Telecommunication Basic Research: An Uncertain Future for the Bell Legacy

Noll, A. Michael

doi:10.1080/08109020308132

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Prometheus

Volume 21, Issue 2

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Telecommunication Basic Research: An Uncertain Future for the Bell Legacy

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Author(s): A. Michael Noll

Publication date (Print): June 2003

Journal: Prometheus

Publisher: Pluto Journals

Keywords: Research, Bell Labs, At&T Labs, R&D, Basic Research, Telecommunication Research

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Abstract

The Bell Labs of decades ago was well recognized as a national treasure for its pioneering innovations and its creation of new knowledge. However, the breakup of the Bell System that occurred in 1984 resulted in considerable change for research and development in telecommunication. This paper reviews that history and, in anticipation of continuing uncertainty and a possible impending crisis, examines possible options for the future to assure leadership by the United States in basic research in telecommunication.

Content

Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): cpro20

Journal ID (archive): CPRO

Title: Prometheus

Subtitle: Critical Studies in Innovation

Publisher: Pluto Journals

ISSN (Print): 0810-9028

ISSN (Electronic): 1470-1030

Publication date (Print): June 2003

Volume: 21

Issue: 2

Pages: 178-193

Article

Publisher ID: 10032489 Coden ID: Prometheus, Vol. 21, No. 2, June 2003, pp. 178-193

DOI: 10.1080/08109020308132

SO-VID: 902acca3-503a-4c2f-ad61-100c8e0a4c82

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

History

Page count

Figures: 0, Tables: 0, References: 28, Pages: 16

References

Hiltzik Michael. . 1999. . Dealers of Lightning: Xerox PARC and the Dawn of the Computer Age . , p. 389 New York : : HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.. .
Keyworth George A.. . 1982. . 'The federal role in R&D'. . Research Management . , Vol. XXV((1)) January;: 9
Fusfeld Herbert I.. 1994. . Industry's Future: Changing Patterns of Industrial Research . , p. 3 Washington, DC : : American Chemical Society. .
Hoddeson Lillian. . 1981. . 'The emergence of basic research in the Bell telephone system, 1875-1915'. . Technology and Culture . , Vol. 22((3)) July;: 514
Pavitt Keith. . 1996. . 'National policy for technical change: where are the increasing return to economic research?'. . Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA . , Vol. 93: November;: 12695
McKay Kenneth G.. 1980. . The measure of innovation'. . Bell Laboratories RECORD . , Juty/August;
Pierce John R. and Noll A. Michael. . 1990. . Signals: The Science of Telecommunications . , p. 220 New York : : Scientific American Library. .
Noll A. Michael. . 1996. . 'The communications revolution began in Jersey; it may end there'. . The Sunday Star-Ledger . , 21 April;: 5
Noll A. Michael. . 1987. . 'Bell System R&D activities'. . Telecommunications Policy . , Vol. 11((2)) June;: 164
Guyon Janet. . 1995. . 'AT&T's Bell Labs has shifted its focus from elite academic themes to products'. . Watt Street Journal Europe . , 31 January;: 6
Boyd Robert S.. 1995. . 'Experts have big concerns about shrinking of research'. . Detroit Free Press . , 18 April;: A1
Baker William O.. 10 December. 1979 . “'Destinies for American research: Nobel laureate work in telecommunications'. ”. In Testimony at Hearings on 'Destinies for American Research' before the Subcommittee on Energy Research and Production and Subcommittee on Science . , 10 December. , Research and Technology, US House of Representatives. .
Noll A. Michael. . 1987. . 'The effects of divestiture on telecommunications research'. . Journal of Communication . , Vol. 37((1)) Winter;: 79
Noll A. Michael. . 1999. . Introduction to Telephones and Telephone Systems, . , third edition. , p. 334 Norwood , MA : : Artech House, Inc.. .
Sink John D.. 1985. . 'Academic research: the faculty's role and responsibility'. . Society of Research Administrators Journal . , Spring;: 20
Noll A. Michael. . 1991. . 'The future of AT&T Bell Labs and telecommunications research'. . Telecommunications Policy . , Vol. 15((2)) April;: 191
Toffler Alvin. . 15 November. 1972 . “'Social dynamics and the Bell System'. ”. 15 November. , p. 148––50. .
1974. . Bell Labs News . , 15 November;: 1
1975. . 'Don't bust up Bell'. . The Christian Science Monitor . , 2 June;: 39
1982. . 'Bell Labs: the threatened star of US research'. . Business Week . , 5 July;: 46
Pinsker Beth. . 2002. . 'Reinventing the inventor'. . The New York Times . , 2 June;: 18
Varma RoIi. . 2002. . 'Are we eating our seed corn?: basic research in the US corporate sector'. . Prometheus . , Vol. 20((1)) March;: 1
Fernelius W. Conrad. . 1 May. 1979 . “'Contribution of basic research to recent successful industrial innovations'. ”. 1 May. , p. 3 St. Louis , MO : : Industrial Research Institute Research Corporation. .
Drucker Peter. . 2001. . 'Will the corporation survive?'. . The Economist . , 3 November;: 15
Pierce John R.. 13 June. 1986 . “'Some thoughts about laboratories and research therein'. ”. 13 June. ,

