Communications Law Commons^™

My View From The Doorstep Of Fcc Change, Kathleen Q. Abernathy

Federal Communications Law Journal

Commissioner Abernathy discusses the five key principles that inform her regulatory philosophy:
1) Congress sets the FCC's responsibilities in the Communications Act, and the Commission should faithfully implement those tasks rather than pursuing an independent agenda;
2) Fully functioning markets deliver better products and services to consumers as compared to markets regulated by the government. Unless structural factors prevent markets from being competitive, or Congress has established objectives (such as universal service) that are not market-based, government should be reluctant to intervene in the marketplace;
3) Where the FCC promulgates rules, it should ensure that those rules are clear and …

A Common Carrier Approach To Internet Interconnection, James B. Speta

Federal Communications Law Journal

This Article argues that some generalized interconnection rules are broadly appropriate. Specifically, some lessons learned from the ancient regime of common carrier regulation provide the appropriate regulatory foundation for the modern Internet. Since at least the middle ages, most significant carriers of communications and commerce have been regulated as common carriers. Common carrier rules have resolved the disputed issues of duty to serve, nondiscrimination, and interconnection. These were the problems of seventeenth-century ferry owners and innkeepers, eighteenth-century steamships, nineteenth-century railroads, and twentieth-century telephone networks. They are similar to the problems of the twenty-first-century Internet, and similar rules can govern its …

Paved With Good Intentions: How Interlata Data Relief Undermines The Competitive Provisions Of The 1996 Act, Jean F. Walker

Federal Communications Law Journal

In the past few decades, the competitive climate has transformed for telecommunications companies from unification to fragmentation and back again. Rapidly changing technologies have created a “digital divide”—a technological gap between the “haves” and the “have nots.” H.R. 1542 attempts to solve the problem of the digital divide by providing Bell operating companies with expansive interLATA relief for data services. Although this bill has been a long time in the making, its sponsor, Representative Tauzin, recently reintroduced it in committee. This Note examines the problem of the digital divide, and provides the context in which H.R. 1542 developed. It also …

Progress And Regress On Interlata Competition, David M. Mandy

Federal Communications Law Journal

At this writing, the FCC has denied Bell Operating Company applications for entry into in-region interLATA (long-distance) markets in Oklahoma, Michigan, South Carolina, Louisiana, and on a reapplication in Louisiana; approved one application for New York; and is currently considering an application for Texas. Thus, almost four years elapsed from the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 until any Bell Company received relief from the line-of-business restriction, and even now relief has been received in only one state. This Article briefly reviews the economics of Bell Company entry into interLATA markets; summarizes the reasons given by the FCC for …

A Birthday Party: The Terrible Or Terrific Two’S? 1996 Federal Telecommunications Act, Kathleen Wallman

Federal Communications Law Journal

As we celebrate the second anniversary of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, we can see that the predictions of instant cross-industry competition that were made at its birth were rather euphoric. Despite the unexpected twists and turns of the first two years, there have been a number of significant market developments suggesting that the lowering of barriers that the Act effected have put things on the right course. However, the success of the Act will be rather fragile during the next few years, as it is subject to reversal by market as well as judicial forces. We should therefore continue …

Communications Policy Leadership For The Next Century, Michael K. Powell

Federal Communications Law Journal

Those of us involved in the communications field realize the dramatic changes and challenges posed by the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. In particular, those in charge of implementing the Act's provisions face serious challenges. There are three ways that those in leadership positions may prevail in this "communications revolution" so as to facilitate development. First, it is essential to be familiar with the fields of economics and competitive analysis, and to understand that competition and markets will prove superior devices for managing change. Second, the importance of technology must be emphasized. Finally, emotion or special interest politics …

The Information Superhighway: Trolls At The Tollgate, Charles M. Oliver

Federal Communications Law Journal

Prior to the passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, policymakers sought funding and regulatory mechanisms capable of fulfilling the vision of an Information Superhighway. Vice President Gore, the Clinton Administration's point person on the issue, initially proposed assessing fees on other sectors of the telecommunications industry to fund construction. Meanwhile, conservatives asserted that deregulation of the industry would achieve the desired result. A compromise ultimately was reached: the 1996 Act requires local exchange carriers to unbundle their networks and provide access at a reasonable cost to competitors. The use of regulatory formulas in lieu of taxes to subsidize a national …

