The Broadband Technology Explosion

Rethinking Communications Policy for a Mobile Broadband World

On June 20, 2013, the Pepperdine School of Public Policy hosted a forum "The Broadband Technology Explosion:  Rethinking Communications Policy for a Mobile Broadband World," at the Quadrus Conference Center in Menlo Park, California. The live-streamed event featured a distinguished panel of experts, including associate professor James Prieger, who provided a detailed look at current and evolving U.S. broadband sectors and technologies, as well as the policy choices facing federal regulators as they pursue various policy objectives and the best ideas for a federal policy framework.

The experts explored which policies will foster innovation and investment in next generation broadband infrastructure and simultaneously driving wider adoption and use of the infrastructure among consumers including small businesses, universities, research institutions, the medical field, and others. Each speaker presented his recent research and analysis. The forum then concluded with a panel discussion.

The panel of experts included:
Larry Downes, author of "Big Bang Disruption," published in Harvard Business Review; and author of a forthcoming book on the subject. View Downes' presentation slide deck.

Hal Singer, coauthor of The Need for Speed: A New Framework for Telecommunications Policy for the 21st Century, an eBook published by The Brookings Institution, in which the authors posit suggestions on reforming the FCC and its oversight of the broadband sector. View Singer's presentation slide deck.

James Prieger, associate professor of public policy at Pepperdine University and author of several papers on broadband economics and policy. View Prieger's presentation slide deck.

Richard Clarke, AT&T, author of Expanding Mobile Wireless Capacity: The Challenges Presented by Technology and Economics, a white paper published on SSRN. View Clarke's presentation slide deck.

View the entire forum below: