• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.36
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• pp.7-41
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• 2006

This study criticizes the wave of liberalization, privatization, thoughtless and uncontrolled over-competition in the electronic communication networks area. This criticism is based on the 'transport economics' on one side, the 'network neutrality debate' on the other side. Through these standpoints, this study insists that it needs to deal with a social agenda related to the problems such as unplanned and unbalanced development of electronic communication networks, double/tripple-investment in the communication industry, conflicts among network companies and the decline of public values. Also does this study stress on the new ideas in the electronic communication network policy and planning to manage these problems. Electronic communication networks are converging and their borders are blurred. As a result of these flows, the field of information technology, media and contents is faced with radical changes. These changes could be so critical and complicated that nobody can diagnose their multi-level implications. However, the one thing sure is that we should start from the communication networks to think and control a communication system. Therefore, we should discuss and plan the now-and-future of communication infrastructure and its management. we need not only a market mentality but also a socio-cultural mentality. In this respect, this study does insist that it requires the vision of digital democracy and democratic communication ecology to put the steps toward social communication system.