Understanding The Telecommunications Act Of 1996, Christopher H. Sterling

Federal Communications Law Journal

Books Reviewed:

Guidebook to the Telecommunications Act of 1996; by Charles D. Ferris, Frank W. Lloyd, and Howard J. Symons; Matthew Bender & Co., Inc. (1996); 298 pages

The Telecommunications Act of 1996: Special Report; by Peter W. Huber, Michael K. Kellogg, and John Thorne; Little, Brown & Co. (1996); 428 pages

Telecommunications Act Handbook: A Complete Reference For Business; by Leon T. Knauer, Ronald K. Machtley, and Thomas M. Lynch; Government Institutes (1996); 620 pages

Legal Guide to Broadcast Law and Regulation; by the National Association of Broadcasters (5th ed. 1996); 700 pages

The Telecommunications Act of 1996: What …

Ideas Of The Marketplace: A Guide To The 1996 Telecommunications Act, Michael I. Meyerson

Federal Communications Law Journal

The 1996 Telecommunications Act has forever transformed the regulatory landscape. The Act contemplates the creation of competition across the full telecommunications field, even in areas such as local telephone service and cable television service that had previously been monopoly controlled. The main combatants in this new marketplace will tend to be even larger companies than those currently dominating the scene. There are numerous dangers, however, that will have to be averted in order for the Act to be successful. The first is that existing monopolies, such as the BOCs and cable operators, will leverage their current power either to gain …

Regulating Competition In The Interexchange Telecommunications Market: The Dominant/Nondominant Carrier Approach And The Evolution Of Forbearance, Scott M. Schoenwald

Federal Communications Law Journal

Although significant competition began to develop in the interexchange market during the mid-twentieth century, the Federal Communications Commission did not undertake a meaningful effort to regulate competitive forces until it commenced its Competitive Carrier rulemaking in 1979. This proceeding, which adopted a market power approach to rate, tariff, and facilities regulation in order to enhance competition, service diversity, and consumer welfare, constituted a fundamental change in the Commission's monopoly-based regulatory approach to telecommunications. The author examines the market power approach to the regulation of competition in the interexchange telecommunications market recently adopted by the FCC, with an emphasis on the …

Creating Local Competition, Joseph Farrell

Federal Communications Law Journal

The Telecommunications Act mandates the opening of local telephone markets to competition. The transition from a noncompetitive market to a competitive market promises to be a difficult journey with many pitfalls to be avoided. This speech expounds upon some of the economic principles that must guide the FCC in implementing the transition, particularly discussing the problem of achieving the goal of universal service in a competitive environment.

This speech was originally presented May 15, 1996 before an open audience at the Federal Communications Commission.

Resale Issues In Telecommunications Regulation: An Economic Perspective, Alexander C. Larson

Michigan Telecommunications & Technology Law Review

The purpose of this Article is to evaluate proposed resale policies from an economic perspective. Specifically, this Article evaluates whether mandated resale can be expected to lead to the benefits ascribed to it by its proponents. In addition, this Article identifies issues which must be addressed before an economically sound local service resale policy may be put into place.

Mergers In Mobile Telecommunications Services: A Primer On The Analysis Of Their Competitive Effects, John W. Berresford

Federal Communications Law Journal

Mobile telecommunications businesses are undergoing an unprecedented period of mergers which may result in a national network for Personal Communications Services. All of these transactions require the approval of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is in the process of issuing thousands of local, regional, and nationwide licenses. The FCC grants the licenses under "the public interest" standard of the Communications Act of 1934, which requires an analysis of each proposed merger's effect on competition.

The Author begins his description of the analytic framework used by the FCC by describing its variables. Part I describes the "product market," which must …

A Different Time, A Different Place: Breaking Up Telephone Companies In The United States And Japan, Richard E. Nohe

Federal Communications Law Journal

Currently, the Japanese government is in the midst of a decision with respect to the future of the now privatized Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) of Japan. The divestiture of AT&T, NTT's United States counterpart, occurred over a decade ago. The Japanese government is contemplating the use of AT&T as a model for the break up of NTT. Because of NTT's history as a monopoly service provider, the central issue confronting Japan is how to create a market that can withstand competition nationally and globally.

