Shaping American Telecommunications examines the technical regulatory and economic forces that have shaped the development of American telecommunications services. This volume is both an introduction to the basic technical economic and regulatory principles underlying telecommunications and a detailed account of major events that have marked development of the sector in the United States. Beginning with the introduction of the telegraph and continuing through to current developments in wireless and online services authors Christopher H. Sterling Phyllis W. Bernt and Martin B. H. Weiss explain each stage of telecommunications development examining the interplay among technical innovation policy decisions and regulatory developments. Offering an integrated treatment of the interplay among technology policy and economics as key factors defining the development of the telecommunications sector in the United States this volume also provides: *background material to facilitate understanding of each sector; *contexts for many so-called new issues problems and trends demonstrating origins from years or decades in the past; and *careful annotation documentation and reference tables to enable further research on the topics discussed. This unique multidisciplinary approach provides a balanced view of U. S. telecommunications history in context with relevant economic legal social and technical analyses. As such it is essential reading for advanced students in telecommunications needing to understand how the telecommunications industry and service developed to its current form. The volume will also serve as a supplemental text in courses on telecommunications regulation and it will be of value to professionals in the field seeking context and background for their daily work. . Language: English