Traditionally, city governments have played an active role in the administration of public works that were necessary to the economic survival of the community. However, a major element of the new urban infrastructure, advanced telecommunications networks, are developing in such a way that the municipal role in its development is minimal. This book presents new information on the rapidly changing configuration of urban telecommunications. The editors examine important planning data illustrating how major metro areas are dealing with new opportunities in telecommumication. They describe the interplay among current stakeholders in this area: public utility commissions, city planners and service providers, state governments, telecommunications users (especially large businesses), and consumer groups. The book provides case studies of major U.S. cities, one Canadian city, a metropolitan area on the U.S.-Mexican border, as well as smaller cities that have positioned themselves for international economic trade whereby telecommunications will play a major role.

The contributors find that cities need to be more involved in understanding how telecommunications systems are changing and in planning how they can best exploit new opportunities afforded by these systems. They contend that while telecommunication may not cause economic development, it seems to be a necessary condition for it. The book offers clear illustrations of the extent to which business users depend on communications. The ability of business and government to bypass the local carrier has important implications for the public network and for cities in their use of telecommunication.

This study assesses the potential that telecommunications advances hold for rural America and is the outcome of the third in a series of policy research projects into issues relating telecommunications policy and economic development undertaken by research teams of faculty and students at the Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs and College of Communication, University of Texas at Austin. All three projects have been concerned with telecommunications at two levels: the effects of telecommunications advances on our economy and society and the policy framework that has resulted from divestiture of AT&T. The first project studied state telecommunication policy and resulted in the publication of "Telecommunications Policy and Economic Development: The New State Role" (Praeger, 1989); the second, which dealt with cities and large telecommunications users, produced "The New Urban Infrastructure: Cities and TelecommunicationS" (Praeger, 1990). Telecommunications and rural development has been much more frequently researched in Third World countries than in advanced industrialized ones and this volume represents a significant contribution to the literature on the subject.

The findings are divided into four general research areas. Following an introduction, Chapter Two looks at some fascinating telecommunications applications in American rural businesses from Wal-Mart, to traditional rural businesses like the lumber industry, to the opening of new businesses like telemarketing. Chapter Three assesses the use of telecommunication for delivery of public services from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to health care and distance education. Chapter Four asserts that many of the benefits of telecommunications for rural America will only be realized if the small independent or cooperative telephone companies remain healthy and progressive. The substantial contribution to community development, from community revitalization and regional cooperation to infrastructure upgrading, is the focus of Chapter Five. A final chapter offers conclusions. This is required reading for students, scholars, and practitioners in the fields of communications/telecommunications and government.

Written for communications specialists and policy makers, this book is a penetrating examination into the rapidly changing approach of states to telecommunications regulation and planning since the divesture of AT&T in January, 1984. The editors place particular emphasis on the conjunction between the increasing state role in developing and implementing telecommunications policy and a new interest in economic development on the part of state governments. Following a discussion of the major issues surrounding telecommunications regulation and an exploration of the links between telecommunications and economic development, the experiences of nine states are considered in separate chapters. The contributors also consider telecommunications applications for improving efficiency in state governments. The result is a comprehensive look at existing trends in state telecommunications regulations regulation that will be invaluable not only to officials ans legislators, but also to students of communications policy.

Each of the nine state chapters includes a profile of the state's social and economic makeup, a description of the policy environment, a statement of regulatory policy, and an analysis of the relationship between telecommunications and economic development in that state. A number of chapters also include detailed case studies -- among them a study of New York's Teleport, Nebraska's AGNET, and Washington State's 1985 Regulatory Flexibility Act. Based on their in-depth study of the nine states' experiences, the editors argue that states need to become better informed about the changing telecommunications environment and its potential for improving efficiency in state government. In addition, both planning and regulation must be more related to economic development plans than they are currently in most states. Finally, the editors conclude that traditional state regulation of telecommunications companies is inadequate for establishing policy in this increasingly complex and important area.

Originally published in 1990 this book provides an authoritative and detailed account of the initiatives of US state governments with science and technology programs designed to foster economic growth. Two key questions are posed: Do state governments have policy instruments that are sufficiently powerful to affect thelevels and growth rates of their regional economies? and Are national and global economic forces so powerful that they render state action ineffective? Several subsidiary themes are discusses in this context, namely: the most commonly used policy instruments, the impacts on federalism and on governance and how well the universities and other educational institutions serve the economic activities imposed on them.

Originally published in 1990 this book provides an authoritative and detailed account of the initiatives of US state governments with science and technology programs designed to foster economic growth. Two key questions are posed: Do state governments have policy instruments that are sufficiently powerful to affect thelevels and growth rates of their regional economies? and Are national and global economic forces so powerful that they render state action ineffective? Several subsidiary themes are discusses in this context, namely: the most commonly used policy instruments, the impacts on federalism and on governance and how well the universities and other educational institutions serve the economic activities imposed on them.

