 |
 |
*****Call for papers***** Special Issue on Telecommunications in Europe Convergence: The Journal of Research into New Media Technologies Submission deadline for this issue is : 30th October 2001 For Volume 8 No. 2 of the Journal (Summer 2002) we are seeking papers relating to research projects or case studies on European telecommunications policy. This issue will be guest-edited by Peter Humphreys, Reader in Government, University of Manchester. For well over a decade now, with the UK in the vanguard, European states have been gradually liberalising their previously highly protected telecommunications markets, and privatising their former monopolistic, state-owned telecommunication operators. Although the process has been driven by underlying market and technological pressures, the European Union has been an important agency for promoting within Europe this paradigm change, seen as vital for Europe¹s competitiveness in the much vaunted Information Society¹. This special issue focuses on the regulatory policy issues raised by liberalisation, privatisation and competition in the telecommunications sector as it converges with other sectors IT, Internet, media - in the digital age. One contextual article already commissioned looks at European telecommunications reform in the global context (the ITU, the WTO, the US influence, etc.). Additional articles are invited on any of, or combining several of, the following themes: Regulatory convergence and diversity: The EU¹s liberalisation and re-regulation Directives have allowed for significant discretion regarding implementation. How diverse are member states¹ regulatory structures and practices? The performance of the national regulatory regimes . The Commission¹s 1999 Fifth Report on the Telecom Regulatory Package found significant variety in the division of regulatory powers between ministries, regulatory bodies, and national competition authorities. How diversely have national regulators performed? Corporate strategies and European competition policy: Liberalisation, globalisation and convergence¹ with the IT and audiovisual sectors have produced a wave of mergers and acquisitions, and strategic alliances. What are the implications for competition policy? The future of universal service: What kind of policies are required to avoid an information rich/information poor¹ scenario? The convergence¹ of telecoms with the audiovisual and IT sectors Is policy for convergence being driven by a mixture of technological determinism, an overarching concern for economic competitiveness, and a blind faith in competition delivering the public-interest benefits? Proposals for papers on other themes will be considered. Proposals for articles or completed papers should be sent to: Peter Humphreys Address: Department of Government, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL. E-mail: [log in to unmask] Convergence is a quarterly refereed academic journal which addresses the creative, social, political and pedagogical issues raised by the advent of new media technologies. On-line info at http://www.luton.ac.uk/Convergence Proposals for articles or completed papers for all other issues should be sent to: Julia Knight or Alexis Weedon, Editors, Convergence, School of Media Arts, University of Luton, 75 Castle Street, Luton, LU1 3AJ, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 1582 734111, fax: + 44 1582 489014, email: [log in to unmask] ----------------- Convergence: The Journal of Research into New Media Technologies Convergence is a paper journal. To join our e-mailing list, for further information and for details of back issues, see our web site at http://www.luton.ac.uk/Convergence The copyright of all articles, papers, reports and reviews published in Convergence rests with the University of Luton Press. Any author(s) wishing to have their published text reproduced elsewhere should seek the necessary permission via the Editors Edited by Julia Knight, Jeanette Steemers & Alexis Weedon Dept of Media Arts, University of Luton, 75 Castle St., Luton, LU1 3AJ, UK Editorial email: [log in to unmask] Tel: +44 1582 489031/489144 Fax: +44 1582 489014 Web site: http://www.luton.ac.uk/Convergence ----------------- %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%