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LINK Centre Post-Graduate Seminar Series

Convergence and New Media in Information Societies

The LINK Centre invites interested persons from the telecomms, IT and broadcasting sectors to attend this post- graduate seminar series, presented by two eminent visiting professors - William Melody and Richard Collins - based on their acclaimed work in similar programmes at the London School of Economics, the UK Open University and the Technical University of Denmark.

Time: Thursday evenings from 12 February to 29 April 2004 (with a short pre-seminar discussion on 5 February) Duration: 3 hours per week – 17:00 – 20:00 Venue: Classroom F, Mwalimu House, Wits Parktown Campus, 2 St David’s Place, Parktown Convened by: Vodacom Foundation Visiting Professors Prof William Melody, London School of Economics & Technical University of Denmark Prof Richard Collins, Open University, UK The seminars will include required readings (about 50 pages per week, with optional additional readings), participant presentations in seminars, including a working draft of a short research paper (approximately 5 000 words) to be submitted at the end of the seminar for peer review. Most seminars will consist of a presentation and discussion led by Prof. Melody or Prof. Collins, followed by a participant-led discussion of selected readings or participant research.

Access to all required and optional readings is via the course resources on WebCT. Access to the general references for the seminar, and to readings for some of the early sessions is also provided from this page.

The content and structure of the seminar may be subject to modification in response to participant interest as the course proceeds. If the timing is right the seminar may prepare a submission on the draft South African Convergence Bill.

Participants will be presented with a certificate of attendance, based on regular attendance and on acceptance of the research paper by the reviewer. Research papers of suitable quality will be considered for publication in the Southern African Journal of Information and Communication published by LINK, or other publications in the field.

Curriculum

Convergence between the telecomms, information technology, and broadcast sectors has been under way for some time. With the latest generation of new technologies (e.g.: IP, broadband, mobile data, WiFi, etc.), and the restructuring of operators and markets within the ICT sector, there are signs that the long-anticipated benefits from convergence can now be realised. The South African draft Convergence Bill will continue its passage through Parliament during 2004.

This seminar will critically assess the evolving dimensions of convergence in light of the related theory, practice and research literature. Specifically, it will examine the interplay among technologies, markets, policies and regulations with respect to:

1. The telecom (information) infrastructure;
2. New services development (e.g. VANS / Internet);
3. The changing structure of television and the role of public broadcasting;
4. The e-economy applications environment; and
5. Changing forms of governance / regulation in the ICT sector.

Throughout the seminar the specific implications of these developments for South Africa and the SADC region will be a topic for discussion.

General References for the Seminar

• Melody, W (ed) (1997) Telecom Reform: Principles, Policies and Regulatory Practices, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby;
• Mansell, R & Wehn, U (eds) (1998) Knowledge Societies: Information Technology for Sustainable Development, Oxford University Press;
• Mansell, R, Samarajiva, R& Mahan, A (eds) (2002) Networking Knowledge for Information Societies: Institutions & Intervention, Delft University Press;
• Okpaku, J (2003) Information and Communication Technologies for African Development, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby;
• LINK Centre Southern African Journal of Information and Communication, University of the Witwatersrand.

Draft seminar outline

1. Thursday 5 February, 17:00 - 18:00: Opportunity for informal discussion of the seminar & its contents with Prof. Melody
   
   
2. Thursday 12 February, 17:00 - 20:00 - Progress and Prospects for Information Societies



• Overview of reforms in the communications sector worldwide and their implications;
  
• Exploring the dimensions and implications of digital divides;
  
• NEPAD and South African objectives for creating information societies;
  
• What did the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) accomplish?
  
• Introduction to the South Africa draft Convergence Bill.

Required readings:

• Melody, W (1999) Telecom Reform: Progress and Prospects, Telecommunications Policy 23 , 7-34;
• Republic of South Africa (2003) Draft Convergence Bill (Notice 3382 of 2003), Department of Communications.

Additional references:

• James, T (ed) (2001) An Information Policy Handbook for Southern Africa, IDRC, Ottawa
• Economic Commisssion for Africa (2003) Policies and Plans on the Information Society: Status and Impact
• WSIS (2003) Declaration of Principles, World Summit on the Information Society, ITU, Geneva
• WSIS (2003) Plan of Action, World Summit on the Information Society, ITU, Geneva
• OECD (2001) Understanding the Digital Divide
• Melody, W (2001) Review of Understanding the Digital Divide, Telecom Reform, Vol 1 No 1, LIRNE.NET
  
• Miles, I (2002) Information Society Revisited: PICTuring the Information Society, in Mansell, R, Samarajiva, R& Mahan, A (eds) Networking Knowledge for Information Societies: Institutions & Intervention, Delft University Press
• Skouby, K (2002) Information Societies: Towards a More Useful Concept, in Mansell, R, Samarajiva, R& Mahan, A (eds) Networking Knowledge for Information Societies: Institutions & Intervention, Delft University Press
  
  
3. Thursday 19 February, 17:00 - 20:00 - The Many Dimensions of Technological Convergence



• The evolution of digital applications - network and content;
  
• Stepping toward increased convergence - has it finally arrived with Internet Protocol on telecomms networks?
  
