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Administrative Law

2004

Articles 1 - 17 of 17

Full-Text Articles in Antitrust and Trade Regulation

Uberregulation Without Economics: The World Trade Organization's Decision In The U.S.-Mexico Arbitration On Telecommunications Services, General Agreement On Trade In Services, Gats, J. Gregory Sidak, Hal J. Singer Dec 2004

Uberregulation Without Economics: The World Trade Organization's Decision In The U.S.-Mexico Arbitration On Telecommunications Services, General Agreement On Trade In Services, Gats, J. Gregory Sidak, Hal J. Singer

Federal Communications Law Journal

In April 2004, a World Trade Organization ("WTO") arbitration panel found that Mexico had violated its commitments under the Annex on Telecommunications to the General Agreement on Trade in Services ("GATS") by failing to ensure that Telmex, Mexico's largest supplier of basic telecommunications services, provide interconnection to U.S. telecommunications carriers at international settlement rates that were costoriented. The WTO panel deemed long run average incremental cost ("LRAIC") to be the appropriate cost standard for setting settlement rates. Mexico thus became obliged to change its domestic telecommunications regulations or face trade sanctions. The decision is the first WTO arbitration to deal …

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The Road Not Yet Traveled: Why The Fcc Should Issue Digital Must-Carry Rules For Public Television "First", Andrew D. Cotlar Dec 2004

The Road Not Yet Traveled: Why The Fcc Should Issue Digital Must-Carry Rules For Public Television "First", Andrew D. Cotlar

Federal Communications Law Journal

After having recently adopted a variety of complex decisions concerning the digital television transition, the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") may be poised in the next year to address the issue of mandatory cable carriage of digital broadcast television signals. In this regard, it may reasonably consider the possibility of crafting digital carriage rules for public television stations first without ruling positively or negatively on carriage of commercial stations. This action may legitimately be based on the unique legislative and factual differences between the noncommercial and commercial service and would be constitutionally permissible. This Article sets forth the legal basis for …

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Nonprofit Solicitation Under The Telemarketing Sales Rule, Rita Marie Cain Dec 2004

Nonprofit Solicitation Under The Telemarketing Sales Rule, Rita Marie Cain

Federal Communications Law Journal

In 2003, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") revised its Telemarketing Sales Rule ("TSR") to establish a national Do-Not-Call Registry for commercial telemarketing. Congress directed the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") to coordinate its telemarketing regulations under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act ("TCPA") of 1991 to achieve maximum consistency between the two agencies' telemarketing restrictions. Nonprofit solicitation is exempt from the national Do-Not-Call Registry, but is covered by other provisions of the FTC rule. The TSR created a new in-house no-call list requirement and imposed additional restrictions not previously known for nonprofit solicitors. The separate nonprofit provisions of the TSR raise unique …

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Competition Versus Regulation: "Mediating Between Right And Right'* In The Wireless And Wireline Telephone Industries, Benjamin Douglas Arden Dec 2004

Competition Versus Regulation: "Mediating Between Right And Right'* In The Wireless And Wireline Telephone Industries, Benjamin Douglas Arden

Federal Communications Law Journal

The wireline telephone industry in the United States is the most complete and sophisticated system in the world, built under 100 years of strict government regulation. While the wireline telephone industry was built under a scheme emphasizing regulatory control, the infancy of the wireless telephone industry has been subject to increasing deregulation and reliance on free market forces to guide the industry's development. It has been suggested that this shift in policy reflects the acknowledged failure of strict government regulation. This Note argues that the shift in regulatory policy reflects a difference in circumstances between the development of the wireless …

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Theory And Practice Of Competition Advocacy At The Ftc, James C. Cooper, Paul A. Pautler, Todd J. Zywicki Oct 2004

Theory And Practice Of Competition Advocacy At The Ftc, James C. Cooper, Paul A. Pautler, Todd J. Zywicki

George Mason University School of Law Working Papers Series

This article was prepared as part of a recent symposium celebrating the Ninetieth Anniversary of the founding of the Federal Trade Commission. In addition, fall 2004 marks the Thirtieth Anniversary of a pivotal moment in the establishment of the modern advocacy program at the FTC, Chairman Lewis Engman’s speech on the economic burden that inefficient transportation regulation policies were imposing on the American economy. Although the FTC has been involved in advocacy activities since its founding, Engman’s speech symbolized a new aggressiveness on the part of the FTC in using its expertise to work with other governmental actors at all …

