Send E-mailSend E-mail
The Internet is much more than a collection of wires and computers.
It's a rapidly growing public and private space rich in debate on basic
social,
economic and political questions. We will consider some of those questions,
including: Who, if anyone, controls the Internet? Who has access and
what kind
of access do various social groups have? What role should government
play on the Internet?
What role should commercial interests play? What are the prospects for
democracy in the U.S.
as Internet use grows? What can we learn from the history of other forms
of communication,
such as the telephone and radio? We will study current policy debates
about access,
ownership and use as well as the history and development of information
networks and
prospects for the future.
We will also consider the variety of data and communication resources
available on the
Internet and their uses for public policy. Among the resources are
government databases,
public-access forums, voter services, interest-group networks and news
publications.
Students will have access to the Internet and will be expected to take
part in class
discussions online. Each student will also have a Unix e-mail account for
the class.
No previous technical knowledge is required; students are expected
to learn and use basic Internet navigation and to identify and evaluate
material on the Internet. For students who do not have access to the Internet at home
or work, this class
will require considerable time in the UCCS computer lab.
Assignments:
Class exercises, two discussion
memos, and a class project. The memos and projects
will be posted electronically and presented in class.
Attendance is required.
Grading:
Required reading
Brian Kahin and James Keller, Public Access to the Internet, MIT
Press, 1995
Most of the other required readings are available on the Internet and
linked from this syllabus. Readings not on the Internet will be available in
class.
Please note: An online document may not appear the first time you
try. Keep trying, check
the address (URL) and use the "reload" button. If you still have
trouble, please
let me know. If you find any changes in an address, please tell me so I can make
appropriate changes on the syllabus.
Monday, June 3, 4:30 p.m.-7:05 p.m.
Introduction. An overview: The early network and how it grew, some
standards
and who or what sets them. We will discuss several questions,
including: Does
anyone run the Internet? What does it cost? How does it affect us? We
will also
go over basic Internet skills.
Reading:
1. Information policy: an overview
Reading:
Reading:
More resources (optional)
Communicating on the Internet
1. Chats, MUDs, e-mail. Who uses these forms of communication?
Reading:
Reading:
Assignment: Please see Overview
of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
2.
A National Information Infrastructure
and Global
Information Infrastructure. What is the NII? The GII? What is
universal service within NII? Can NII be a tool for "electronic democracy"?
Reading:
"The Internet and the NII," by Brian Kahin in Kahin and Keller, pp. 3-23
Current law and debate: Concepts of freedom, privacy and values
1.Discussion of memos
2. The Communications Decency Act
Resources:
(Optional)
Guests: Barry Fagin and Michele
Fagin, Families Against Internet
Censorship
Assignment: Please see
assignment page.
Monday, June 17, 4:30 p.m.-7:05 p.m.
Political participation: Information gathering, lobbying, voting and
policymaking
Reading:
Resources:
Wednesday, June 19, 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
1. Toward a theory of electronic democracy
Will the Internet strengthen democracy or give voice and power to only
the information elites?
We will look at the visions of democracy prompted by new
technologies past and present.
Reading:
Readings:
Saturday,
June 22, 8 a.m.-noon Public access to the Internet
Ideas of community and policy issues in forming and maintaining
community
Reading:
Guest: Dave Hughes, Old Colorado City Communication, Old Colorado City and the
National Science Foundation Wireless Field Tests
Resources:
Monday, June 24, 4:30 p.m.-7:05 p.m.
Networking practicalities: wireline, wireless and other realities
Reading:
Wednesday,
June
26, 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. The private sector and public policy
Reading:
Monday, July 1, 4:30 p.m.-7:05 p.m.
New developments: Interactive cable television, more technology
advances
Reading:
Wednesday, July 3, 4:30 p.m.-8:30
p.m Class project presentations
Find a listserv in your area of interest and subscribe to it.
Bring the results to class for discussion.
Resources:
Please write a discussion memo of two pages, double-spaced, on one of the
topics below. The discussion memo is supposed to stimulate
discussion: in it you should make a claim or assert a position
that is controversial. Each person will have up to 10 minutes to
present a position, followed by discussion. Each presenter should
assume students read the assignments for the day.*
Topics:
3. Assigned Wednesday, June 12, and due in class Wednesday, June 19.
Discussion memo of two pages to be presented in up to 10 minutes to
stimulate discussion.
Using The
Structure of Democracy's Congressional Accountability Form, search
for an elected official of your choice. Respond to at least three
numbered sections. Analyze what you've found and discuss whether the
organization's goals apply to you.
(*This concept of discussion memos is derived from Prof. Jeffrey K.
MacKie-Mason, University of Michigan, whose Information
Networks Policy course also contains many useful links.)
Class
project assignments will be discussed in class. Return to course
schedule.
Assignment: Details are on the assignment
page.
Wednesday, June 5, 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
2. More tools for using the Internet
Saturday,
June 8, 8 a.m.-noon
2. E-mail as a microcosm of Internet use issues. Who has access? What
are the implications of access
for the individual and for public entities?
3. Class discussion of assignment
Wednesday, June 12, 4:30
p.m.-8:30 p.m.
2. Visions of electronic democracy: The Civic Network movement
Resources:
Optional:
Guest: Dave Weimer, director of marketing, Softronics, Inc.
Guest: Ginny Greene, Director of New Media,
The Colorado Springs Gazette TelegraphPAD598 Assignments
1. Assigned Monday, June 3. Due Saturday, June 8, at the beginning
of class.
2. Assigned Saturday, June 8. Due Wednesday, June 12