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Comm 381 Spring 2003

Tues & Thurs, 11:15-12:30    Willard 360
Class web page: http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/m/x/mxj20/comm381/
Listserv: L-COMM381@lists.psu.edu
 

Course Objectives
This course is designed to provide an introduction to a wide range of regulatory and policy issues affecting the telecommunications industries.  Developments in technology, business practices, and regulatory philosophy are leading to dramatic changes in how these industries are regulated.  The goal of this course is to help you understand the implications of these changes for business strategy and for society as a whole.  Some of the questions we will focus on include:

• Why do we regulate telecommunications?
• How does the regulatory process work?
• How do regulations affect the telecom industries and society?
• How can we choose the best policies for the future?

Prerequisite
Comm 180.  If you have not successfully passed Comm 180, you will be dropped from this course.

Course packet
There is no textbook for this course.  Instead, we will be using a reading packet, electronic reserve readings, web pages, and handouts.  The reading packet is available at the Student Book Store, 330 E. College Ave ($33.30).  These readings are often complex and difficult.  You should budget at least TWO hours for each reading assignment.  

Supplemental readings
I strongly encourage you to read a major newspaper (New York Times, Wall St. Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington Post, etc.) every day.  The telecommunications field changes rapidly and reading a daily paper is the only way to keep up.  ALL students can get the New York Times for FREE.  Take advantage of this opportunity!  There are also many listservs that provide frequent, free updates on current telecom issues.  Here are two listservs you should subscribe to.  Some extra-credit questions may be based on articles in these listservs! 

  Benton Foundation Communications Policy Listserv (Benton-Compolicy list): http://owa.benton.org/listserv/wa.exe?SUBED1=benton-compolicy&A=1

  Gigalaw Daily News Newsletter:  http://www.gigalaw.com/newsletters/dailynews.html

Links to government, industry and consumer law and policy web sites

Attendance
This course covers a large amount of very complex material.  If you miss class, you will find it difficult to keep up and do well in the course.  You are responsible for all materials distributed and/or discussed in class.

Exams

There will be three exams consisting of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.  Exams will include material from lectures, discussions, and reading assignments.  

• Exam One (250 points)—Thursday, February 13

• Exam Two (250 points)—Thursday, March 27

• Exam Three (250 points)— Thursday, May 1

Absolutely NO make-up exams will be given without prior approval AND documentation of a medical excuse or other personal emergency.

Assignments
Make sure you read the full descriptions for each assignment on the course website.

• Policy player assignment—Due February 18 (100 points)
   

• Issue assignments--Due March 20 and April 15 (75 points each)  

 Extra credit assignments—Various due dates
Throughout the semester there will be in-class quizzes and assignments.  Most of these will be simple quizzes on the reading assignment due that day or current issues that are discussed in the news listservs.  These quizzes/assignments will count as extra credit.  Therefore, you cannot make up any extra credit assignment for any reason whatsoever.  If you miss an assignment, you simply lose that opportunity to earn extra credit.

Guidelines for written assignments (follow this link for complete guidelines)

All written work must be STAPLED and double-spaced, with one-inch margins and typed in a 10 or 12-point font unless otherwise instructed.  I encourage you to print on both sides of the page to conserve paper (but this is not required). Don't turn it in if it is not stapled!

All written assignments are due in class.  Papers turned in after class will incur a 20% penalty.  Papers turned in more than more than 24 hours late will incur a 50% penalty.  Papers turned in more than 48 hours late will not be accepted.  There will be NO exceptions, so plan ahead and finish early!  Printers run out of ink, computers crash, and computer labs fill up.  It is your responsibility to make sure you finish the assignment early, so that if you run into problems you can still turn in the paper on time.  I strongly encourage you to finish your paper at least one day ahead of time to avoid any problems. 

As students studying communication, you should understand and avoid plagiarism (presenting the work of others as your own).  A discussion of plagiarism, with examples, can be found at: http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/m/x/mxj20/comm381/plagiarism.htm    

Guide to citation:  http://www.libraries.psu.edu/crsweb/infolit/andyou/mod8/citing2.htm

Your written work will be graded primarily on content (relevance, understanding, insight, originality, and adhering to the requirements of the assignment).  Form (grammar, spelling, punctuation, organization, and clarity of expression) will have an impact on your grade!  Strive for brevity and clarity in all your written work.  Content and form typically are related.  Vague and muddled writing is usually the result of not thinking through your ideas carefully.  Remember: think before you write…and then proofread, proofread, proofread!

Grading
Grades are obviously important to you.  Please wait 24 hours before requesting a grade change.  You must include a WRITTEN explanation of why you think your grade should be changed. 

Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly and creative activity in an open, honest and responsible manner, free from fraud and deception, and is an educational objective of the College of Communications and the university.  Cheating, including plagiarism, falsification of research data, using the same assignment for more than one class, turning in someone else’s work, or passively allowing others to copy your work, will result in academic penalties at the discretion of the instructor, and may result in the grade of “XF’ (failed for academic dishonesty) being put on your permanent transcript.  In serious cases it could also result in suspension or dismissal from the university.

As students studying communication, you should understand and avoid plagiarism (presenting the work of others as your own).  A discussion of plagiarism, with examples, can be found at:
http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/m/x/mxj20/comm381/plagiarism.htm

The rules and policies regarding academic integrity should be reviewed by every student, and can be found online at: www.psu.edu/ufs/policies/47-00.html#49-20, and in the College of Communications document, “Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures.”  Any student with a question about academic integrity or plagiarism is strongly encouraged to discuss it with his or her instructor.

Additional Information:  One of the advantages of attending a large university like Penn State is the vast array of FREE resources available to you.  I encourage you to take advantage of them!  For a complete list of services, go to: http://www.psu.edu/ur/student.html

Web page  
The syllabus and reading assignments may change fairly often.  You are expected to check the online syllabus for any changes to assignments and the schedule.   In addition, I frequently communicate with the class via e-mail.  Make sure you check your e-mail on a regular basis, at least twice per week.

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