What's New

Conceptual organization

Its unique strength is that it is organized by analytic concepts instead of current industry lines, which are constantly outdated by technological convergence. The basic concepts of the 3rd edition—power, entry, pricing, bad content, good content, consolidation, access, and classification—equip students with a durable and yet flexible intellectual structure that can help parse a complex and ever-changing field. 

Coverage

The third edition includes coverage of every major communications service including radio and TV broadcast, wireline and mobile telephony, cable TV, direct broadcast satellite (DBS), Internet and services provided over IP networks such as VoIP and IPTV. 

The book has broad coverage in another sense:  the text isn't framed as essentially an antitrust course as applied to communication industries.  Rather, the text is deeply engaged with the cultural, social, and political conflicts inherent in communications law and policy. 

Teachability

Let's admit it: this material is very challenging, not only for students but also faculty.  Serious engagement requires understanding technology, economics, administrative law, constitutional law, with everything potentially changing every few months.   That's why I have spent enormous time thinking about pedagogy. 

There are clear, concise technological and legal summaries, with useful framings and transitions.  The Notes and Questions (all with memorable or clarifying "short titles")  provide crucial context and raise useful questions for discussion and deeper analysis. 

The judicial opinions and FCC reports have been edited to abide by Einstein's exhortation to be as simple as possible but no simpler.

Technical diagrams, flowcharts, concept maps, and mind maps also help students navigate between minutiae and the big picture.

And the extraordinarily detailed Teacher's Manual is in the process of being updated.

Reference

Although this is a teaching book and not a reference, practicing attorneys can benefit tremendously.  First, they can get a big picture understanding of the relevant issues.  Second, annual electronic supplements provide useful updates.  Third, there's a great Research Appendix that provides the single best guide on how to research communications law with clear explanations of the FCC rulemaking process and the documents generated along the way.