In a society predicated on information, the media has a pervasive presence. From government policy to leisure television, the information age touches us all. The papers collected in this book constitute some of today's leading analyses of the information industry. Together, these essays represent a needed foundation for understanding the present state and future development of the mass media. Current trends in telecommunications as well as media impact on public opinion are presented.

On 17 February 2009, federal law requires all full-power television stations in the United States to cease analogue broadcasting, enabling the government to reclaim valuable spectrum that the broadcasters currently use for analogue broadcasts. This change, often referred to as the digital television (DTV) transition, requires action by broadcasters and consumers to ensure broadcast television signals are still available and viewable. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) created a program to subsidise consumers' purchases of digital-to-analogue converter boxes. After the transition, households with analogue sets that rely on over-the-air broadcast signals must take action or they will lose television service, but some households might not be aware of this potential disruption.