The Author adopts a comparative approach in seeking to provide guidance to policymakers in Japan. …

The Last Mile: A Race For Local Telecommunications Competition Policy, Craig D. Dingwall

Federal Communications Law Journal

Although AT&T relinquished control of its local exchange carriers (LECs) in 1983, competition in the local telecommunications market has not flourished. Instead, Bell Operating Companies (BOCs) still retain the bulk of the market share for local exchange services, and most customers cannot access alternative local exchange service providers. In the long-distance market, however, increased competition has provided customers with better services at lower costs. In order to reproduce the notable consumer advantages found in the long-distance market, consumers must have consistent, convenient access to a multiplicity of alternative service providers.

The Author examines barriers surrounding the lack of competition in …

Telecommunications In Transition: Unbundling, Reintegration, And Competition, David J. Teece

Michigan Telecommunications & Technology Law Review

The world economy is experiencing a technological revolution, fueled by rapid advances in microelectronics, optics, and computer science, that in the 1990s and beyond will dramatically change the way people everywhere communicate, learn, and access information and entertainment. This technological revolution has been underway for about a decade. The emergence of a fully-interactive communications network, sometimes referred to as the "Information Superhighway," is now upon us. This highway, made possible by fiber optics and the convergence of several different technologies, is capable of delivering a plethora of new interactive entertainment, informational, and instructional services that are powerful and user-friendly. The …

Unconstitutional Telco-Cable Cross-Ownership Ban: It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time, Arthur Bresnahan

Michigan Telecommunications & Technology Law Review

This article is a survey of the law regarding the federal government's ability to regulate a telephone company's provision of video programming to subscribers in its service area. Part I of the article is a history of the telco-cable cross-ownership ban. Part II is an analysis of the cases striking down the ban, exploring the rationale of these cases on a consolidated basis. Part III is a summary of the applicable standards by which to evaluate future attempts by Congress or the FCC to regulate telephone companies' provision of video programming.

The Fcc's Regulation Of The New Video Media : Backing And Filling On The Level Playing Field, Michael Botein

Books

No abstract provided.

Reflections On The Sixtieth Anniversary Of The Communications Act, Robert E. Allen

Federal Communications Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Consolidation, Coordination, Competition, And Coherence: In Search Of A Forward Looking Communications Policy, Michael D. Director, Michael Botein

Federal Communications Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Challenge Of Choice, Richard E. Wiley

Federal Communications Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Steps Toward A Global Information Infrastructure, Larry Irving, Janet Hernandez, Wendy C. Chow

Federal Communications Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Drive Smoothly To Get On The Information Superhighway, Albert H. Halprin

Federal Communications Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Toward Regulation That Fosters Competition, Reed Hundt

Federal Communications Law Journal

No abstract provided.

A Call For Collaboration, Michael J. Zpevak

Federal Communications Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Telecommunications And The Competitive Advantage Of Massachusetts, William F. Weld

Federal Communications Law Journal

No abstract provided.

"Even My Own Mother Couldn't Recognize Me": Television News And Public Understanding, Jane Rhodes

Federal Communications Law Journal

Broadcast journalists face conflicting responsibilities: the need to attract a large audience through visually entertaining products versus the need to present information that enhances public understanding. The Author argues that the media's social responsibility has become blurred in recent years as competition within the broadcast industry has increased. To keep the ratings up, many journalists are trying to force information into catchy sound bites without thinking about how such dissemination distorts that information. The Author argues that in spite of the increasing competition faced by broadcast journalists, they need to examine their professional practice and personal biases closely, with an …

Symposia: A Critical Analysis Of The At&T-Mccaw Merger, Eli Noam, Michael J. Morrisey, Robert Lewis, Tom Aust, Rudolph J.R. Peritz, John Haven Chapman

Media Law and Policy

No abstract provided.

Cable Television Regulation: Promoting Competition In A Rapidly Changing World, Edward J. Markey

Federal Communications Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Reinventing Rate Regulation, Nicholas W. Allard

Federal Communications Law Journal

One of the fundamental purposes of the 1992 Cable Act was to bring about a reduction in consumer cable prices by eliminating the ability of cable companies to charge monopoly rates. While the goal may have been to decrease rates, complaints have poured into Congress claiming that since the passage of the Act, rates have actually increased. The Author explores the Act's goal of reintroducing effective competition while reregulating cable rates in the interim. He examines the details of the regulation and concludes by discussing the options that should be considered by Congress and the FCC when reevaluating the 1992 …