new book of interest: "The First 100 Feet" (fwd)

[Heiko Recktenwald <uzs106@ibm.rhrz.uni-bonn.de>]

> >The following is a book which readers of this list
> might find of interest.
> >For more information please visit
> >http://mitpress.mit.edu/promotions/books/HURFPS98
> >
> >The First 100 Feet
> >Options for Internet and Broadband Access
> >edited by Deborah Hurley and James H. Keller
> >
> >The growth of the Internet has been propelled in
> significant part by user
> >investment in infrastructure: computers, internal
> wiring, and the connection
> >to the Internet provider. This "bottom-up"
> investment minimizes the
> >investment burden facing providers. New
> technologies such as wireless and
> >data transmission over power lines, as well as
> deregulation of
> >telecommunications and electric utilities, will
> provide new opportunities
> >for user investment in intelligent infrastructure
> as leverage points for
> >Internet and broadband access.
> >
> >Recasting the "problem of the last 100 feet" as
> "the opportunity of the
> >first 100 feet," this book challenges individuals,
> businesses, and
> >policymakers to rethink fundamental issues in
> telecommunications policy. The
> >contributors look at options for Internet and
> broadband access from the
> >perspective of homeowners, apartment complexes, and
> small businesses. They
> >evaluate the opportunities and obstacles for
> bottom-up infrastructure
> >development and the implications for traditional
> and alternative providers
> >at the neighborhood, regional, and national levels.
> Already, some argue that
> >Internet service will become the common denominator
> platform on which all
> >other services can be carried.
> >
> >Deborah Hurley is Director of the Information
> Infrastructure Project at
> >Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of
> Government. James H. Keller
> >is Associate Director of the Information
> Infrastructure Project.
> >
> >A Publication of the Harvard Information
> Infrastructure Project
> >6 x 9, 300 pp., ISBN 0-262-58160-4 paperback
> >