1 Course description

 The course focuses on legal and regulations requirements of telecommunication systems at the international level through different international standards bodies (ISO, IEEE, ITU, 3GPP,) and how this can be implement at the national level.

The course is primarily focused on the wired and wireless communication regulations and their legal aspects with focus on the telecommunication act and the path of local competition, wireless regulation, the market for video programming, the telecommunication industry transition, digital television; models of regulations and amendments and Regulations.

2 Learning Outcomes

 A.    Knowledge and Understanding

 At the end of the programme students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of

1.The performance issues in current and future regulations of telecommunications systems including standardization process. 

2.The techniques needed to analyze legal and regulations aspects in telecommunications issues. 

• B.      Cognitive/ Intellectual Skills/ Application of Knowledge

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1.  To formulate national policies and procedures for implementation of legal and regulations. 

2.  Describe how a regulation at international levels can be implement at national level. 

 C.    Communication/ICT/Numeracy/Analytic Techniques/Practical Skills                                        

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1. Discuss and apply legal and regulations at the international level in telecommunications systems.

2. Know the most important applications of regulations in communication engineering.

D. General transferable skills 

At the end of the programme students should be able to:

1.Have the capacity to understand and analyse legal aspects specific to communication technologies and the success or failure of new trends. (D1)

2.Use the usual English vocabulary concerning legal and regulations.

3 Course Content

• Introduction, Networks, and Bottlenecks
• The Basics of Telecom Technology, The Traditional Model of Regulation, and the AT&T Break-up
• The Telecom Act and The Path of Local Competition
• Introduction to The Internet
• The Future of the Internet
• Voice over Internet Protocol
• Wireless Regulation
• Intercarrier Compensation and Universal Service
• The Market For Video Programming
• Industry Transitions, Digital Television, and Digital Copyright
• Models of Regulation and IP As A Common Law Alternative
• The First Amendment and Regulation of the Internet’s Content

4 Learning and Teaching Strategy 

A course handbook will be provided in advance and this will contain in depth information relating to the course content. This will give an opportunity to the students to prepare the course. The lecture materials will be posted on the web page that will also contain comprehensive web links for further relevant information. The module will be delivered through lectures, tutorial/practice sessions and group discussions. In addition to the taught element, students will be expected to undertake a range of self-directed learning activities.

By the end of the course students will be able to understand and analyse legal aspects specific to communication technologies and the success or failure of new trends.

5 Assessment Criteria:

For the assignment, criteria will be drawn up appropriate to the topic, based on the learning outcomes.

6 Assessment Pattern

7  Strategy for feedback and student support during module 

• Interactive lecturing style, with opportunities for questions, and requirement to work on simple problems.
• Peer marking of tutorial questions for formative feedback.
• Tutorial classes where students can ask questions and be lead through solutions as required.
• Opportunities to consult lecturer and/or tutorial assistant in office hours. 

8  Indicative Resources

Core Text          

1. Telecommunications Law: Unscrambling the Signals, Unbundling the Law, CITI Symposium, Columbia Law Review, May 1997.

Background texts

Journals         

Journal of Information Policy

Teaching/Technical Assistance

2 Lecturer /1 Assistant Lecturers

 Computer requirements

Projector / Smart Board with pointing device, VoIP equipment is required for ODEL delivery, Network& High speed internet