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Parity Rules: Mapping Regulatory Treatment Of Similar Services, Sherille Ismail May 2004

Parity Rules: Mapping Regulatory Treatment Of Similar Services, Sherille Ismail

Federal Communications Law Journal

The notion of regulatory parity has greatly impacted the evolution of American communications regulation, but the difficulties associated with applying this standard are frequently under-appreciated by industry participants. Throughout this Article, the Author acknowledges the difficulties in applying equal treatment standards to operators of various communications, video, and data services. Mr. Ismail asserts that several problems arise with attempts to ameliorate apparent disparities in how entities are regarded under current regulations, including difficulties in assessing revenue resources, channel control, and service delivery methods. The Article concludes that parity is difficult to define and apply in an effort to eliminate inefficiencies …

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Verizon Communications, Inc. V. Fcc-Telecommunications Access Pricing And Regulator Accountability Through Administrative Law And Takings Jurisprudence, Michael J. Legg May 2004

Verizon Communications, Inc. V. Fcc-Telecommunications Access Pricing And Regulator Accountability Through Administrative Law And Takings Jurisprudence, Michael J. Legg

Federal Communications Law Journal

In this Article, Michael Legg examines the Supreme Court decision in Verizon Communications, Inc. v. FCC, and asserts that shortcomings associated with administrative law have led to an environment of unaccountability in the sphere of telecommunications regulations. Arguing that communications oversight has become exceedingly reliant upon regulatory expertise and that power over economic policy has been excessively ceded to the regulators, the Author concludes that Congress should become more involved in access pricing to prevent further undermining of the democratic governance in this important sector. Finally, Mr. Legg maintains that without further guidance with respect to the relationship between TELRIC …

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Wandering Along The Road To Competition And Convergence- The Changing Cmrs Roadmap, Leonard J. Kennedy, Heather A. Purcell May 2004

Wandering Along The Road To Competition And Convergence- The Changing Cmrs Roadmap, Leonard J. Kennedy, Heather A. Purcell

Federal Communications Law Journal

In this timely follow-up piece to a 1998 piece entitled A Federal Regulatory Framework that is "Hog Tight, Horse High, and Bull Strong, " the Authors of this Article revisit the progress of American commercial mobile radio services ("CMRS") proliferation and regulation. The piece expresses the concern that balkanization has continued to plague wireless regulation in the United States, as misguided legal analyses and state regulation further hinder wireless development across the nation. While the European Union has witnessed unprecedented growth in this sector, conflicting court and FCC decisions and continued federal, state, and local burdens on CMRS have placed …

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A Horizontal Leap Forward: Formulating A New Communications Public Policy Framework Based On The Network Layers Model, Richard S. Whitt May 2004

A Horizontal Leap Forward: Formulating A New Communications Public Policy Framework Based On The Network Layers Model, Richard S. Whitt

Federal Communications Law Journal

Over the course of the last several decades, legal and structural fictions have evolved and have been integrated into the reality of communications theory and regulation. In this Article, the Author argues that the development of a "layers approach" to communications regulation of IP networks would lead to greater efficiencies while addressing public policy issues. By reconceptualizing communications regulation along horizontal layers, Mr. Whitt posits that the logical walls surrounding the key components of IP networks should be removed to promote increased functionality of communications oversight and management. In this way, the outmoded vertical separation associated with the legal legacy …

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Staying Afloat In The Internet Stream: How To Keep Web Radio From Drowning In Digital Copyright Royalties, Emily D. Harwood May 2004

Staying Afloat In The Internet Stream: How To Keep Web Radio From Drowning In Digital Copyright Royalties, Emily D. Harwood

Federal Communications Law Journal

In the 1990's, the development of "streaming" technology allowed webcasters to begin broadcasting music on the Internet. The public took advantage of a plethora of free media players, and the number of web-based radio stations soared. However, a crippling dispute over broadcast rates left the viability of this technology in doubt. This Note criticizes current policies that curtail radio streaming by providing harsh financial restrictions on webcasters. In looking to the future, this Note argues that Congress should extend licensing exemptions to cover those Internet stations most like their AM/FM counterparts who do not have to pay additional fees.

