TABLE OF CONTENTS

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CHAPTER 1:
HYPERCOMMUNICATION AND FLORIDA AGRIBUSINESS

 
 
 
 
 

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Ten Key Terms

1.3 Problem Statement

1.4 Objectives and Economic Hypotheses Considered

1.5 Scope and Methodology

1.6 Justifications

1.7 Organizational Overview



 
 
 
 
 

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, 2 models traditional moommunication (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 telelphone 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 two 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
 
 
 
 

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