Table of Contents

Please click on the appropriate link to view a particular chapter or section.

• Chapter 2: Foundations of the Information Economy: Economic Reasons for Convergence
• 2.1 Introduction: The Continuing Relevance of Economics
• 2.2 Communication, the First Foundation

Hypercommunications defined; two models traditional of communication (interpersonal and mass); the hypercommunications model succeeds telecommununications; comparison of telecommunication with hypercommunication, specific hypercommunications services and technologies

• 2.3 Technology, the Second Foundation
• 2.3.1 Research Agendas in the Economics of Technological Change
• 2.3.2 Technology and Production: Five Technical Aspects of Invention
• 2.3.3 Technology and Production: Four Topics in the Economics of Production
• 2.3.4 Technology's Managerial Role: Efficiency, Flexibility, and Measurement
• 2.3.5 Technology and Supply
• 2.3.6 Technology and Demand
• 2.3.7 The Technology-Information Linkage
• 2.4 Information, the Third Foundation
• 2.4.1 Information Conceptualized as a Stock or Flow
• 2.4.2 Information Conceptualized as a Processed Resource or Raw Commodity
• 2.4.3 Information Conceptualized as a Perception of Pattern
• 2.4.4 Major Economic Properties of Information
• 2.4.5 Information as a Public Good
• 2.4.6 Asymmetric Information
• 2.4.7 Other Economic Properties of Information
• 2.5 The Frontier of "Unlimited" Communication
• 2.5.1 Unlimited Frontiers: Land vs. IT
• 2.5.2 Other Aspects of "Unlimited" Communication
• 2.6 Summary

• Chapter 3: Technical and Economic Foundations of Hypercommunication Networks
• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Definitions
• 3.2.1 Digitization and Digital
• 3.2.2 Conceptions of Networks
• 3.3 Technical Characteristics of the PSTN
• 3.4 Technical Characteristics of Computer Networks
• 3.4.1 Four Components Distinguish Computer Networks from the PSTN
• 3.4.2 Computer Network Uses and Service Primitives
• 3.4.3 Technical Network Objectives
• 3.4.4 OSI Model of Hierarchical Networking Sub-tasks
• 3.5 Six Economic Generations of Computer Networks
• 3.5.1 Time-Sharing Networks and Dumb Terminals
• 3.5.2 Centralized Networks
• 3.5.3 Early LANs: Peer-to-Peer Networks
• 3.5.4 Later Client-Server Networks: LANs and WANs
• 3.5.5 Distributed Client-Server Networks
• 3.5.6 Inter-Networks
• 3.6 Operations Research and Hypercommunication Network Form
• 3.7 Network Economics
• 3.7.1 Economic Fundamentals of Generic or Macro Networks
• 3.7.2 Positive Network Effects
• 3.7.3 Negative Network Effects
• 3.7.4 Direct and Indirect Sources of Network Externalities
• 3.7.5 Implications for Agribusiness from Network Economics
• 3.8 Summary

• Chapter 4: Hypercommunication Services and Technologies
• 4.1 Hypercommunications Convergence
• 4.2 Bandwidth and QOS (Quality of Service)

Relationship between bandwidth and speed; computer modems (bandwidth & QOS); QOS reference model; 15 dimensions of QOS; QOS in practice

• 4.3 Wireline Transmission Technologies

Conduit; the telephone infrastructure; cable TV infrastructure; dark fiber infrastructure; data & voice transport; fiber optic backbones

• 4.4 Wireless Transmission Technologies

Overview of electromagnetic spectra, terrestrial wireless (fixed and mobile), satellite technology, wireless QOS.

• 4.5 Support Services, Facilitation, and Consolidation Technologies

Protocols and standards; wireline-wireless facilitation technologies; voice-data consolidation technologies

• 4.6 The Traditional Telephony Market

Traditional telephony services (POTS): local and long-distance; access technologies and CPE

• 4.7 The Enhanced Telecommunications Market

CPE; AIN CO technologies; call centers; dedicated circuits; circuit-switched digital circuits; enhanced mobile telecommunications (digital cellular & PCS); paging & wireless messaging

• 4.8 The Private Data Networking Market

Networking equipment; packet-switched services; cell-switched networks (ATM); SONET & fiber optic networking technology; wireless WANs; managed services

• 4.9 Internet Service and Access Market

Internet access and transport; e-mail; domain names; IP addresses; web site hosting; website design; programming; maintenance; website promotion & measurement; OS & IP applications and services; VPNs & convergent applications; security, privacy & use policies; e-agribusiness; e-commerce; customer service; new media

• 4.10 Summary

• Chapter 5: Infrastructure, Universal Service, Universal Access, & Regulatory Measures
• 5.1 Overview of Florida's Rural Hypercommunications Environment
• 5.2 Rural, Infrastructure, and Universal Service
• 5.2.1 Definitions of Rural
• 5.2.2 Infrastructure Dimensions
• 5.2.3 Universal Service and Universal Access
• 5.3 Regulatory and Infrastructure History
• 5.3.1 Wireline Infrastructure History
• 5.3.2 History of Wireless Infrastructure and Regulation
• 5.3.3 Regulatory Pseudo-Convergence: The 1996 TCA
• 5.4 Rationales for Government Involvement
• 5.4.1 The Natural Monopoly Rationale
• 5.4.2 Public Infrastructure Investment Rationale
• 5.4.3 Normative or Social Rationales
• 5.4.4 Other Rationales: Federal, State, and Local
• 5.5 Mechanisms of Government Involvement
• 5.5.1 Universal Service Programs and Mechanisms
• 5.5.2 Taxation and Regulatory Charges
• 5.5.3 Carrier of Last Resort
• 5.5.4 Spectrum Allocation
• 5.6 Convergence and the Economics of Regulation
• 5.6.1 Conceptual Model
• 5.6.2 Rate Rebalancing and Universal Access
• 5.6.3 Convergence and the Application of Incentive and Traditional Utility Regulation to Hypercommunications
• 5.6.4 Asymmetric Taxes and Regulatory Charges
• 5.7 Communication and Rural Development Measures Targeted to Agribusinesses

• Chapter 6: Boundaries, Bundling, & Unique Hypercommunication Needs of Agribusinesses
• 6.1 Boundaries within Florida's Hypercommunication Marketplace

Technical boundaries; political & regulatory boundaries; why boundaries matter

• 6.2 Bundling and Other Units of Hypercommunications

Hypercommunications bundling

• 6.3 The Hypercommunication Needs of Agribusinesses
• 6.3.1 Location and Composition of Florida's Agribusiness Complex
• 6.3.2 Unique Characteristics of Agriculture and Agribusiness Hypercommunication Needs
• 6.3.3 Hypercommunication Needs Based on Competitive Strategy
• 6.3.4 Needs Based on Vertical and Horizontal Coordination and Integration
• 6.3.5 Specific Needs Based on Specific Inputs, Crops, or Product Characteristics
• 6.3.6 Needs Based on Firm or Sector Size and Marketing Area

• Chapter 7: Who, Where, & How Much?

Most of this material is available by purchase only. Here are public links that apply to S. Miami-Dade County, Florida only.

Who Sells Hypercommunications in Florida?

• A2.1 Hypercommunications Supplier Market Structure
• A2.2 The Telco Suppliers: ILECs, ALECs, and IXCs
• A2.3 Cablecos and Electricos: Cable TV and Electric Utility Suppliers
• A2.4 Internet Providers: NSPs, ISPs, and OSPs
• A2.5 Mobile Terrestrial Wireless Providers
• A2.6 Terrestrial Fixed Wireless Providers
• A2.7 Satellite Providers