Recent Papers on
Information Infrastructure in Developing Countries

Jon M. Peha, professor of electrical engineering and public policy
Carnegie Mellon University
(Home of the Center for Technology and Sustainable Development, which offers graduate education and research related to technology in and for developing countries)
http://www.ece.cmu.edu/~peha

J. M. Peha, "Tradable Universal Service Obligations," Telecommunications Policy, July 1999. (in PDF)
This paper proposes a policy designed to motivate the private sector to expand infrastructure into unserved areas. It is appropriate for developing countries in which commercial carriers are allowed to offer telecommunications services. It can be particularly valuable during privatization of a state-owned carrier, the introduction of competition, or the release of new spectrum, as these are great opportunities for network expansion - under the right policies.

J. M. Peha, "Lessons from Haiti's Internet Development," Communications of the ACM, June 1999. (in PDF).
This paper describes the Haitian Internet sector, and some of the lessons that can be learned there. Among those lessons are that the Internet can be of value in many different nations, but that the most appropriate path to Internet expansion may be distinctly different in developing nations like Haiti as compared with wealthy nations like the US. Wireless technology can play an important role, if the spectrum management policies allow it. The possibility of competition between Internet and telephone networks is also a significant issue.
For updates on Internet in Haiti, with comments from J. M. Peha, see articles in Les Editions Cyberie and the New York Times.

J. M. Peha, "Spectrum Management Policy Options," IEEE Communications Surveys , 1998. (PDF) Also available in HTML .
This paper describes a number of crucial issues to be faced in determining a nation's spectrum management policies, and some of the advantages and disadvantages of various choices. Although not specifically written for developing countries, several regulators have indicated that it has been useful in that context.

Also of interest is the Federal Communications Commission's Guide to Regulators, Connecting the Globe , 1999.

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List of Jon Peha's Publications
Other sample papers available for download.
peha@cmu.edu