Telecommunication policy

The policy behind telecommunications 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.

Table of contents

1 The governing principles behind telecom policy are:

2 Institutional Framework in U.S.:

3 Some of the current challenges:

4 Related topics:

The governing principles behind telecom policy are:

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

Institutional Framework in U.S.:

Independent Regulatory Commissions
FCC, state PUCs (Public Utility Commisions)
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.

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
Spectrum Policy[?]