Telecommunications sector policy-makers and regulators have a wide range of instruments available to them that can be used to increase access to telecommunications services in rural and low-income areas. The paper provides a review of these instruments, evaluating them against a set of criteria. It then goes on to identify a number of them that are worthy of further consideration by policy-makers and regulators while demonstrating that the effectiveness of the identified instruments can be greatly enhanced by the establishment of a conducive legal, regulatory and institutional framework. The paper concludes by confirming that while no single instrument taken in isolation can provide a full solution to universal access, a mix of the measures identified can be devised to achieve specific policy objectives in a particular country environment.

World Bank Technical Paper No. 366. The quantitative and qualitative approaches to poverty measurement and analysis have often been treated by practitioners as two distinct--even opposing--approaches. This paper highlights the key characteristics of the two approaches, examines the strengths and weaknesses of each, and analyzes the potential for combining the two approaches in analytical work on poverty. The main conclusion of this paper is that sole reliance on either the quantitative or the qualitative approach is often likely to be less desirable than combining the two.

A new framework for assessing the role of information and communication technologies in development that draws on Amartya Sen's capabilities approach. Information and communication technologies (ICTs)--especially the Internet and the mobile phone--have changed the lives of people all over the world. These changes affect not just the affluent populations of income-rich countries but also disadvantaged people in both global North and South, who may use free Internet access in telecenters and public libraries, chat in cybercafes with distant family members, and receive information by text message or email on their mobile phones. Drawing on Amartya Sen's capabilities approach to development--which shifts the focus from economic growth to a more holistic, freedom-based idea of human development--Dorothea Kleine in Technologies of Choice? examines the relationship between ICTs, choice, and development. Kleine proposes a conceptual framework, the Choice Framework, that can be used to analyze the role of technologies in development processes. She applies the Choice Framework to a case study of microentrepreneurs in a rural community in Chile. Kleine combines ethnographic research at the local level with interviews with national policy makers, to contrast the high ambitions of Chile's pioneering ICT policies with the country's complex social and economic realities. She examines three key policies of Chile's groundbreaking Agenda Digital: public access, digital literacy, and an online procurement system. The policy lesson we can learn from Chile's experience, Kleine concludes, is the necessity of measuring ICT policies against a people-centered understanding of development that has individual and collective choice at its heart.

"The Evolution of Telecommunications: From Analog to Digital and Beyond" is an in-depth exploration of the telecommunications industry, tracing its history from the earliest forms of communication to the cutting-edge technologies that define the modern era. Written by Ron Legarski, a seasoned expert with over two decades of experience in the field, this book offers a comprehensive analysis of the technological advancements, industry shifts, and global events that have shaped telecommunications over the years. The book delves into the transformation from analog to digital communication, the rise of the internet, and the ongoing development of 5G and beyond. It covers critical topics such as the impact of AI, IoT, and edge computing on telecommunications, the role of quantum communication in securing networks, and the challenges posed by global events like the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to historical context, "The Evolution of Telecommunications" provides detailed case studies of major companies and innovations, examining how industry leaders like AT&T, Verizon, and Nokia have navigated the changing landscape. It also explores the societal implications of telecommunications, including its role in driving economic growth, improving quality of life, and addressing global challenges like climate change and digital inclusion. With detailed appendices that include a glossary of key terms, a timeline of significant developments, and additional resources for further study, this book serves as both a comprehensive guide and a valuable reference for professionals, students, and anyone interested in the future of telecommunications. Whether you’re a telecommunications professional, a technology enthusiast, or simply curious about how the world stays connected, "The Evolution of Telecommunications" offers a thorough understanding of the forces that continue to shape our increasingly digital world.

Seminar paper from the year 2011 in the subject Communications - Media and Politics, Politic Communications, Aalborg University (Center for communication, Media and information Technology), course: Political Economy of ICT, language: English, abstract: Attaining universal access and service of ICT and telecommunication services is the target of many countries. Unfortunately in sub-Saharan Africa, telecommunication services are either scarce or non-existent in rural areas. Open access and competition policies has not had an impact to rural areas as they are not commercially viable to telecom and ICT service providers. What type of intervention is needed to enable the diffusion of ICT and telecommunication services in rural areas, especially in third world countries? This conceptual paper discusses the potential of a development framework that can make the adoption and diffusion of ICT possible in rural areas. It is a conceptual paper which is part of an ongoing research.

Contents: Introduction; Status of Broadband Deployment in the U.S.; Broadband in Rural Areas; Is Broadband Deployment Data Adequate?; Broadband and the Federal Role: The National Broadband Plan; Current Federal Broadband Programs: Rural Utilities Service Programs; The Universal Service Concept and the FCC: Universal Service and the Telecommunications Act of 1996; Universal Service and Broadband; Legislation in the 110th Congress; Legislation in the 111th Congress: P.L. 111-5: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; Other Broadband Legislation in the 111th Congress; Legislation in the 112th Congress; Concluding Observations. Tables. This is a print on demand edition of an important, hard-to-find report.