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Rehearsal For Media Regulation: Congress Versus The Telegraph-News Monopoly, 1866-1900, Menahem Blondheim Mar 2004

Rehearsal For Media Regulation: Congress Versus The Telegraph-News Monopoly, 1866-1900, Menahem Blondheim

Federal Communications Law Journal

In this Article, Menahem Blondheim presents a critical historical analysis of the dawn of communications regulation as it began with the evolution of domestic telegraphy and developed into a coherent link between 19th century technological, business, and social developments and twentieth century First Amendment thought. First, the Article examines the political and economic environment which led to the development of national telegraph and news networks, like Western Union and the Associated Press. The Author then proceeds to assess the role of the mid-to-late nineteenth century American legislature, and how the debate over telegraph and wire service regulation realigned the powers …

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Unmasking Hidden Commercials In Broadcasting: Origins Of The Sponsorship Identification Regulations, 1927-1963, Richard Kielbowicz, Linda Lawson Mar 2004

Unmasking Hidden Commercials In Broadcasting: Origins Of The Sponsorship Identification Regulations, 1927-1963, Richard Kielbowicz, Linda Lawson

Federal Communications Law Journal

This Article by Richard Kielbowicz and Linda Lawson is an exploration of the origins of sponsorship identification regulations as they pertained to early radio and television programming. Beginning with the statutory sponsorship identification requirement enacted in 1927, the Authors trace the development of sponsorship identification rules in the communications industry. By arguing that such rules express a basic goal of American communication law and policy, Kielbowicz and Lawson analyze trends and developments in sponsorship regulation that did not materialize in the 1930s and 1940s because of the nature of early broadcast sponsorship. The Authors then assert that those same early …

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Legislating The Tower Of Babel: International Restrictions On Internet Content And The Marketplace Of Ideas, Michael F. Sutton Mar 2004

Legislating The Tower Of Babel: International Restrictions On Internet Content And The Marketplace Of Ideas, Michael F. Sutton

Federal Communications Law Journal

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the expression of diverse viewpoints in virtually any medium. Nevertheless, the modern novelty of "borderless" communication via the Internet strains our ideal of keeping government out of the business of regulating speech. This Note reveals the conflict between the First Amendment's national protections and the Internet's lack of national boundaries, while also arguing for international intervention for the protection of free speech. This Author articulates the real danger of "watered-down speech" unless both the FCC and the international community provide regulations and harmonized international standards for online content that reflect First Amendment …

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Finding Substance In The Fcc's Policy Of "Substantial Service", Jennifer Prime Mar 2004

Finding Substance In The Fcc's Policy Of "Substantial Service", Jennifer Prime

Federal Communications Law Journal

An FCC license for the use of the electromagnetic spectrum is a valuable asset, but it exists only for a limited duration. Therefore, obtaining a license renewal is vital to a licensee, especially one who has participated in an auction and made substantial investments in order to obtain the rights the license confers. This Note describes the mechanisms by which licensees obtain greater certainty that their licenses will be renewed, including the concept of renewal expectancy. One form of such expectancy is the ambiguous "substantial service" requirement. This Note explains the origins of the term, discusses its current uses, and …

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Antitrust Immunity And Standard Setting Organizations: A Case Study In The Public-Private Distinction, Chris Sagers Mar 2004

Antitrust Immunity And Standard Setting Organizations: A Case Study In The Public-Private Distinction, Chris Sagers

Law Faculty Articles and Essays

This paper uses an ongoing issue of local legal doctrine as a case study to provide insights into a problem of larger political philosophy: the problem whether the difference between "public" and "private" should be made to matter and, indeed, whether there is a difference at all. The case study is as follows: In our system, state governments are free to fashion their own trade policies in virtually any manner they choose. During the past century there has evolved a complex range of relationships between government and the businesses regulated by those policies, the result often being that businesses themselves …

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Competition Perspectives On Patent Law Substance And Procedure: An Overview Of The Ftc/Doj Hearings And The Ftc Report, Hillary Greene Jan 2004

Competition Perspectives On Patent Law Substance And Procedure: An Overview Of The Ftc/Doj Hearings And The Ftc Report, Hillary Greene

Faculty Articles and Papers

No abstract provided.

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Introduction: A Regulatory Regime For The Internet Age, Philip J. Weiser Jan 2004

Introduction: A Regulatory Regime For The Internet Age, Philip J. Weiser

Publications

No abstract provided.

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