Telecommunications Policy最新文献

This article proposes an informed debate on the politics of citation in internet governance (IG), focusing on gender. To this end, we use the Bibliographic Reference Index (BRI) to examine the prominence of female and male names in the IG references. The BRI is based on an action research process (“pesquisa-ação”), in which authors fill out information about their citation practices. The aim is to promote self-reflection on authors’ selection of references whilst collecting bibliographic data. We applied the BRI to 1113 citations from 35 papers published in the Proceedings of the Brazilian Internet Governance Research Network (REDE) throughout 2017–2021. Results show that male-gendered names were cited more than double the number of times of female-gendered names (47% vs. 20%). To situate these results vis-à-vis global IG, we analyze the gender gap in the curriculum of IG schools and courses, by applying the index to an Internet Governance Forum compilation of 22 IG syllabi and course programs, comprising 96 references and the names of 217 IG experts worldwide. Results show that female names authored only 19% of the syllabi readings and materials featured vs. 29% by men. Also, the gender rate among experts is 63% vs. 37% in favor of men. Based on the structural gender inequalities that we have found in global and local IG contexts, we recommend interventions to increase the conscious engagement with bibliography and syllabus preparation on two fronts: 1) we recommend the application of the BRI to IG syllabi and course programs to monitor and reduce the gender gap; and 2) we provide a citation diversity statement that IG scholars can add to their publications in order to promote self-reflection about their knowledge production and add transparency to the politics of citation in IG.

In South Korea, IPTV operators have remained relatively stable, but their growth is slowing. The challenges faced by IPTV operators stem from the proliferation of various devices and the emergence of global OTT platforms as an alternative to IPTV. In this context, Korean IPTV operators are focusing on a strategy to retain family users with kids content serving as a differentiating factor. Accordingly, this study mainly aims to examine the disparities in how each Korean IPTV operator leverages kids content as a strategic resource. Furthermore, employing a case study methodology and the resource-based view (RBV) as its theoretical framework, this study also examines how the three IPTV operators contend with YouTube in kids content. The study found that kids content offered by Korean IPTV operators has a competitive advantage over YouTube in the dimensions of education, entertainment, and safety for kids. The results underscored the role of kids content as a pivotal component in the broader strategy of IPTV operators, specifically their efforts to cater to family-oriented customers and respond to the challenge of global OTT platforms.

Utilizing a unique dataset of 296 mostly rural households in Nebraska, this study examines rural broadband satisfaction and the distribution of broadband types through two questions: Does reported household satisfaction with broadband connectivity differ with the access method? And how does the built environment influence the distribution of broadband technologies? Integrating detailed survey data on household satisfaction with high-resolution performance data, the novel dataset identifies significant variances in user satisfaction with five aspects of broadband quality, with fiber emerging as the highest rated across metrics. Additionally, k-means clustering analysis of the built environment—based on structure proximity and population density—reveals a series of nuanced relationships, including the effects of past and present regulatory action, that affect the current availability of broadband technologies in various rural locales. Employing these findings, we advocate for potential policy adjustments sensitive to rural built environment and user experience complexities, challenging the adequacy of current technology-agnostic approaches.

This paper examines academic institutions' heterogeneous initial responses to generative AI (GAI) tools like ChatGPT and factors influencing increased acceptance over time. GAI's disruptive nature coupled with uncertainty about impacts poses adoption challenges. However, external pressures from stakeholders seeking GAI integration contribute to changing attitudes. Actions of institutional change agents also drive growing acceptance by increasing awareness of GAI advantages. They challenge prevailing logics emphasizing assessments, proposing new values around employability and job performance. Additionally, academic institutions reevaluating GAI's value creation potential through applications and evolving business models contributes to favorable responses. The paper proposes an institutional theory framework explaining dynamics underpinning academic institutions' assimilation of GAI. It highlights how various mechanisms like external pressures, institutional entrepreneurs' theorization efforts justifying technology use, and internal sensemaking shape institutional norms and values, enabling academic systems' adaptation. The study informs policy and practice while directing future research toward validating propositions empirically and examining contextual dimensions including industry characteristics affecting GAI adoption.

China is accelerating its entry into the digital age, and the contribution of digital infrastructure to the reduction of carbon emissions is becoming increasingly prominent. The influence mechanism of digital infrastructure on urban carbon emissions is empirically tested in this study from the standpoint of digital empowerment using panel data from 250 cities between 2008 and 2020. According to the study, digital infrastructure greatly lowers urban carbon emissions, with each additional mobile base station reducing carbon emissions by 36 tons. This conclusion remains robust even after controlling for endogeneity issues. The mechanism examination indicates that the decarbonization effect of digital infrastructure is mainly achieved by empowering enterprises, individuals, and governments with digital capabilities. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the effects of digital infrastructure on carbon emissions vary after considering variations in the city's administrative hierarchy, industrial structure, and resource types in China. According to the study's findings, developing countries should expand digital infrastructure construction and fully harness its potential for energy saving and emissions reduction to meet their emission reduction targets. At the same time, differentiated emission reduction policies should be formulated to adapt to the heterogeneous characteristics among cities and ensure that emission reduction measures are effectively implemented in each city.

