We will use Tim Wu, The Master Switch, to cover the historical background for communication technologies.
Since there's no textbook for the class, we will compile our own mini-textbook, using notes from the lecture. A team of two students takes notes in Google Docs and then adds materials from the slides or other sources. The TAs will edit the draft. Students should complete the draft within one week of the lecture.
The schedule is subject to change, depending on classroom discussion and current events. Invited speakers may be added and will shift the schedule. Slides, assignments and readings are found in CourseWorks.
| Lecture | Day (M or W) | Date | Topics (tentative) | Slides |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M | 01/27 | Class overview and logistics; Internet adoption; industry overview | |
| 2 | W | 01/29 | internet adoption; internet industry "stack" and structure | |
| 3 | M | 02/03 | industry segments; money routing; service providers | |
| 4 | W | 02/05 | industry structure; industry evolution; cable companies; video money routing | |
| 5 | M | 02/10 | video markets; industry changes; newspaper circulation; news consumption; newspaper components | |
| 6 | W | 02/12 | newspaper content and revenue; social media as news | advertising |
| 7 | M | 02/17 | local journalism; critical inforamtion needs; media functions; public radio and television; advertising | advertising |
| 8 | W | 02/19 | advertising economy; political advertising | advertising |
| 9 | M | 02/24 | digital advertising; digital ad economics; ad targeting | advertising |
| 10 | W | 02/26 | ad targeting; programmatic advertising | advertising |
| 11 | M | 03/03 | cookies; advertising privacy | advertising |
| 12 | W | 03/05 | internet as infrastructure | |
| 13 | M | 03/10 | ||
| 14 | W | 03/12 | midterm | |
| no class | M | 03/17 | - | - |
| no class | W | 03/19 | - | - |
| 15 | M | 03/24 | ||
| 16 | W | 03/26 | ||
| 17 | M | 03/31 | ||
| 18 | W | 04/02 | infrastructure; rural broadband | |
| 19 | M | 04/07 | ||
| 20 | W | 04/09 | - | - |
| 21 | M | 04/14 | law | |
| 22 | W | 04/16 | ||
| 23 | M | 04/21 | ||
| 24 | W | 04/23 | ||
| 25 | M | 04/28 | ||
| 26 | W | 04/30 | ||
| 27 | M | 05/05 | ||
| P | M | 05/05 (tentative), afternoon/evening | Final project presentations (15 minutes each, with sign-up) and report | |
| F | M | 05/12, 4:10-7 pm | Final exam (final) |