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ECO 235, Economics of Telecommunications and Public Policy is an elective in the undergraduate economics program and a required course in the Telecommunications Management Program in the Applied Computer Science Department. The course is taught by Dr. David Loomis, Assistant Professor of Economics at Illinois State University. Before coming to Illinois State in 1996, Dr. Loomis worked as a research economist at Bell Atlantic Corporation, which is the Regional Bell Operating Company (local telephone company) for the Mid-Atlantic region (this has expanded with recent mergers). This course covers the economic and public policy issues related to the telecommunications industry from a historical, present and future perspective. Students will learn the economic, legal and regulatory history of the industry to better understand the current issues confronting the telecommunications marketplace. Without a proper understanding of the past, the analysis of current issues facing the industry is meaningless. Much of the industry's structure, conduct and performance is related to the historical context of its economic and regulatory past. A proper economic framework will be developed to allow students to analyze the complex public policy issues that face the telecommunications industry. In addition, students will gain a better understanding of the managerial decision-making that takes place in the industry. Although the course's focus is on the telecommunications industry, much of the economic analysis is applicable to other industries as well. Students will also examine the future issues that will confront this rapidly changing industry. Using economic models as a foundation, students will analyze complicated real-world situations. The course will have an emphasis on actual case studies. |
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