Spanning the entire history of electrical communications, this book tells the story of the many events and breakthroughs that took place, from 150 years ago with the creation of the telegraph to the dynamic, modern world of the Internet and interactive TV. Its characters are not only the technologists, but also the entrepreneurs, who took advantage of the technology, and the litigators, antitrust lawyers, and regulators, who influenced the course of progress. As a veritable case study about how advances in technology cause societal and industrial change, this story provides insight into the turmoil of today's information and entertainment industries. This book will be of interest to anyone, technical or not, who has a stake in the information age.