- About Pitt Law
- Welcome from the Interim Dean
- Facilities
- Dean's Office
- Faculty Directory
- Staff Directory
- History
- Board of Visitors Members
- Community Engagement
- Office of Equity & Inclusive Excellence
- Land Acknowledgement
- The Resilience and Engagement Project
- Building Resilience Case Studies on Student Interventions & Psychological Insights Conference
- Summary
- Project Description
- Students and Faculty Talk Resilience
- How does the in-class facilitation conversation work?
- How to Facilitate In-Class Discussion
- Suggested Project Timeline and Milestone
- Tips for Leading a Discussion
- Sample Lesson Plan for Leading a Discussion Group
- Sample Student Responses and Advice
- Project Results
- Our Papers
- The Student Voice
- Helpful Resources
- Handbook
- Glossary
- Agenda
- Zoom Backgrounds
- Admissions
- Academics
- Centers & Institutes
- Bioethics & Health Law
- Center for Civil Rights and Racial Justice
- Center for International Legal Education
- CILE Overview
- Global Scholars Program
- Rule of Law Fellowship Program
- CILE 25th Anniversary
- JD Opportunities
- LLM Program
- SJD Program
- Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
- Visiting Professors
- Visiting Scholars
- Study Abroad
- International Internships
- Moot Court Experience
- The CISG Song
- Alumni News
- Visiting Scholars
- Support CILE
- Contact CILE
- News, Events and Media
- Center for Text Analytic Methods in Legal Studies
- Future Law Project
- Hickton Center for Community Legal Services & Clinical Legal Education
- John P. Gismondi Civil Litigation Program
- Career Services
- Resources
- A-Z Resources Guide
- Academic Calendar
- Dean of Students
- Student Event Calendar
- Academic Support
- Bar Exams
- Barco Law Building Hours
- Courses and Curriculum
- Courses & Curriculum Overview
- Catalog of Courses
- First-Year Curriculum
- Pitt Law Academy
- Courses by Requirement
- Departmental Consent
- Required Textbooks by Class
- Schedule of Classes Spring 2025
- Schedule of Intersession Spring 2025
- Schedule of Classes Fall 2024
- Schedule of Classes Spring 2024
- Schedule of Intersession 2024
- Schedule of Classes Fall 2023
- Schedule of Classes Spring 2023
- Schedule of Intersession 2023
- Schedule of Classes Fall 2022
- Exams
- Grades and Transcripts
- Graduation and Diplomas
- Incoming Student Orientation
- Information Technology
- Marketing & Communications
- Office of Equity & Inclusive Excellence
- Ombudsperson
- Policies and Procedures
- Registration Services
- Student Bar Association (SBA)
- Student Organizations
- Alumni
Telecommunications Law
Class Term:
Fall Term 2016-2017
Catalog Number:
5717
Class Number:
29390
Class Schedule:
Friday
9:00 am
10:50 am
Room:
LAW G20
Professor
Lecture
Credits:
2 (2 Contact, 0 Field)
Priority:
General Enrollment Course
Full Year Course:
No
Category:
Standard Courses
Grading Details
Grade will be based on: 10% classroom participation, 40% mid-term practice-oriented writing assignment, 50% final in-class examination.
Description
This course explores the regulation and evolution of electronic communications in the United States. We will survey the legal framework of telecommunications, broadband and the Internet at several significant points in its development. Following the respective regulatory paths of broadcast, wireline and wireless telephony, cable, and broadband, the analysis will include early Federal Communications Commission broadcast regulation; the Communications Act of 1934 and its progeny; the advent of long-distance and local market telephone competition; the evolution of multichannel video communications; and the changes wrought by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Finally, we will examine technological convergence, the emergent dominance of broadband and wireless communications, and the impact of rapid technological changes.
We will also look at telecommunications from a policy and practice-oriented perspective, keeping in mind that regulations and statutes have played as important (if not more so) a role as court decisions in the development of telecommunications law. Themes that will be addressed include: conflicts between federal and state/local jurisdiction; monopoly versus competitive market regulation and issues associated with transitioning from the former to the latter; universal service issues; and the impact of such concerns as intellectual property and free speech. No prior knowledge of the telecommunications industry (or associated law) is necessary. Exposure to administrative law or antitrust law might be beneficial.