Course Information

Course Title:

Telecommunications Law & Regulation

Course Number:

NETW584

Course Description:

Telecommunications Law and Regulation (NETW584) covers the legal and regulatory environment for telecommunications services. The course focuses on the development of telecommunications law and policy as it relates to a variety of telecommunications technologies: broadcast spectrum of radio and television, cable and satellite, wireline and cellular telephone, and the Internet. Emphasis is placed on the interconnected nature of the media and the policy rationale and techniques for governmental oversight.

Course Prerequisites:

None.

Course Specific Requirements

Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University recommends all graduate students purchase and make use of the official style guide entitled, Writing the Research Paper: A Handbook, 6th edition, by Anthony C. Winkler and Jo Ray McCuen. This handbook includes information on the following styles: APA, MLA, CEE, CMS, and Columbia Online. ISBN - 1413001785. Students who have purchased the University's previous official style guide entitled, The Business Student Writers Manual and Guide to the Internet, by Thomas P. Bergman, Stephen M. Garrison, and Gregory M. Scott, will NOT be required to purchase another style guide. The new style guide is available through the online bookstore, Follett Express.

Software Citation Requirements

This course uses open-source software, and as the end users of this software, students are required to cite the software for any student work, such as assignments, labs, or projects, where the software has been utilized. Open-source software does have end-user license agreements, and all students should read the entire agreement for a software prior to installation or usage. In order to use the software in this course, software citations have been created for students and can be located on the Open Source Applications page. These software citations must be included in all student work submissions that have used the software.

Textbooks and Resources

Required Textbooks

The following books are required for this course:

Telecommunications Law and Policy

2nd Edition

by Stuart Minor Benjamin, Douglas Gary Lichtman, Howard Shelanski, Philip Weiser



 

E-book Details

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Campus Additional Information

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Terminal Course Objectives

DeVry University course content is constructed from curriculum guides developed for each course that are in alignment with specific Terminal Course Objectives. The Terminal Course Objectives (TCOs) define the learning objectives that the student will be required to comprehend and demonstrate by course completion. The TCOs that will be covered in detail each week can be found in the Objectives section for that particular week. Whenever possible, a reference will be made from a particular assignment or discussion back to the TCO that it emphasizes.

A

Given the interconnectedness and substitutability of the different telecommunications technologies, understand the public interest implications of various uses and the role of the government in regulating markets and competition in the area.

B

Given governmental ownership and licensing of the broadcast spectrum, identify and describe the goals and methods of the FCC in allocating and distributing this resource.

C

Given First Amendment principles regarding the regulation of content, understand the public trustee obligations imposed on broadcasters in the form of the fairness doctrine and limitations on indecency, violence, and children's programming.

D

Given the natural monopoly tendency of telecommunications technologies like cable and telephony, understand the policies underlying governmental regulation and the methods employed to constrain prices.

E

Given the close relationship of broadcast spectrum with cable and direct satellite, understand the principles governing copyright and licensing, syndication, and must-carry and retransmission consent.

F

Given the historical origins and development of the telephone system, understand the conditions that gave rise to the Bell monopoly, the issues that led to ultimate divestiture, and the terms of the Bell breakup.

G

Given the need for broad Federal regulation of telecommunications, understand the basic provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and its effect on local competition, line-of-business restrictions, universal service, and access charge reform.

H

Given that regulation of the Internet is in a nascent stage of development, understand the nature of the Internet and the policy arguments relating to how it should be regulated and by whom.

Lab Schedule

Week 1

None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP

Week 2

None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP

Week 3

None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP

Week 4

None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP

Week 5

None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP

Week 6

None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP

Week 7

None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP

Week 8

None
Citrix
RKON
Skillsoft
Toolwire
WebServer
ACC COMAT
ACC NonCOMAT
CWP

Course Schedule

Week, TCOs, and TopicsReadings and Class PreparationActivities and Assignments
Week 1

TCOs A and B

Introduction to Telecommunication Law & Regulation

Chapter 1 - Why Regulate

Chapter 2 - The FCC

Chapter 3 - Zoning the Spectrum

Course Project: Review and Formulation (non-graded)

Graded Discussion Topics

Week 2

TCOs C and D

Public Trustee & Competition in Cable & Broadcasting Natural Monopoly

Chapter 5 - Public Trustee Obligations

Chapter 8 - Foundations

Case Study: Natural Monopoly (due)

Course Project: Topic Proposal (due)

Graded Discussion Topics

Week 3

TCOs E and F

Telephone Regulation: Economic, Regulatory, & Antitrust Theories

Chapter 13 - An Introduction to Telephone Regulation

Chapter 14 - Defining the Telephone Monopoly

Chapter 15 - Rate Regulation and Universal Service

Course Project: Outline (due)

Graded Discussion Topics

Week 4

TCO G

Implications and Impact of the Telecommunications Act of 1996

Chapter 16 - The Telecommunications Act of 1996

Graded Discussion Topics

Midterm

Week 5

TCO G

Universal Service Principles

Chapter 17 - Unbundling, Interconnection, and Line-of-Business Regulation Under the 1996 Act

Chapter 18 - Universal Service and Access Charge Reform Under the 1996 Act

Course Project: References

Graded Discussion Topics

Week 6

TCO H

Regulation of Internet Services

Chapter 19 - The Internet

Chapter 20 - Advanced Services

Graded Discussion Topics

Week 7

TCO A

Mergers, Acquisitions, & Substitutability of Telecommunications Technologies

Chapter 21 - Antitrust and Merger Review in Telecommunications

Final Project

Graded Discussion Topics

Week 8
All TCOs
Final Exam

Blended E-Learning

This course is an 8-week, intensive course that includes both classroom-based and e-learning activities. Your participation in both areas is essential to your success in this course. You should expect to spend time each week participating in the prescribed activities both before and after our class meeting.