• Implication of IP, broadband, mobile data, WiFi, etc.
  
• Barriers to new technology applications in developing countries, and South Africa in particular.
  
  

Required readings:

• Arnbak, J (1997) Technology Trends and their Implications for Telecom Regulation, in W Melody (ed), Telecom Reform Principles, Policies and Regulatory Practices, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby;
• Jensen, M (2003) The Current Status of Information and Communication Technologies in Africa, in J Okpaku (ed), Information and Communication Technologies for African Development.

Additional references:

• Goldstein, H (2004) Africa lit a shiny new fiber-optic undersea cable almost two years ago-so why are so few Africans using it?, IEEE Spectrum Online, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York
  
  
4. Thursday 26 February, 17:00 - 20:00 - Market, Services and Industry Convergence



• What markets are converging and how fast?
  
• How are industries being restructured - especially telecomms, broadcasting, IT and Internet?
  
• Investment trends and network rollout;
  
• Price levels and new services development;
  
• How rapidly are national communication borders being eroded?
  
• What are the implications of South Africa's WTO obligations? ?
  
  
5. Thursday 4 March, 17:00 - 20:00 - Convergence Policy and Regulation: The Common Issues



• Telecomms, IT, broadcasting;
  
• Telecomms, electricity, natural gas, transport;
  
• What are regulators doing to stimulate network development?
  
• Increasing role for regional and international authorities?
  
• Increasing role for competition authorities?
  
• New network issues - security, privacy, intellectual property etc.
  
• New content issues - fraud, pornography, etc.
  
  
6. Thursday 11 March, 17:00 - 20:00 - Convergence Policy and Regulation: Case Study - UK



• New UK policy established a converged communication regulator, OFCOM, beginning 2004-01-01. What are its characteristics?
  
• Assessing the new UK framework relating to telecomms, cable, IT, private broadcasting and the BBC;
  
• Implications for media ownership and local content;
  
• Strengths and weaknesses of the new UK framework;
  
• Some lessons for South Africa?
  
  
7. Thursday 18 March, 17:00 - 20:00 - Assessing the Future of Public Broadcasting in a Converged Communication Environment



• Developments in Europe;
  
• The implications of global television;
  
• Media ownership concentration;
  
• Local content and content regulation, e.g. quotas;
  
• The different environment in developing countries;
  
• The special role of public broadcasting in South Africa.
  
  
8. Thursday 25 March, 17:00 - 20:00 - Internet Governance Issues



• The evolving role of ICANN;
  
• What governance is necessary and why?
  
• The role of national governments now, including South Africa;
  
• Is this a global issue? For an international agency like ITU, WIPU, WTO?
  
  
9. Thursday 1 April, 17:00 - 20:00 - Critical Review of the South Africa Convergence Bill



• Each participant will present a 5 - 10 minute critical analysis of the Bill, including suggestions for improvement;
  
• The Bill will briefly be outlined to help organise discussion - the rest of the seminar will be devoted to discussion;
  
• A decision will be taken as to whether a seminar submission should be prepared on the draft Convergence Bill.
  
  
10. Thursday 8 April - Easter break




11. Thursday 15 April, 17:00 - 20:00 - Preparing for the e-Economy



• The components for readiness;
  
• Infrastructure issues - facility and services networks;
  
• Stimulating investment in network development;
  
• Skill, capacity and institutional change;
  
• Experience to date;
  
• Priority areas in developed and developing countries;
  
• The South African e-economy.
  
  
12. Thursday 22 April, 17:00 - 20:00 - The Content Sectors in the e-Economy



• Intellectual property in the e-economy - copyleft?
  
• Public broadcasting generally and in South Africa;
  
• The changing role of publishing;
  
• Libraries;
  
• Universities and education generally.
  
  
13. Thursday 29 April, 17:00 - 20:00 - Priorities for Convergence Legislation in South Africa



• Conclude discussion;
  
• Review of seminar themes and key issues;
  
• 5 - 10 minute presentations on seminar papers;
  
• Hand in seminar papers.
  
  

Course fee

R 5 000 (incl VAT) - student and non-profit organisation discounts available on application.

To register

To register for the course, simply download and print the registration form provided. Then fill in the form in full, and fax it back to the LINK Centre on + 27 + 11 + 717-3910. Please ensure that the original is subsequently handed in on the first day of the first module.

Alternatively, contact the LINK Courses Co-ordinator, Ntomboxolo Currie (+ 27 + 11 + 717-3904) or via link@pdm.wits.ac.za.

Click here to download the registration form
(Note: this requires Acrobat Reader - click here if you need to install Acrobat Reader.)

Contact the LINK Centre for more information.

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