Examines the way in which "policy" relates to "regulation" in the telecommunications field. Calls for a more comprehensive knowledge of the policymaking process and an awareness of the nature and function of regulation in order to make practical, far-reaching recommendations for the emerging direct broadcast satellite systems. (JMF)

Provides an overview of camera options and selection criteria for desktop videoconferencing. Key factors in image quality are discussed, including lighting, resolution, and signal-to-noise ratio; and steps to improve image quality are suggested. (LRW)

Reviews three basic Internet functions, i.e. communications such as e-mail, remote logon, and file transfer, and highlights useful Internet resources for media technologists in each. Several useful tools to aid in using the Internet are discussed, including gopher, World Wide Web, Veronica, and WAIS (Wide Area Information Server). (LRW)

Explains why ISDN (integrated services digital network) is the most practical solution for high-speed remote access, including reliability, cost, flexibility, scaleability, standards, and manageability. Other data transmission options are discussed, including asymmetric digital subscriber lines (ADSL), high-speed digital subscriber lines (HDSL),…

Describes a program at Pacific Bell that foreshadows a role for training professionals as brokers of learning. Looks at the initiative from three perspectives: (1) the corporate leader who champions it; (2) the training executive who stewards it; and (3) the business-unit heads who implement it. (Author)

Loss of funding for NSFNet and the likelihood of deregulation may lead to endusers paying for operation of the national telecommunications infrastructure and decreased levels of service. Sources for additional funding include increased fees to information providers/third-party access resellers; increased fees to user institutions; and grant or…

Identifies key network indicators that enable the provider of telecommunications service to track and monitor daily network performance and its impact on network users. Network response time, including host- and device-based conditions, circuit and hardware conditions, and CRC (cyclic redundancy check)/link errors; indicator measurements and…

Describes standards for computer-based information systems, including Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) and open distributed processing. The standardization process is explained, and the Open Software Foundation's Distributed Computing Environment is described as a de facto standard for open distributed processing that has already gained…

Introduces this issue, which contains papers from the 1991 Data Compression Conference, and defines data compression. The two primary functions of data compression are described, i.e., storage and communications; types of data using compression technology are discussed; compression methods are explained; and current areas of research are…

Explains NAPLPS (North American Presentation Layer Protocol Syntax), a graphic standard for the encoding of animated graphics, symbols as graphics, and text. Sources of information on NAPLPS are described, including shareware and other software; and use of NAPLPS on electronic bulletin board systems is discussed. (LRW)

Discusses issues in the evaluation of the use of telecommunications in distance education. Topics addressed include telecommunications technologies; evaluating instrumentation for electronic distance education; criteria for evaluating telecommunications-based distance education; and an evaluation model and its application to electronic distance…

Provides guidelines on using two national networks, BITNET and the Internet. The discussion covers electronic mail, bulletin boards, collections of public files, downloading files, logging into remote systems over the Internet, online catalogs and local databases on the Internet, and future applications. (2 references) (MES)

Highlights three areas of technology that may have an impact on the future of teaching, especially as it relates to reading: nanotechnology, hypertext, and telecommunications. (MG)

Profiles the major wireless data communications (WDC) systems, provides an overview of how they work, and compares their communication features. Topics addressed include the market for wireless data; applications for WDC; wireless online searching; cellular data communication; packet radio; digital cellular; criteria for evaluating WDC systems;…

Offers a critical reassessment of the underlying rationale for universal service policies and argues that public policies designed to promote universal telecommunications access are simply a form of wealth redistribution. Considers economic and political issues and discusses how telecommunications can help ameliorate inequalities but not eliminate…