C207 - INTRODUCTION TO

TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY AND MANAGEMENT

SYLLABUS, GENERAL INFORMATION, AND CLASS CALENDAR

Fall 2017 Class # 4322

Monday and Wednesday, 2.30 3.45
Room: RTV 251

Instructor: Robert B. Affe

Office: RTV 307 E-mail: raffe@indiana.edu

Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday, 1.30 2.30

Graduate Assistants:
Xia (Steve) Zheng: xiazhen@indiana.edu Monday 10-12n
Rui Ding: ding1@iu.edu Monday & Wednesday 3.454.45

Names and phone numbers of classmates:

1)
2)
3)

Question: OK, so why should I take this course?

Answer: The telecommunications industry is one of the fastest-growing, most-influential, and

best-paying careers to be found anywhere. Plus, it is at the forefront of technological and social
changes that will advance knowledge, prosperity, and freedom throughout the world.
This class will be conducted on an interdisciplinary basis: part business, part current
events, part history, and part career management (what others call placement).
As much as possible, we will try to simulate the decision-making environment as found in the
industry itself.
Use this syllabus as your handy Owners Manual to this course! Consult it regularly: it
will tell you all you need to know in order to have a positive and enjoyable experience this
semester. This syllabus contains a class schedule and an index of class info and policies to keep
you on track as we work through the material together.

*Again, familiarize yourself with the class and exam schedule, and our class policies.
 The Golden Rule: Respect the Class
General Information About the Course (starring, in alphabetical order):

Attendance: Come to class! Do not risk underperformance by relying upon someone elses notes as a substitute for
being in class. Learning is not passive; it requires a hands-on, empirical grappling with the subject matter. There is a
correlation between class attendance and grades. Come to class. . . ON TIME!

Cheating: Dont even think about it; I have a Zero Tolerance policy on academic dishonesty.
Personal integrity is the most important virtue you carry in life. Someday, your personal integrity will carry you
through hard times. Do not compromise it for a silly grade. If you are found to cheat, you win a FREE TRIP! to the
Deans office for condign punishment under the Student Code of Conduct.

Class participation: Questions are welcomed at any time during class, especially if they are on-point.
A thoughtful question is never an interruption; indeed, that is the beginning of education.

Class Objectives: You will take away three things from this class:
1) A deeper understanding of the telecommunications business, which will make you a more
intelligent consumer and citizen;
2) An improved ability to analyze and solve problems, no matter what field you enter;
3) A heightened confidence in your abilities, which will make you more attractive and
marketable to prospective employers.

Exams: Three examinations, of increasing weight, in calculating your grade.

(Unfortunately make-up exams are not possible, so plan your lives accordingly.)

Format of class: Most classes will consist of four parts:

a) housekeeping issues (administrative info, news from the Media School, university, etc.)
b) Today in Telecommunications: daily updates on the telecommunications industry
c) a brief review of previous class material, when necessary
d) todays lecture topic

Grading: The way to earn your best grade is to: come to class, review your notes, and read the assigned text pages.
Concentrate on learning the material and not worrying about your grade. (It sounds Zen-like, but trust me, it works.)
What I am trying to say is: do your work faithfully---your grades should not be something to obsess about.

Religious Observances: As long as there are exams, there will be prayer in schools. Accordingly, IU and
Bloomington abound in opportunities for spiritual observance and reflection that will not conflict with our class and
exam calendar.

Stuff You Already Know--But Its Important: Laptops, electronics for classwork ONLY. Absolutely no texting
during class; it is unprofessional and rude. Regularly late to class? Food in class? Nope.
Recordings: Audio, video, photographic recording formats are strictly prohibited. I reserve the right to deduct
points off your final grade at my sole discretion. My only rule is, The class must be respected.

Text: Media Now. Straubhaar, LaRose, Davenport. Cengage, 9th ed., 2014.

Your Prof: Here is a brief bio. In the 80s and 90s I was a television executive, helping build media companies in
major markets---Chicago, Dallas, Tampa, Cleveland, Hartford. Before that I was a communications attorney in
Washington, D.C. I am a graduate of Georgetown University (A.B.) and the New York University School of Law
(J.D.), and have been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of New York and the District of Columbia
Court of Appeals. I came to IU as a Visiting Scholar in 2000 and joined the faculty in 2002. I am an adjunct in the
International Studies Program, and have spent two semesters teaching advertising and telecommunications policy at
Chinese universities.
CLASS CALENDAR
Week Dates Topic

1 M-Aug 21 Introduction: Why Am I in College?

W-Aug 23 Telecommunications in the Pre-Electronic Era

Part I: Telecommunications as an Advertising-Based Medium

2 M-Aug 28 The Rise of Radio

W-Aug 30 The Growth of Network/Affiliate System

3 M-Sept 4 Labor Day no class

W-Sept 6 The Rise of Television

4 M-Sept 11 The Business of Broadcasting: ratings, advertising

W-Sept 13 The Growth of Television

5 M-Sept 18 The Five Tiers: how to analyze media business problems

W-Sept 20 The Mechanics of Programming

6 M-Sept 25 Catch-up and Diagnostic Exam

W-Sept 27 Exam #1

Part II: Telecommunications as a Subscription-Based Medium

7 M-Oct 2 The Cable Industry I

W-Oct 4 The Cable Industry II

8 M-Oct 9 The Cable Industry III; The Satellite Industry

W-Oct 11 The Movie Industry I

9 M-Oct 16 The Movie Industry II

W-Oct 18 The Movie Industry III

10 M-Oct 23 Exam #2

Part III. Telecommunications as an Entrepreneurial-Based Medium

W-Oct 25 Digital/Internet-Based Media I

11 M-Oct 30 Digital/Internet-Based Media II

W-Nov 1 International Media I

12 M-Nov 6 International Media II

W-Nov 8 Constitutional Issues Free Speech I

13 M-Nov 13 Constitutional Issues Free Speech II

W-Nov 15 Constitutional Issues Copyright I

* M-Nov 20 Thanksgiving Holiday No Class

W-Nov 22 Thanksgiving Holiday No Class

14 M-Nov 27 Guest Lecture: extra credit

W-Nov 29 Exam #3

15 M-Dec 4 Media Career Placement Workshop I

W-Dec 6Media Career Placement Workshop II