Telecommunication policy

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The policy behind telecommunications in the US is directed by decision makers in the Municipal, State, federal and International arenas; as well as the Legislative, Executive, Judicial branches of government and the Regulatory Commissions like the FCC.

Contents

1 Governing principles behind telecom policy
2 Institutional Framework in the U.S.:
3 Some of the current challenges:
4 See also

Governing principles behind telecom policy

Economic Regulation of Natural Monopoly
Antitrust
Management of Government owned resources (spectrum)
Public Interest
National Security

Institutional Framework in the U.S.:

Independent Regulatory Commissions
FCC, state PUCs (Public Utility Commissions)
Delegation Doctrine: statutory authority
* quasi-legislative, executive and judicial functions
Legislative role (delegation, oversight, budget)
Executive role (appointment, budget )
Judicial role (review commission decisions)

The policy framework determines the bundle of service available to the consumer, as well as the industry structure. The hallmark event in the history of the US Telecommunication industry would be the break up of the Bell Telephone company into Baby bells or RBOCs.

The challenge remains preserving competition, while restricting monpolies.

There are a number of agencies concerned with telecommunication policy. They include:

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Some of the current challenges:

Regulation of IP Transport
Is UNE competition viable?
Is there really room for multiple Fiber To The Home (FTTH) networks?
Interconnection and "Open Access"
Content/Conduit bundling
FCC Spectrum Policy: Evolution of Flexibility of Use

Telecommunication policy

Governing principles behind telecom policy

Institutional Framework in the U.S.:

Some of the current challenges:

See also