US/ND-3: Definitions: Functions or Specific Services?
Definitions: Functions or Specific Services?
Jim Wiljanen (wiljanen@mdenet.mde.state.mi.us)
Fri, 13 Sep 1996 18:17:08 -0400
Perhaps this has been included in previous discussions or
might be in future topics that Bob has lined up, but I hope
the topic isn't out of place here...
As people give thought to the concept of Universal Service
and how it should be defined, what services included in the
definition and so forth, there is sometimes a tendency to focus
on technologies with which we are aware and familiar today, or
even those coming online that we're read or heard about. I
see this approach as particularly narrow, especially in a field
marked with such a rapid rate of innovation as telecommunications.
Instead of emphasizing services or technologies that we can point
to--dialtone, touchtone, ATM, ISDN, wireless, etc.--people will
occasionally define their needs in terms of what they want to
accomplish using technology. I think this would be something of
a challenge regarding the national debate on Universal Service,
but to the degree that functions can be incorporated into the
definitions it would seem to provide an opportunity for a
continuing evolution of how the definitions/functions
could be addressed by the next wave of technological
innovation (and the one after that, and so on).
Jim Wiljanen
wiljanen@mdenet.mde.state.mi.us