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Hiltzik Michael. . 1999. . Dealers of Lightning: Xerox PARC and the Dawn of the Computer Age . , p. 389 New York : : HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.. .

[2] Keyworth George A.. . 1982. . 'The federal role in R&D'. . Research Management . , Vol. XXV((1)) January;: 9

[3] Fusfeld Herbert I.. 1994. . Industry's Future: Changing Patterns of Industrial Research . , p. 3 Washington, DC : : American Chemical Society. .

[4] Hoddeson Lillian. . 1981. . 'The emergence of basic research in the Bell telephone system, 1875-1915'. . Technology and Culture . , Vol. 22((3)) July;: 514

[5] Pavitt Keith. . 1996. . 'National policy for technical change: where are the increasing return to economic research?'. . Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA . , Vol. 93: November;: 12695

[6] McKay Kenneth G.. 1980. . The measure of innovation'. . Bell Laboratories RECORD . , Juty/August;

[7] Pierce John R. and Noll A. Michael. . 1990. . Signals: The Science of Telecommunications . , p. 220 New York : : Scientific American Library. .

[8] Noll A. Michael. . 1996. . 'The communications revolution began in Jersey; it may end there'. . The Sunday Star-Ledger . , 21 April;: 5

[9] Noll A. Michael. . 1987. . 'Bell System R&D activities'. . Telecommunications Policy . , Vol. 11((2)) June;: 164

[13] Guyon Janet. . 1995. . 'AT&T's Bell Labs has shifted its focus from elite academic themes to products'. . Watt Street Journal Europe . , 31 January;: 6

[14] Boyd Robert S.. 1995. . 'Experts have big concerns about shrinking of research'. . Detroit Free Press . , 18 April;: A1

[15] Baker William O.. 10 December. 1979 . “'Destinies for American research: Nobel laureate work in telecommunications'. ”. In Testimony at Hearings on 'Destinies for American Research' before the Subcommittee on Energy Research and Production and Subcommittee on Science . , 10 December. , Research and Technology, US House of Representatives. .

[16] Noll A. Michael. . 1987. . 'The effects of divestiture on telecommunications research'. . Journal of Communication . , Vol. 37((1)) Winter;: 79

[17] Noll A. Michael. . 1999. . Introduction to Telephones and Telephone Systems, . , third edition. , p. 334 Norwood , MA : : Artech House, Inc.. .

[18] Sink John D.. 1985. . 'Academic research: the faculty's role and responsibility'. . Society of Research Administrators Journal . , Spring;: 20

[19] Noll A. Michael. . 1991. . 'The future of AT&T Bell Labs and telecommunications research'. . Telecommunications Policy . , Vol. 15((2)) April;: 191

[20] Toffler Alvin. . 15 November. 1972 . “'Social dynamics and the Bell System'. ”. 15 November. , p. 148––50. .

[21] 1974. . Bell Labs News . , 15 November;: 1

[22] 1975. . 'Don't bust up Bell'. . The Christian Science Monitor . , 2 June;: 39

[23] 1982. . 'Bell Labs: the threatened star of US research'. . Business Week . , 5 July;: 46

[24] Pinsker Beth. . 2002. . 'Reinventing the inventor'. . The New York Times . , 2 June;: 18

[25] Varma RoIi. . 2002. . 'Are we eating our seed corn?: basic research in the US corporate sector'. . Prometheus . , Vol. 20((1)) March;: 1

[26] Fernelius W. Conrad. . 1 May. 1979 . “'Contribution of basic research to recent successful industrial innovations'. ”. 1 May. , p. 3 St. Louis , MO : : Industrial Research Institute Research Corporation. .

[27] Drucker Peter. . 2001. . 'Will the corporation survive?'. . The Economist . , 3 November;: 15

[28] Pierce John R.. 13 June. 1986 . “'Some thoughts about laboratories and research therein'. ”. 13 June. ,

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