The Power to Reconfigure Access

Dutton, William H., Sharon Eisner Gillett, Lee W. McKnight, and Malcolm
Peltu (2003). Broadband Internet: The Power to Reconfigure Access.
Oxford Internet Institute (OII). Forum Discussion Paper No.1, August
2003. www.oii.ox.ac.uk/resources/publications/FD1.pdf
This paper, based on a forum held at the Oxford Internet Institute
(OII), considers the wide range of social and economic impacts
broadband may have, and the factors – such as industry priorities and
government policy – that are likely to shape this impact. It is a
useful big-picture introduction to why broadband is important and to
the drivers affecting its diffusion. Topics include: • the extent and
equity implications of uneven availability and adoption of broadband; •
differences and commonalities in approaches across regions, nations and
cultures; • roles of industry, government and academia in broadband
developments; • broadband’s relationship to economic, business and
industrial competitiveness; and • outcomes of broadband use in homes,
communities and public services. Part I of the paper focuses on Forum
debates defining broadband and why it matters. Part II identifies the
key broadband divides and dividends. Part III focuses on broadband in
developing countries. Key policy issues are summarized in Part IV. Part
V concludes with a suggested framework for understanding how access is
being reconfigured by a variety of factors and choices shaping the
future of broadband Internet. See Table 4: Illustrative games shaping
the implications of broadband Internet (p. 51) for a summary of
broadband industry sectors and issues and the players involved.