In the wake of declining federal involvement in state affairs, state governments have taken the initiative in creating science and technology policies and programs for economic development. The contributors to this study look at the attempts of eight states-California, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and T

In the wake of declining federal involvement in state affairs, state governments have taken the initiative in creating science and technology policies and programs for economic development. The contributors to this study look at the attempts of eight states-California, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and T

Written for communications specialists and policy makers, this book is a penetrating examination into the rapidly changing approach of states to telecommunications regulation and planning since the divestiture of AT&T in January, 1984. The editors place particular emphasis on the conjunction between the increasing state role in developing and implementing telecommunications policy and a new interest in economic development on the part of state governments. Following a discussion of the major issues surrounding telecommunications regulation and an exploration of the links between telecommunications and economic development, the experiences of nine states are considered in separate chapters. The contributors also consider telecommunications applications for improving efficiency in state government. The result is a comprehensive look at existing trends in state telecommunications regulation that will be invaluable not only to officials and legislators, but also to students of communications policy.

Each of the nine state chapters includes a profile of the state's social and economic makeup, a description of the policy environment, a statement of regulatory policy, and and analysis of the relationship between telecommunications and economic development in that state. A number of chapters also include detailed case studies--among them a study of New York's Teleport, Nebraska's AGNET, and Washington State's 1985 Regulatory Flexibility Act. Based on their in-depth study of the nine states' experiences, the editors argue that states need to become better informed about the changing telecommunications environment and its potenial for improving efficiency in state government. In addition, both planning and regulation must be more related to economic development plans than they are currently in most states. Finally, the editors conclude that traditional state regulation of telecommunications companies is inadequate for establishing policy in this increasingly complex and important area.

This interdisciplinary volume examines how nine arid or semi-arid river basins with thriving irrigated agriculture are doing now and how they may change between now and mid-century. The rivers studied are the Colorado, Euphrates-Tigris, Jucar, Limari, Murray-Darling, Nile, Rio Grande, Sao Francisco, and Yellow. Engineered dams and distribution networks brought large benefits to farmers and cities, but now the water systems face multiple challenges, above all climate change, reservoir siltation, and decreased water flows. Unchecked, they will see reduced food production and endanger the economic livelihood of basin populations. The authors suggest how to respond to these challenges without loss of food production, drinking water, or environmental health. The analysis of the political, hydrological, and environmental conditions within each basin gives policymakers, engineers, and researchers interested in the water/sustainability nexus a better understanding of engineered rivers in arid lands.

Demographers predict that world population will double to around twelve billion people during the first half of the twenty-first century and then begin to level off. Based on this scenario, Sustainable Development: The Challenge of Transition examines what societal changes must occur over the next generation to ensure a successful transition to sustainability within the constraints of the natural environment. An array of prominent authors present a broad discussion of the dimensions of sustainable development: not just economic and environmental, but also spiritual and religious, corporate and social, scientific and political. Unlike other books on the subject, this volume provides insightful policy recommendations about how business, government, and individuals must change their values, priorities, and behaviour to meet these challenges. This volume will appeal to scholars and decision makers interested in global change, environmental policy, population growth, and sustainable development, and also to corporate environmental managers.

This book stems from a major international essay competition on regional responses to global climate change. First prize in the competition was awarded to Daniel Botkin, author of Discordant Harmonies (Oxford, 1989). The essays selected for this book cover developed and underdeveloped countries alike, and provide valuable background information for policy makers, businesses, and the industries most likely to be affected by global warming. The book is divided into three parts. Contributions in the first part focus on the concept of a regional approach to climate change and the methods best suited to studying its impacts. The second section illustrates the variety of impacts that regions will experience as a result of climate change; the third describes policies designed to deal with climate change. Written by some of the most knowledgeable experts in the field, these writings will interest all policymakers and research analysts involved in the ongoing debate on global warming.

Demographers predict that the world population will double during the first half of the 21st century before it will begin to level off. In this volume, a group of prominent authors examine what societal changes must occur to meet this challenge to the natural environment and the transformational changes that we must experience to achieve sustainability. Frances Cairncross, Herman E. Daly, Stephen H. Schneider and others provide a broad discussion of sustainable development. They detail economic and environmental, as well as spiritual and religious, corporate and social, scientific and political factors. Sustainable Development: The Challenge of Transition offers many insightful policy recommendations about how business, government, and individuals must change their current values, priorities, and behavior to meet present and future challenges. It will appeal to scholars and decision makers interested in global change, environmental policy, population growth, and sustainable development, and also to corporate environmental managers.

When The Impact of Global Warming on Texas was first published in 1995, it discussed climate change as a likely future phenomenon, predicted by scientific studies. This entirely rewritten second edition presents evidence that early climate change impacts can now be observed and identifies the threats climate change will pose to Texas through the year 2050. It also offers the hopeful message that corrective action, if taken now, can avert unmanageable consequences. The book begins with a discussion of climate science and modeling and the information that can be derived from these sources for Texas. The authors follow this with an analysis of actual climate trends in the various Texas climate regions, including a predicted rise in temperatures of 5.4 degrees F (plus or minus 1.8 F) by the end of the century. This could lead to less rainfall and higher evaporation, especially in regions that are already dry. Other important effects include possible changes in El Nino (climate variability) patterns and hurricane behaviors. Taking into account projected population growth, subsequent chapters explore likely trends with respect to water availability, coastal impacts, and biodiversity. The authors then look at the issues from a policy perspective, focusing on Texas's importance to the national economy as an energy producer, particularly of oil and gas. They recommend that Texas develop its own climate change policy to serve the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy independence, ensuring regional security, and improving management of water, air, land, and wildlife.