Master Switch
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The book discusses the history of information technologies in the US such as phones, radio, TV and the internet. It explores how each technology started open but became controlled by single corporations over time in a typical "cycle." The book argues that both political powers and industries must be constrained to preserve liberty and prevent the control of information. It proposes a "separation principle" where content, infrastructure, and access are independently owned to encourage competition. Finally, it considers if the internet may follow the path of previous technologies and what can be learned from the telephone industry's history.
Master Switch
- 1. The Master Switch The Rise and Fall of Information Empires Tim Wu
- 2. History of Phones, Radio, TV and Internet in USA
- 3. What is a “Master Switch”? Fred Friendly, CBS News executive - Free speech laws and exclusive custody of the master switch
- 4. Why should you be interested in this book? "We sometimes treat the information industries as if they were like others, but they are not, for their structure determines who gets heard."
- 5. THE CONCEPTS OF THE BOOK
- 6. “The Cycle” “History shows a typical progression of information technologies from somebody’s hobby to somebody’s industry; from jury-rigged contraption to slick production marvel; from a freely accessible channel to one strictly controlled by a single corporation or cartel from open to closed system”
- 7. Political power & media “All power that derives from the control of information” must be constrained (for both political powers + industries) “If we believe in liberty, it must be free from both private and public coercion” “The government’s only proper role is a check on private power, never as an aid to it”
- 8. Separation principle ● A form of industry selfregulation by the FCC ● Competition comes from an independence between three players: content owners, network infrastructure, and tools of access
- 9. Internet: what is at the stake? ● Convergence ● Taking the same path as previous techs? ● What lessons to be drawn out from the telephone industry?
- 10. CRITICISMS
- 11. What the book omits ● Not so savvy regarding the Computing/ Internet era ● Newspapers, magazines, books ?1 ● Lack of geographical variety
- 12. Shortcomings in his theory ● Dubious proposal of Separation principle ● Limits in the Cycle theory
- 13. Take away ● How USA is made ● Media power ● Deep reflection on the modern media ● Consumer awakening