Analyzing the strategic maneuvers of today's great information powers--Apple, Google, and an eerily resurgent AT & T--Wu uncovers a time-honored pattern in which invention begets industry and industry begets empire. He shows how a battle royal for the Internets's future is brewing, and this is one war we dare not tune out.

"Updated and with new material"--Cover.

Part I. THE RISE : The disruptive founder -- Radio dreams -- Mr. Vail is a big man -- The time is not ripe for feature films -- Centralize all radio activities -- The paramount ideal ; Part II. BENATH the ALL-SEEING EYE : The foreign attachment -- The legion of decency -- FM radio -- We now add sight to sound ; Part III. THE REBELS, the CHALLENGERS, and the FALL : The right kind of breakup -- The radicalism of the Internet revolution -- Nixon's cable -- Broken Bell -- Esperanto for machines -- Part IV. Reborn without a soul : Turner does television -- Mass production of the spirit -- The return of AT & T -- Part V. THE INTERNET AGAINST EVERYONE : A surprising wreck -- Father and son -- The separations principle.