Universal Access and Its Asymmetries
The Untold Story of the Last 200 Years
By Hamid R. Ekbia, Harmeet Sawhney | Publisher: MIT Press
About the book
A framework for understanding the totality of costs and benefits of universal access that will foster honest appraisal and guide the development of good policies.
Universal access—the idea that certain technologies and services should be extended to all regardless of geography or ability to pay—evokes ideals of democracy and equality that must be reconciled with the realities on the ground. The COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness of the need for access to high-speed internet service in the United States, but this is just the latest in a long history of debates about what should be made available and to whom. Rural mail delivery, electrification, telephone service, public schooling, and library access each raised the same questions as today’s debates about health care and broadband. What types of services should be universally available? Who benefits from extending these services? And who bears the cost?
Stepping beyond humanitarian arguments to conduct a clear-eyed, diagnostic analysis, this book offers some surprising conclusions. While the conventional approach to universal access looks primarily at the costs to the system and the benefits to individuals, Harmeet Sawhney and Hamid Ekbia provide a holistic perspective that also accounts for costs to individuals and benefits for systems. With a comparative approach across multiple cases, Universal Access and Its Asymmetries is an essential exploration of the history, costs, and benefits of providing universal access to technologies and services. With a fresh perspective, it overturns common assumptions and offers a foundation for making decisions about how to extend service—and how to pay for it.
Editions of Universal Access and Its Asymmetries
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780262544559
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262372978
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262372985
Read an Excerpt
A framework for understanding the totality of costs and benefits of universal access that will foster honest appraisal and guide the development of good policies.
Universal access—the idea that certain technologies and services should be extended to all regardless of geography or ability to pay—evokes ideals of democracy and equality that must be reconciled with the realities on the ground. The COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness of the need for access to high-speed internet service in the United States, but this is just the latest in a long history of debates about what should be made available and to whom. Rural mail delivery, electrification, telephone service, public schooling, and library access each raised the same questions as today’s debates about health care and broadband. What types of services should be universally available? Who benefits from extending these services? And who bears the cost?
Stepping beyond humanitarian arguments to conduct a clear-eyed, diagnostic analysis, this book offers some surprising conclusions. While the conventional approach to universal access looks primarily at the costs to the system and the benefits to individuals, Harmeet Sawhney and Hamid Ekbia provide a holistic perspective that also accounts for costs to individuals and benefits for systems. With a comparative approach across multiple cases, Universal Access and Its Asymmetries is an essential exploration of the history, costs, and benefits of providing universal access to technologies and services. With a fresh perspective, it overturns common assumptions and offers a foundation for making decisions about how to extend service—and how to pay for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Universal Access and Its Asymmetries about?
A framework for understanding the totality of costs and benefits of universal access that will foster honest appraisal and guide the development of good policies.
Universal access—the idea that certain technologies and services should be extended to all regardless of geography or ability to pay—evokes ideals of democracy and equality that must be reconciled with the realities on the ground. The COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness of the need for access to high-speed internet service in the United States, but this is just the latest in a long history of debates about what should be made available and to whom. Rural mail delivery, electrification, telephone service, public schooling, and library access each raised the same questions as today’s debates about health care and broadband. What types of services should be universally available? Who benefits from extending these services? And who bears the cost?
Stepping beyond humanitarian arguments to conduct a clear-eyed, diagnostic analysis, this book offers some surprising conclusions. While the conventional approach to universal access looks primarily at the costs to the system and the benefits to individuals, Harmeet Sawhney and Hamid Ekbia provide a holistic perspective that also accounts for costs to individuals and benefits for systems. With a comparative approach across multiple cases, Universal Access and Its Asymmetries is an essential exploration of the history, costs, and benefits of providing universal access to technologies and services. With a fresh perspective, it overturns common assumptions and offers a foundation for making decisions about how to extend service—and how to pay for it.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Universal Access and Its Asymmetries?
Society and Social Sciences > Politics and government > Political structure and processes
Where can I read a sample of Universal Access and Its Asymmetries?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780262544559
Is Universal Access and Its Asymmetries part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Information Policy
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Universal Access and Its Asymmetries?
Hamid R. Ekbia, Harmeet Sawhney
Who is the Publisher of the book Universal Access and Its Asymmetries?
MIT Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Universal Access and Its Asymmetries is available as paperback(ISBN 9780262544559) and ebook(ISBN 9780262372978) and ebook(ISBN 9780262372985)
Where can I buy Universal Access and Its Asymmetries online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Universal Access and Its Asymmetries?