In April 2020, Netflix, Inc. and its Korean subsidiary Netflix Services Korea Ltd. filed a lawsuit against SK Broadband, Inc., seeking confirmation that there were no obligations to bear network costs. On June 25, 2021, the Seoul Central District Court rejected Netflix’s argument and acknowledged the existence of an obligation to negotiate fees. Netflix subsequently appealed the decision on November 5, 2021. However, on September 18, 2023, SK Broadband and parent SK Telecom suddenly announced in a joint statement with Netflix that they had agreed to establish a strategic partnership to end all disputes. This study provides an overview of the case, discusses the related concepts, and analyzes the meaning of the case outcome in terms of efficient resource allocation within the broadband ecosystem. A model analysis revealed that, with the freedom of price setting, the effect of introducing paid peering is neutral with respect to resource allocation; however, when that freedom is impaired, for example by price regulations or net neutrality obligations, the introduction of paid peering not only generates benefits for the introducing players and their customers but it also results in damage to overall social welfare. In addition, this study shows that paid peering can be used as a means of internalizing externalities when the external economies of network/content investment are considered. These arguments are expected to make a theoretical contribution to the debate on shifting the economic burden of network infrastructure to over-the-top players, and help the telecom regulator to better design universal broadband scheme.

In this paper we study the role of Video on Demand services (VOD) as drivers of broadband adoption. While the research literature has highlighted the importance of digital content, such as applications and Internet platforms, as a driver of broadband adoption, no studies have yet explored the specific contribution of VOD. We developed a worldwide database of VOD services launch by country since 2012 (including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Disney+, Paramount+, and HBO Max) and explored their contribution as contributors to broadband adoption during the period. To do so, we relied on several empirical specifications including instrumental variables to control for reverse causality between broadband adoption and VOD services availability. Our results confirm that VOD services have been a key contributor to the increase of broadband connectivity, also helping to narrow down the digital divide especially in developing nations. In addition, VOD service offers have been associated with the gradual increase in the purchasing of broadband higher speed plans. Finally, there is a significant and positive increase in consumer surplus associated with the launch of VOD offers. This evidence points to the impact of VOD services on the digital economy as a stimulus for consumer acquisition of broadband services and therefore as a contributor to the revenues of broadband service providers.

This study examines the content and layout of the proposed broadband consumer disclosure labels mandated by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Our large-scale user study identifies key consumer preferences and comprehension factors through a two-phase survey of 2500 broadband internet consumers. Findings reveal strong support for broadband labels, but dissatisfaction with the FCC's proposed labels from 2016. Participants generally struggled to use the label for cost computations and plan comparisons. Technical terms confused participants, but providing participants with brief education made the terms useable. Participants desired additional information, including reliability, speed measures for both periods when performance is “normal” and periods when performance is much worse than normal, quality-of-experience ratings, and detailed network management practices. This feedback informed our improved label designs that outperformed the 2016 labels in comprehension and preference. Overall, consumers valued clear pricing and performance details, comprehensive information, and an easy-to-understand format for plan comparison. Requiring broadband service providers to deposit machine-readable plan information in a publicly accessible database would enable third parties to further customize how information is presented to meet these consumer needs. Our work additionally highlights the need for user studies of labels to ensure they meet consumer demands.

Internet protocol (IP) addresses are significant information that can reveal users' locations. However, users may not be aware of it since IP-related information is rarely displayed on social media around the globe. In March 2022, China unexpectedly implemented a regulation that compulsorily displays users' IP locations on a wide range of social media platforms such as Weibo. To explore how users perceive the new function and potential consequences of such policies, this study adopts a qualitative approach by applying privacy calculus theory to examine the factors that influence users’ privacy behavior in this context. The results suggest that users hold different privacy perceptions regarding IP location display. Moreover, the perceived costs for many users outweigh the benefits associated with IP location display, leading them to reduce their self-disclosure and prompting the adoption of privacy management strategies on Weibo.

The May 2023 version of Brazil's Fake News Bill (FNB), a proposed new statutory framework for social media regulation, heavily referenced the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). The literature on regulatory convergence points to the Brussels Effect, praising the EU for wielding unilateral soft power in shaping global regulations. Therefore, based on interviews with Brazilian experts who played a significant role in the regulatory discussion, this study applies Thematic Analysis to assess the DSA's impact on the FNB draft. The article finds limited Brussels Effect due to criticism of its incapacity to address local platform liability concerns and the absence of economic and legal drivers for convergence with EU regulation. Despite this, the study highlights the DSA's positive influence on the local debate in promoting democratic and human rights principles, leveraging the European legislative process to enrich local discussions. Finally, local political factors contributed to a narrative that differed from the DSA, framing the FNB not only as a tool against disinformation, but also as a means to protect democracy. This paper offers an unprecedented case study of the Brussels Effect reach on the global-south, presenting limitations of the EU benchmark when transposed to other regulatory and political contexts.