Participation before, during, and after class meetings is critical to your success in this intensive environment.

To get the most out of our weekly class meetings, it is essential that you come to class prepared. The weekly readings listed in the Course Schedule will prepare you for class. Our class meetings, in turn, will prepare you for upcoming exams and assignments.

Through the DeVry e-learning platform, you will be able to

  • review the Syllabus and weekly assignment information;
  • submit completed work for grading;
  • take quizzes and exams;
  • obtain copies of class handouts and notes;
  • e-mail the instructor and other students; and
  • participate in online discussion of class material.

iConnect Live

This course contains iConnect Live sessions that provide students with the opportunity to attend live presentations, which cover course materials, projects, and assignments. Please see the iConnect Live items for the days and times of the live sessions and for the link to enter each session. You will also receive e-mail reminders each week.

If you are unable to attend the live session, you can watch the recorded session by clicking on the Recordings link that will appear in the iConnect Live item after the lecture has concluded. Please contact your instructor with any questions.

Please note that because of unavoidable technological issues and presenter availability, the live lectures may be substituted with prerecorded lectures.

Due Dates for Assignments & Exams

Unless otherwise specified, the following applies.

  • Access to most weeks begins on Sunday at 12:01 a.m. mountain time (MT).
  • All assignments are to be submitted on or before Sunday at the end of the specified week that they are due, by 11:59 p.m. (MT).
  • All quizzes and exams are to be completed on or before Sunday at the end of the specified week that they open, by 11:59 p.m. (MT).

Note: Week 8 opens at 12:01 a.m. (MT) on the ending Sunday of Week 7. Any assignments or exams must be completed by 11:59 p.m. (MT) Saturday of the eighth week.

Due Dates for Assignments & Exams

All assignments, quizzes, and exams are to be completed per the schedule indicated by your instructor.

Assignment Values and Letter Grades

The maximum score in this class is 1,000 points. The categories, which contribute to your final grade, are weighted as follows.

AssignmentPointsWeighting
Discussions (Weeks 1-6 at 30; Week 7 at 20 pts)200
20%
Case Study (Week 2 at 100 pts)10010%
Midterm200
20%
Course Project (Week 2 at 20 pts; Week 3 at 30 pts; Week 5 at 50 pts; Week 7 at 200 pts)300
30%
Final Exam200
20%
Total Points1,000100%

All of your course requirements are graded using points. At the end of the course, the points are converted to a letter grade using the scale in the table below.

Final grades are based on the percentage equivalent in the chart below and are not rounded to the next higher letter grade.

Letter GradePointsPercentage
A  930–1,00093% to 100%
A- 900–92990% to 92.9%
B+870–89987% to 89.9%
B  830–86983% to 86.9%
B- 800–82980% to 82.9%
C+770–79977% to 79.9%
C  730–76973% to 76.9%
C- 700–72970% to 72.9%
D+670–69967% to 69.9%
D  630–66963% to 66.9%
D- 600–62960% to 62.9%
F  599 and belowBelow 60%

DeVry Graduate Academic Policy and Relevant Resources

DeVry Undergraduate Academic Policy and Relevant Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

When are grades calculated, and how can I view my grades?

  • You must complete any quizzes and post your written assignments (if necessary) to the weekly Dropbox by Sunday 11:59 p.m. (MT) each week, except Week 8 which closes at 11:59 p.m. (MT) Saturday.
  • Once your work is reviewed, you should see comments and total points for each assignment in the Gradebook. Instructors should have Discussion work graded by the following Tuesday and all other assignments by the following Friday.
  • You may check your progress at any time by going to the Gradebook, selecting the week and then your name.
  • Click on the points earned for each assignment in the Gradebook to see any instructor comments.

What should I do if a discrepancy is found with my grade?

  1. Double-check the error and try to determine what caused it.
  2. Send your instructor an email explaining your findings.
  3. Trust that any error in grading will be corrected quickly

What if I cannot get my work submitted on time?

  • If you have an emergency that will cause your work to be late, please contact your instructor in advance of the due date so that arrangements can be made. Your instructor may reserve the right to deduct points for work turned in late based on the reason and the timeliness of notice.
  • If a technical problem prevents you from meeting the scheduled due date, please contact the Help Desk at 1-800-594-2402 and immediately email your instructor about the situation.

How can I get extra credit?

Extra credit is not an option.

Questions and Concerns

Please feel free to contact me for help with coursework or other areas that may impact your progress. Here are some examples.

  • Do you have general questions about attendance, deadlines regarding your courses, student financial aid, or other areas? 
  • Are you a member of the military service? Do you need to adjust your schedule due to active duty, or do you have questions about your GI Bill® benefits or have other unforeseen military and veteran-related issues that have developed?
  • Do you need supplementary student assistance? Please let me know if you are having academic difficulty and would like an ADA accommodation. Although I can talk with you about getting assistance, an excellent point of contact is the Office of Student Disability Services. You can reach the Office by calling 877-496-9050, option 3, or by e-mailing adaofficer@devry.edu or adaofficer@keller.edu.

Regardless of your situation, please feel free to contact me for assistance in whatever area of concern you might have. I will do everything I can to assist you or put you in contact with University colleagues who are trained to assist you in whatever area of concern you might have.

"GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website: www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.”

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