Introducing "The Communications Revolution" Radio Series and the
Telecommunications Radio Project

     The Telecommunications Radio Project (TRP) presents one-
hour weekly live broadcasts about the emerging social issues
connected to new high technologies.  Every consumer, citizen and
radio listener is affected by the ever-changing policies and
products, services and regulations of the telecommunications
industry -- the evolving merger of computer, telephone, television
and satellite.  We have only begun to understand the powerful
impact that these technologies have on all of our lives as
individuals, and as a culture and society.

History

     When the TRP was first conceived as using radio to present
telecommunications, the connection seemed to be simply that they
both were about communicating.   That was back in 1989.  Little did
we realize that the world of telecommunications technology would
burgeon into a complex and ubiquitous arena, impacting nearly every
aspect of our lives.  In just five short years, we've witnessed the
proliferation of voice and e-mail, cellular phones, mobile phones,
videophones and telecommuting, fax, modem, satellite, interactive
TV, and video games, not to mention data bases containing the
credit histories, medical information, voting records, all manner
of personal information about millions of Americans.
     In June, 1990 the Telecommunications Radio Project debuted
with a show exploring the world of soft-core porn by phone and the
extent to which phone companies can and do regulate such calls,
First Amendment freedom of speech in the world of underground
computer networks and issues affecting a variety of telephone and
telecom content.
     Over the years, "The Communications Revolution"
continued to explore the social impact of new technologies on
peoples' lives.  From computers in the classroom to hi-tech law
enforcement tools; from customized computers for people with
disabilities to grassroots community memory projects that recreate
African American history on computers; from government intrusion
into private and corporate bulletin board conferences to
computerized monitoring of employee performance in the workplace;
from kids infatuation with video games to conversion of military
technology to civilian applications.
    In all, "The Communications Revolution" has delved into dozens of
topics related to telecommunications use, policy, law, legislation,
social values and abstract but fundamental democratic concepts such
as privacy, individual freedom, respect for difference and
diversity, intellectual property and human rights.  Our terrain is
global; our focus is on the people who use these new hi-tech tools
and services.

Bringing People Together in Electronic Networks

     The goal of The Communications Revolution is to provide clear,
comprehensible and useful information about telecommunications
issues, products and services.  We aim not only to educate
individuals, but also to raise public awareness of larger social
issues and the potential for influencing policies through
participation in community advocacy organizations.
     Our areas of concern are economic and social rather than
technical.  We recognize that as the communications revolution
unfolds, driven by the logic of commercial viability, those who
have traditionally exercised the least control in the marketplace
are in danger of being denied access to the means of communication.
We include themes in our series such as civil liberties, economic
equity, "special needs" communities, economic growth, government
regulation and empowering the disenfranchised.
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