Tribute to Boris Rotenberg

Citation

Feijoo, C. (2008), "Tribute to Boris Rotenberg", info, Vol. 10 No. 5/6. https://doi.org/10.1108/info.2008.27210eaa.001

Tribute to Boris Rotenberg

Article Type: Tribute to Boris Rotenberg From: info, Volume 10, Issue 5/6

Boris Rotenberg was the original promoter of this special issue in October 2007. Using his excellent research background, his youthful enthusiasm and his recently acquired experience coordinating an IPTS project about the future of universal service in electronic communications (the basis of the paper by Simon Forge and Colin Blackman in this issue), he set out to go beyond the strict limits of universal service regulation. He was looking for elements that, inspired by universal service, could serve as the foundations of a more inclusive society. This was a natural playground for his expertise; universal service is a domain that combines legal provisions with a deep social interest, against a background of economic and technical implications.

With his characteristic commitment and energy, he rapidly convinced Claire Milne and me to be co-editors and part of an endeavour that had a very tight schedule and an ambitious roadmap. He also got all the required institutional support (Marc Bogdanowicz and Ioannis Maghiros at IPTS), as well as agreement from the editor of info (Colin Blackman again). We aimed to complete the issue by summer of 2008, to coincide with the planned review of universal service in the EU. Every step was carefully designed and by mid-December the structure and themes for the issue were established. We were also very successful in persuading some of the more renowned experts in universal service to contribute to the issue.

Sadly, however, a tragic accident during the Christmas holidays left us without his leadership in this project, and much worse, without an esteemed colleague and a very dear friend. Nevertheless, we felt that completing this issue of info would be our best tribute to him. Research on universal service evolution was a main example of what Boris loved the most about his work, as it contributes to the improvement of everyday life by means of the information society.

Dear Boris, we hope that this special issue lives up to your expectations.

Acknowledgements

The editors of this issue also want to stress the importance of communications in these times where duties move our social nets away. Each of us has a personal story of deep trust in the universal-type presence of electronic communications to maintain those links in critical moments.

Claudio FeijooInformation Society Unit of IPTS, Spain