Rick Ducey is the Chief Strategy Officer for BIA Advisory Services. Rick assists clients with their business planning and sales models, strategic research and market assessment, designing and implementing IT strategies.

A known expert and frequent speaker on the transforming media ecosystem, Rick is the program director for BIA’s conference, “Winning Media Strategies” and for the continuous advisory service called Transformative Media Strategies (TMS). Both programs address how new technologies, competition, shifting consumer demographics and media usage trends are driving changes in the media ecosystem and what traditional media companies must do to be successful in the new environment.

Prior to joining BIAfn in 2000, Rick was a top executive at the National Association of Broadcasters. He was Senior Vice President of NAB’s Research and Information Group. In this position, he was in charge of the association’s new technology assessment, audience and policy research, strategic planning, information systems, including all Internet operations and he also developed publications and seminars.

Before joining NAB in 1983, Rick was a faculty member in the Department of Telecommunication at Michigan State University where he taught and did research in the areas of emerging telecommunication technologies and strategic market research. He also served on the graduate management faculties of George Mason University and George Washington University in telecommunications management and the University of Maryland, where he taught strategic market management and research methodologies. He published a number of research articles and papers in these areas and serves on editorial boards of leading scholarly journals in the communications field. He worked at radio stations WSOQ-AM/WEZG-FM and Upstate Cablevision in North Syracuse, NY.

Rick received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University; M.S. from Syracuse University and B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

“Governing the Revolution in Global Information and Communications Markets” (PDF)

Peter F. Cowhey, Senior Counselor, US Trade Representative; Dean and Qualcomm Professor, UC San Diego (on leave)

Post-lecture reception sponsored by the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media’s ICT for Development Lecture Series.

Please REGISTER by sending an email to .

Peter Cowhey is serving as the Senior Counselor to the US Trade Representative while on leave from his position as Dean and Qualcomm Professor at the University of California, San Diego.

He has served as Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies since 2001.  He is the former Director of the University of California system’s Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation and head of policy studies for the California Institute on Telecommunications and Information Technology.

Cowhey’s research has especially focused on the political economy of international trade, investment and regulatory policies.  He served as the Senior Counselor to the Chairman and Chief of the International Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission from 1994 to 1997.  During this time the Commission completely revamped its global competition policies and worked intensively with USTR on forging a WTO agreement on basic telecommunications services.  His newest book is Transforming Global Information and Communications Markets: The Political Economy of Change (MIT Press, 2009).

Cowhey serves on the boards of the Grameen Foundation, the Institute of the Americas, and the California Council on Science and Technology.  He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Pacific Council on International Affairs.

Cowhey holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University, and a master’s and Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.

An experts workshop co-organized by the Quello Center with the Institute for Information Policy, The Pennsylvania State University; School of Communication, Information and Library Science, Rutgers University; School of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications; and The New America Foundation.

Joel West (www.JoelWest.org) is associate professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the San José State University College of Business. His research interests include innovation strategies in the ICT sector, technical entrepreneurship and innovation policy. He is the co-editor of Open Innovation: Researching a New Paradigm (Oxford, 2006) and is currently working on a book on the San Diego telecommunications industry entitled From MIT to Qualcomm. He holds an S.B. from MIT and a Ph.D. from UC Irvine, and spent 20 years as a software industry engineer, manager and entrepreneur.

ONSITE PARTICIPATION AGENDA (Speaker bios in PDF | Agenda in PDF)

An archive copy of the webcast is available now at http://wmsu.org/program.php?id=293

Michigan needs to reposition its largely industrial and agricultural economy by expanding high-tech, knowledge intensive economic activities. Access to advanced information and communication technology is an important prerequisite to reaching this goal. However, complementary assets (e.g., education, skills, and entrepreneurs) are needed to take advantage of broadband. 

Whereas the private sector will have to play a strong role in advancing our information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, the public sector, non-profit organizations, large users, and small users all have important contributions to make. The goal of this workshop is to bring an inclusive group of stakeholders together to advance the dialog on the status of IT infrastructure in Michigan forward and to explore practical ways to bring the state closer to the forefront of the knowledge economy. 

