A Reform Agenda for the New FCC

Abstract:     
More than five years after the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was signed into law, it would be hyperbolic to suggest that the Act has lived up to its promise. But it would be a mistake to give up on its promise, particularly with a new deregulatory-minded Federal Communications Commission Chairman in place, and with three new Bush-nominated commissioners now having joined the new chairman. The 'new' FCC has an opportunity to fashion a reform agenda to fulfill the vision of the 1996 Act.

As part of a reform agenda, the newly reconstituted FCC should focus on five specific initiatives: (1) Change its strategic objective from 'market facilitation' to deregulation; (2) Establish a technology-neutral deregulatory regime for broadband services; (3) Reduce excessive forced sharing requirements on telecom networks; (4) Limit the scope of the 'public interest' doctrine; and (5) Establish an economically efficient regime for intercarrier compensation.

These five initiatives would go far towards redirecting the Commission back on to the path of dergulation and market-based reform envisioned by the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 12

Keywords: Communications, regulation, public interest, broadband

JEL Classification: K0, K2, L9

Accepted Paper Series