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Full-Text Articles in Consumer Protection Law
Using Market-Based Spectrum Policy To Promote The Public Interest, Gregory L. Rosston, Jeffrey S. Steinberg
Using Market-Based Spectrum Policy To Promote The Public Interest, Gregory L. Rosston, Jeffrey S. Steinberg
Federal Communications Law Journal
With the increasing demand for spectrum to accommodate emerging technologies, and the discovery that higher frequencies are usable, the FCC has replaced its reliance on administrative mechanisms for allocating spectrum with a more flexible, market-based approach. The FCC can best accomplish its mission of promoting the public interest by continuing to rely on competitive market forces and by establishing a clear and consistent paradigm for approaching allocation, assignment, usage, and other policies. Such a paradigm envisions an FCC that would actively monitor spectrum to remedy situations in which it is not used to its full value; establish mechanisms to reduce …
The Telecommunications Act Of 1996: Codifying The Digital Divide, Allen S. Hammond Iv
The Telecommunications Act Of 1996: Codifying The Digital Divide, Allen S. Hammond Iv
Federal Communications Law Journal
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 purports to ensure every American eventual access to advanced telecommunications networks and services, and more immediate access to basic telephone networks and services. This access is essential because it determines the ease with which Americans can acquire an education, obtain employment, control financial affairs, access emergency assistance, and participate in the political process. The interpretation and implementation of the 1996 Act is critical because there is an imminent danger that a large portion of society— in inner cities, near suburbs, and small towns— not be connected to the "national electronic nervous system." To ensure that …
Section 254 Of The Telecommunications Act Of 1996: A Hidden Tax?, Nichole L. Millard
Section 254 Of The Telecommunications Act Of 1996: A Hidden Tax?, Nichole L. Millard
Federal Communications Law Journal
Congress has the sole power to levy and collect taxes. The Supreme Court has ruled that Congress may delegate this authority to administrative agencies so long as the will of Congress is clearly defined in the legislation. However, section 254 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 operates as an unconstitutional delegation of Congress' authority to tax. This legislation provides the FCC with unfettered discretion in defining the boundaries of universal service and the authority to mandate that all consumers of telecommunications services subsidize the cost for low-income and rural consumers, as well as schools, libraries, and health care providers.