The workshop is designed to facilitate a dialogue among major stakeholders.  Online participants may e-mail questions to the presenters to quello@msu.edu.  Please join the workshop onsite or online to:
• Learn about initiatives to upgrade Michigan’s information infrastructure
• Hear from vendors and communities about projects in Michigan and in other states
• Get an update on new developments in broadband over powerline, wireless, and fiber
• Network with a community of practitioners and experts
• Participate in developing a joint vision for Michigan’s future in the information economy

AGENDA

1:00-1:10 Welcome
• Johannes M. Bauer, Co-Director, Quello Center
• Rex LaMore, Director, Center for Community and Economic Development
• Charles Steinfield, Chair, Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media

1:10-1:40 Opening address
• Kenneth Theis, Director, Michigan Department of Information Technology (Presentation PDF)

1:40-3:10 Status of IT infrastructure in Michigan and user needs
Moderator: Kurt DeMaagd, Professor, Michigan State University
• Rose Young, Manager Clinical Systems, Information Technology and Principal Investigator, MATTeR, Marquette General Hospital (Presentation PDF)
• Jamey Fitzpatrick, President & CEO, Michigan Virtual University
• Mike Weber, Executive Director, Northern Michigan Broadband Cooperative
• Robert LaRose, Professor, Michigan State University (Presentation PDF)

3:10-3:30 Networking break

3:30-4:00 Lessons from other states
• Jane Patterson, Executive Director, e-NC (via teleconference) (Presentation PDF)

4:00-5:30 Advancing Michigan in the knowledge economy: solutions and approaches
Moderator: Steven S. Wildman, Co-Director, Quello Center
• Paul Fuglie, Vice President, Regulatory and Governmental Affairs, Verizon
• Raymond Blair, Director of Advanced Networking, IBM Global Services (Presentation PDF)
• Robin Gleason, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, AT&T Michigan
• Scott Zimmer, President, Air Advantage LLC (Presentation PDF)
• Tim Ransberger, Director of Government Relations, Charter Communications

5:30-6:00 Networking reception

Registration for onsite participation

There will be no fee for this event, but please register in advance.

Parking

Metered parking is available in the Kellogg Center ramp (ramp #4).

More information

For more information please contact Johannes M. Bauer (bauerj@msu.edu, 517.432.8003), Kurt DeMaagd (kdemaagd@msu.edu, 517.355.4714), Steve S. Wildman (swildman@msu.edu, 517.432.8004), Rex LaMore (lamore@msu.edu, 517.353.9555), or the Quello Center at 517.432.8001.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS & INFORMATION:
MSU WiROI Presentation
WiROI Pamphlet

Professor Barry R. Litman was a noted media economist who taught in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media at MSU for more than 30 years.  He passed away in December of 2008.  The Department and the Quello Center for Telecommunication Management and Law at MSU have established the Barry R. Litman Commemorative Lecture in his honor.

Dr. Chan-Olmsted’s talk is entitled, “From Industrial Organization of Broadcast TV to Strategic Management of Mobile TV: The Evolving Paths of Media Management and Economics.”

Biography:

Dr. Sylvia Chan-Olmsted received her Ph.D. degree from Michigan State University with an emphasis in media economics and marketing. She is a professor in the Department of Telecommunication, and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Journalism and Communiations at the University of Florida.  Dr. Chan-Olmsted also currently holds the Al and Effie Flanagan Professorship in the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida. She is the author of the book, Competitive Strategy for Media Firms, co-editor of the books, Media Management and Economics Handbook and Global Media Economics, and author of numerous book chapters and articles published in the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, and the Journal of Media Economics. Dr. Chan-Olmsted teaches classes in audience analysis, telecommunication management, media strategy and competition, brand management, and research methods. Dr. Chan-Olmsted is also a senior research associate of the Public Utility Research Center (PURC) at the University of Florida and has received research grants from institutions such as the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), Magness Institute at Cable Center, and Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER).

Sponsored by the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media and the Quello Center for Telecommunication Management and Law.  Additional support for the lecture has come from donations from many students, colleagues, and friends of Barry Litman.

Approaches based on the perspective of complex adaptive systems have great promise for the development of superior policies.  A growing number of researchers and practitioners have recognized this potential and for the past few years explored the relevance, but also the possible limitations, of applying complexity theory to shape communications policy.  This workshop will bring together experts from academia, industry, government, and civic society to share cutting edge recent research and derive specific lessons for public policy.

The morning will be dedicated to presentations and discussion reviewing current developments in the theory of complex adaptive systems and their relevance for communications policy. In the afternoon, the group will apply this knowledge to a specific current issue of communications policy with the goal to work out specific and tangible lessons.  We hope to produce a brief report based on the workshop and possibly publish background paper contributions as a special journal issue.

