena. Its citizens should rightly expect to be able to participate in all that this return offers, not only politically, but also economically and socially. Telecommunications are vital to making such participation possible. In recognition of this fact, the newly elected government developed policies and enacted legislation to ensure that the telecommunications sector, and specifically the sole fixed line service provider Telkom, provides South African citizens affordable access to the telecommunications infrastructure whilst providing acceptable levels of service. However, rather than meeting its obligation to the government and the people of South Africa, Telkom has misused its monopoly. The social injustice that this situation creates is critically examined against the background of the right to communicate based on Rawls' principles of social justice and Sen's capability approach.     

面向学科知识服务的微信小程序研究与实践

[目的/意义]通过相关研究与实践,为运用微信小程序助力学科知识服务提供思路与参考。[方法/过程]分析微信小程序的特性与服务现状,提出以用户为中心的"大环境、深发现、小前端、富生态"的学科知识服务框架与模式,并从信息服务、知识服务、个性化服务等视角进行服务内容研究。以"干细胞助手"微信小程序为例进行案例实践,证明该方法的可行性。[结果/结论]只要合理规划、科学布局,小程序生态也能承载丰富的学科知识服务应用,从移动端支持用户的科研创新活动。     

高校图书馆信息服务社会化模式探讨

对高校图书馆信息服务社会化模式及其实践现状进行论述,对服务过程中制度保障、机构人员配置、资源平台建设以及通过有偿服务消化服务成本、区分社会用户等方面进行研究,据此提出高校图书馆信息社会化服务经营型模式,经营型模式倡导共建共享和有偿服务,促进服务模式的可持续发展。最后,阐述信息社会化服务经营型模式在重庆大学图书馆的实践。
     

The myth of informatization in rural areas: The case of China's Sichuan province

As one of the nation's informatization strategies, the Chinese government has set up an ambitious goal to connect all the villages via broadband by the end of 2020. Lacking an explicit and systematic universal service policy, the Chinese government initially designated the major telecommunications carriers to carry out the task, which is commonly referred as “telephone service in every village project”. So far, the project is going well and all the planned deadlines are met. In addition to connections, government and business entities are developing various information services to bring timely and useful economic, educational and agricultural information to those rural residents.The primary research question of this paper is to look at whether this government-led model is sustainable in the future. The study is conducted in Sichuan, a typical western province where the divide between the urban and rural area is very prominent while, surprisingly, the agricultural informatization service in that region has gained national attention. The study shows that the lack of vision, coherent strategy and a sustainable model are the issues that need to be addressed.     

Issues in Implementing and Teaching the LEXIS®/NEXIS® Services in an Undergraduate Library

As the world's largest online full-text resource of business, news, legal, and medical information, Mead Data Central's LEXIS®, NEXIS®, and MEDIS® services pose special implementation and instructional challenges for academic reference librarians. This paper discusses such issues as telecommunications access, printing/downloading policies, staff education, and instructional strategies necessary to consider before offering this value-added reference service in an academic library.     

知识交流视角的图书馆服务研究

[目的/意义]实现知识交流是图书馆的基本使命,完善图书馆服务是促进知识交流的重要途径。鉴于此,从改善图书馆服务功能着手,探讨推进知识交流的有效方法。[方法/过程]尝试将图书馆的服务分为资源服务、参考咨询服务和空间服务三大类型,分析这3类服务所体现的知识交流方式,并结合当前图书馆服务发展现状,探讨进一步完善图书馆服务功能与推进知识交流的方案。[结果/结论]图书馆是纵向留存并继承人类自古迄今文化科学知识的场所,也是横向连接知识创造与知识利用的纽带,每个图书馆都应立足自身特点把当前所开展的各种服务做活、做实、做强,并在服务实践中总结经验,开发出更多促进知识交流的服务模式,真正发挥知识信息在人类社会进步和经济社会发展中的作用。     

高校图书馆文献传递补贴模式的思考

文献传递补贴的必要性体现在降低用户经费负担、保护用户信息权益、扩大原文传递数量3个方面。当前我国高校图书馆文献传递补贴有5种模式:本校师生都有补贴,且全补;本校教师有补贴,学生有一定限制;本校教师有一定限制,学生没有补贴;没有任何补贴,但偶尔会开展一些优惠活动;没有任何补贴。呼吁尽快科学合理地制定文献传递补贴政策;争取各方面支持;向用户宣传信息有价观念;充分利用NSTL、CALIS、CASHL三大系统的文献传递服务等思考与建议为文献传递补贴的健康发展提供一定的理论依据。     

简论信息产品导致的社会财富分配

本文比照经济学中原有的国民收入初次分配和再次分配的理论 ,对信息产品导致的社会财富分配问题进行了论述。并着重分析了由信息产品导致的对社会财富的不合理分配现象 ,即财富侵占问题     

总分馆制下公共图书馆的服务模式研究——以美国波士顿公共图书馆系统为例

公共图书馆总分馆建设是实现公共文化普遍均等服务、推动公共文化服务体系覆盖全社会的重要途径。通过对波士顿公共图书馆总分馆系统的研究发现,该馆服务模式分为馆藏服务和项目服务两大类型。从波士顿公共图书馆服务模式的特征得出启示:我国公共图书馆总分馆服务发展应从服务理念、分馆布局、社区需求、细分读者、扩展项目服务、与政府及文化机构合作6个方面着手。     

Authors and Open Access： Effective Ways to Achieve OA in China

Although there are effective methods available to authors for providing open access to their work, more than half are still not doing so and provision in China is poorer than in many other countries. There are a number of issues and concerns that dissuade authors from making their work open access ： some are still unaware of the concept and of the increased visibility and impact that open access brings; many are unfamiliar with open access journals and how they work; many are uninformed about self-archiving and for some of those who are aware of the possibility of providing open access by this means, concerns about copyright and technical issues remain. Yet all these worries can be addressed with simple facts that reassure and encourage authors to adopt open access to benefit themselves, their research and their teaching. There is also a wealth of resources now available to authors that provide information and advice on open access and its effects. As institutions and research funders, both with a strong interest in maximising the visibility and impact of research they support, begin to develop formal policies on open access, models for its provision are emerging. The optimal model is a network of institution-based open access repositories from which content can be harvested by open access search engines （ the basic＇ no frills＇ variant） or by service providers who add functionality or selectivity to provide users with value-enhanced products.     

Technological change,civic engagement and policy legitimization: Perspectives from the rise of broadband Internet as an essential utility in Canada

This article investigates how the emergence of broadband Internet connectivity as an essential utility has influenced the development of public policies that aim to promote universal access to basic communications services in Canada. We utilize quantitative Natural Language Processing (NLP)/content analysis techniques to map the evolution of conceptual emphasis by stakeholders in their formal submissions to the telecom regulator along a series of public proceedings between 2009 and 2016. The analysis documents that the growing essentiality of broadband Internet access as an enabler of social and economic activities made its quality and affordability questions with broad economic and policy relevance that cross the traditional conceptualization of universal access in terms of the rural-urban digital divide. The case study offers a novel explanation for reliance on formal public consultation processes in administrative law in terms of policy innovation: Opening communication channels with the public can be valuable for enabling policymakers legitimize regulatory adjustments necessitated by technological change.