Telecommunications Law and Policy

Abstract:     
This new casebook in telecommunications law grew out of Thomas
Krattenmaker's earlier casebook of the same title. Like Krattenmaker's two editions, this book not only examines the fundamentals of telecommunications regulation but also engages in advanced analysis of the key constitutional, administrative, and economic issues that arise in the various telecommunications settings.

While building on Krattenmaker's foundation, the Benjamin/Lichtman/Shelanski text is an entirely new book. It covers new subjects -- for example, the text now includes case studies of digital television and low-power FM radio; a full chapter on direct broadcast satellite service; a chapter on telecommunications mergers; and several chapters on the Internet and advanced services regulation more generally. The book also covers familiar topics but in significantly greater depth. The telephone and cable materials, for example, have been expanded and completely rewritten, emphasizing key economic concepts that are carefully explained and then tied to the relevant legal and policy issues. In short, the new book mirrors the sweeping changes that have occurred in the field in recent years, yet maintains enough of Tom's original structure that faculty who have used the earlier two editions should find it easy to integrate the new text into the course they already love to teach.

The authors have prepared a new teacher's manual, much longer than that previously available and filled with interesting questions and detailed suggestions for class discussion. The new manual also includes summaries of important aspects of the material, answers to questions posed in the book, and a host of model materials including syllabi and sample examinations. These materials should be useful to experienced and new teachers alike.

Accepted Paper Series