1). Currently in the world the United States ranks amongst the highest in some of the best telecommunication systems in the world. Although it is not the highest such as places and Japan and India, I see no problem in the idea that the United States could some day become as good, if not better then others. Although it easy to see how many people believe that the United States may not one day be the best, I on the other hand believe that the country will be no longer behind in the telecommunication systems of some Asian countries. Despite the United States lacking in communication systems technology for awhile now, I believe we will catch up to the greater systems in the next 10-15 years. Through such ideas has outside foreign influence and having to make up for AT&T’s monopoly I think the U.S. would be amongst the best.

The book mentions the idea of during the Cold War the world got divided into different levels of power such as the United States being the first world, the Communist countries being the second world, leaving those powers who weren’t so interested in getting involved left as the third world (Thussu 26). I think this idea still exists today when thinking of levels in power of telecommunications systems. I just feel the powers have switched a little since then in the idea of the eastern areas such as Japan and India taking the lead. These two countries have become more first world while the United States has become part of that second world level, with many third world nations representing the bottom level on the scale although the united states trails currently I see no problem with thinking we will one day be one of the best, if not the best.

The book also talks about the monopoly of AT&T controlling all of the United States telecommunications systems. AT&T reigned until Regan’s policy broke it up into twenty two different companies. AT&T hindered the United States’ development into a more technological developed country because it was a monopoly. That is one reason I believe we will we are one step behind the better systems, but not too far we can’t catch up. Despite the United States owning six of the world’s largest media players our telecommunications system lacks behind. I feel through our media and how globalized much of the American content has become, such as MTV are shown throughout chapter 4 of the Thussu book. I believe through the spreading off American media and the idea of America being an “open door” country, I believe the outside influence will be in greatly benefit our ways to help innovate our systems.

The Thussu book offers many reasons to argue against thinking America could be a super power and to many I agree. With the advantages of countries in Asia like Japan, and their continuous growth both economically and technologically it is easy to agree. For Japan, who already has an edge over the United States I agree there is no reason as a nation they can not continue to grow and push forward at a steady pace as they have shown they can over the past few decades.

*This is another response to a question on the global telecommunication market.*

4.) In today’s fast paced society people seem to demand fast ways to communicate with each other and receive information in a way that is faster and more efficient than previous media systems have allowed. In years passed the public has had to wait at least a day to receive their news through a newspaper or turn on the television and wait for a few hours until the news would come on. Despite advancements in television giving audience’s access to more channels that are dedicated specifically to news such as the twenty four hour networks like CNN and MSNBC. However, now people can have up to the minute news and communication with people from all over the world by simply hooking up to the internet and it is so convenient it has also been made available on mobile devices. The internet is the best media system for a country that is robust, vibrant, and democratic to communicate and adjust to the faced pace that.

The internet is definitely the best form of media communication to be used within countries that are well developed because it allows users to access an infinite amount of information for a cheap price. In the readings we learned that despite how many internet users Japan has the United States has a higher penetration into the population. It allows people within a society to stay informed about what is happening in their own country as well as around the world with the simple click of a button. Throughout classes we have been exposed to the different ways that international communication has benefited from the internet through all the various online radio casts and newspapers that are available. In recent years the internet has been able to converge with telephone companies for a fraction of the price all the while being able to hold more information for users to access at any time they wish. Along with having access to the information on the internet you are allowed to communicate world wide by having video conferences with sound and video.

The World Wide Web took a mere three years to reach fifty million people whereas the radio took forty years and television took fifteen. As you can see by this statement the internet is definitely a force to be reckoned with as well as a media phoneme. In 2005 the internet reached fifteen percent of the global community. Ninety percent of those people were in well developed countries. The internet is good for businesses all around the world because it lowers transaction costs and allows for faster communication without having to worry about the physical locations of the businesses. The idea of internet importance is shown through how quickly the internet has helped evolve our fast paced society even further then cell phones could.

Currently the internet is even available through a wireless phone. This allows users to access the World Wide Web from anywhere they choose. This is far more convenient than having to locate a television set, newspaper, or tuning a radio. The internet has also allowed newspaper subscribers to access their particular newspapers online. For example the Guardian Unlimited had eleven million online subscribers compared with 400,000 subscribers that still received their newspapers in print. The internet also allows more users to view news emitted by sources such as CNN by translating their stories into the countries’ particular language, making it more available to the world. Having news available to a large portion of people in minutes through cellular device shows how far the world has come in communication since yelling from hilltops.

Although the internet is very useful for well-developed countries, it is not necessarily the case for countries that do not have as much assess to it. For instance, computers are only in use by two percent of the population in Africa. The reason for this is people can not afford computers and therefore the connectivity costs are far more expensive than that of the United States. Also, English is still the primary language across the web and not many Africans understand it. The internet is also in use in Europe as well as most Asian countries. Currently Asia has the most internet users across the globe. Despite the far advancements of some of our great technology I feel those third world nations are really hurt by their inability to penetrate the internet population in the ways Americans do.

Because the internet offers so much information and allows users to communicate with each other in an instant no matter how far away from each other they are, it is most definitely the best form of media for countries that are robust, vibrant, and democratic. It allows countries to do business with other countries quickly and on their own time. If the internet was not available, the world would definitely be behind in their global communication as well how quickly they can get their news. Despite all the possible ways that people are able to receive their information should it be a newspaper, television, or internet I feel all these aspects are important in making up a thriving democratic populations system for not only sending receiving information quickly, but receiving feedback quickly.