Communication Continuum

As I was reading the first article, the one on early communication and the connections between the telegraph and the railroad, I couldn't help but note some similarities between the earliest forms of communication and the newest forms of communication. One thing the author brought up quite frequently was the importance of the distinctions between social classes with not only the telegraph, but the railroads. At the beginning, these were devices for the upper classes, the wealthiest people because it was expensive and very new. For example, the telegraph was first used as a luxury to play board games like chess with another person from a long distance. The middle and lower classes, although maybe needing the technology, were not originally able to use it. Likewise, in today's society, much of the newer technology is unavailable to a great number of people simply because they cannot afford it, or have no knowledge on how to use it. I found it very interesting these similarities existed because this theme has been reoccurring over decades of the newest technologies.
Similarly, another theme from early to new communication seems evident. In early radio, subject matter was considered rather borderline inappropriate, especially during the fragile time of WWI. Radio stations began a "censorship" process during which many companies and stations went under different ownership and a problematic time schedule. Just as censorship became an issue with the radio back then, so it is now. It seems that many people are getting into a great deal of trouble with "freedom of speech" and being "politically correct". One example, as all of us know, is Don Imus and his ridiculous comments about the University of Rutgers' women's basketball team. Different times, different events, but the same issues and the same problems.