Telecommunications and Economic Development in Texas

A Policy Research Project of the Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin

Fall-Spring, 2001-2002

Instructor: Gary Chapman (gary.chapman@mail.utexas.edu)

Meeting times and place: Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Room 3.109, Sid Richardson Hall

The LBJ School PRP "Telecommunications and Economic Development in Texas" is a year-long research project about how to accelerate the deployment of high-speed, broadband telecommunications networks with advanced services to rural areas of Texas where these capabilities are not yet available. The goal of the PRP is to develop a “telecom toolbox” for rural Texas economic development leaders and elected officials who want and need to capture the attention and services of capable telecommunications providers. Access to high-speed, broadband, advanced services in rural Texas is considered essential for future economic development, education, health care, and equalizing economic opportunity in the state.

The PRP will be led by graduate students at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, and assisted by faculty at the LBJ School, the University at large, and by independent experts. The graduate students enrolled in the PRP will plan and conduct a year-long research project that will include literature reviews, data analysis, interviews, site visits, participation in conferences and other meetings, and consultation with state and local officials as well as personnel at telecommunications companies. The product of the PRP will be a package of materials, a report, a Web site, or all of these things, presented and integrated in a way that will be useful to leaders in rural areas of Texas who are interested in advanced, high-speed telecommunications services in their communities or regions.

This PRP is being conducted in cooperation with, and with funding provided by, the Texas Public Utilities Commission.

For more information, contact the instructor, Gary Chapman at gary.chapman@mail.utexas.edu.