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The Persistence Of The Dirigiste Model: Wireless Spectrum Allocation In Europe, À La Francaise., Russell Carlberg
The Persistence Of The Dirigiste Model: Wireless Spectrum Allocation In Europe, À La Francaise., Russell Carlberg
Federal Communications Law Journal
This Note examines spectrum allocation for 3G mobile wireless networks in Europe in light of larger EC telecommunications and competition policies. The European Commission has allowed each member state to allocate spectrum to firms in two ways: (1) by the free market auction; and (2) by the "beauty pageant" method by which firms submit detailed proposals to the government, and government bureaucrats make the final selections. This Note focuses on France as the prime example of the beauty pageant method, and argues that, despite the "excesses" of the prices of spectrum on the free market auctions, the beauty pageant method …