Johannes M. Bauer, Michigan State University
Barbara A. Cherry, Indiana University
D. Linda Garcia, Georgetown University
Patricia H. Longstaff, Syracuse University
Volker Schneider, University of Konstanz
Ellen Surles, Booz Allen Hamilton

Agenda

9:00-9:10 Welcome and workshop goals
Johannes M. Bauer, Michigan State University

9:10-11:00 Theoretical foundations and contributions
  *What can complexity theory explain that other theories cannot
  *How to develop policies under uncertainty characteristic of complex adaptive systems (adaptability, resilience, sustainability)
Facilitator: Barbara A. Cherry, Indiana University

11:00-11:30 Break

11:30-1:00 Models and tools to analyze complex adaptive systems
  *Modeling issues
  *Using empirical data
Facilitator: Ellen Surles, Booz Allen Hamilton

1:00-2:00 Working lunch
  *Break-out discussions “Applying complexity theory to the development of a U.S. national broadband strategy”

2:00-2:30 Break

2:30-4:00 Policy application: applying complexity theory to the development of a U.S. national broadband strategy
  *Innovation policy
  *Funding for broadband infrastructure
  *Network neutrality
  *Lessons from other nations’ broadband strategies
Facilitator: Patricia H. Longstaff, Syracuse University

4:00-4:30 Break

4:30-6:00 Communication with policy-makers and shaping a research agenda
  *How to communicate a complexity theory perspective to a broader audience
  *Developing a research agenda
Facilitator: D. Linda Garcia, Georgetown University

5:50-6:00 Concluding remarks
Volker Schneider, University of Konstanz

Symposium Agenda | Speaker Biographies | Presentations NOW AVAILABLE

Sponsor: John D. Evans Foundation

Internet-based new media are reshaping the media landscape.  The effects on the print and broadcast media have been most dramatic.  The newspaper industry is collapsing, the magazine industry is consolidating around fewer publications with reduced circulations, radio profits have declined substantially, and broadcast television ratings continue to slide.  Multichannel services (cable, satellite, and telco IPTV) are net gainers, but more impressive has been the rise and proliferation of online sources of content.  Recent Pew surveys show that more people now get their news online than from newspapers.  The variety of content available online vastly exceeds what is supplied by traditional media.  These changes have been rapid and are not yet incorporated in our thinking about media policy.  This symposium explores the implications of new media for U.S. communications policy by focusing on traditional goals of media policy and asking how they might best be achieved in the new and emerging media environment.

Schedule

1:00-1:10 Welcome

1:10-1:40 Opening keynote address
Richard E. Wiley, Partner, Wiley Rein, and former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (Wiley Keynote)

1:40-3:00 Scarcity, Diversity, Efficiency: Media Structure Regulation Reconsidered

Diversity and Efficiency are policy goals traditionally pursued through Congressional mandates and FCC regulations to that relied heavily on media ownership restrictions to promote competition within individual media industries and limit concentration of voices.  While there is some disagreement among scholars, a basic assumption of these policies is that less concentration promotes diversity and, within limits, efficiency—especially when the number of outlets is limited.  The rise of internet-based suppliers of content raises questions about whether scarcity concerns are still valid, while at the same time undermining the economics of traditional media.  On the one hand, this means fewer traditional media outlets are likely to survive in the future, which, other things equal, would heighten concentration concerns.  On the other hand, some consolidation may be necessary to preserve outlets and, perhaps, voices.  It must also be asked whether rising prominence of internet sources should allay concerns about concentration in traditional media.

Chair:  Larry Patrick, Patrick Communications

Panelists:

Kevin J. Martin, Former chairman, Federal Communications Commission
John B. Horrigan, Pew Internet and American Life Project (Horrigan Presentation)
Eli M. Noam, Columbia University
Patricia Aufderheide, American University (Aufderheide Presentation)
Allen P. Grunes, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (Grunes Remarks | Grunes Presentation)

3:00-3:30 Refreshments

3:30-4:50 Media Proliferation and Fragmentation: Media Content Regulation Reconsidered

The regulatory response to the proliferation of media outlets in recent decades has been diminished regulation of content, even as remaining content regulations have become more asymmetric: treating alternative platforms and delivery modes quite differently.  The widely accepted notion of a marketplace of ideas holds that a larger number and diversity of media outlets contributes to a vibrant civic society and might justify even less regulatory oversight.  However, new research suggests that bias may matter more than could be documented in the past.  Further, there is work showing that political participation on the local level is influenced by the media consumed and available to local citizens.  On the other hand, there is growing concern that a proliferation of content options is fragmenting media audiences to the point that we can no longer count on shared media experiences and exposure to opposing ideas, and this is leading to a less productive policy dialog and increasing polarization.  This session explores the implications of these trends and conflicting observations for the future of media content policy.

Chair:  John D. Evans, John Evans Foundation (Evans Opening Remarks | Evans Presentation)

Panelists:

Robert M. Entman, George Washington University (Entman Presentation)
Gigi B. Sohn, Public Knowledge
Frank Pasquale, Seton Hall Law School (Pasquale Presentation)
Matthew Hindman, Arizona State University (Hindman Presentation)

4:50-5:00 Concluding Remarks

5:00-6:00 Reception (Winners Room, National Press Club)

Together with other leading experts, Quello Center Co-Directors Johannes M. Bauer and Steve Wildman will participate on the Telecommunications Issues Roundtable. For more information please visit http://ipu.msu.edu/programs/miforum/index.php.