Changing Roles of the State in Telecommunications

36 Pages Posted: 13 May 2011

See all articles by Johannes M. Bauer

Johannes M. Bauer

Michigan State University-Quello Center and Department of Media and Information

Date Written: March 31, 2010

Abstract

Since the nineteenth century, the state has played different roles in telecommunications, from owner-operator and regulator to facilitator of private sector activities. Whereas direct government involvement has diminished since the 1980s, recent years have witnessed renewed demands for intervention and a stronger role of the state. This article reviews the different roles of the state, weighs their advantages and disadvantages, and assesses the state's future involvement. It concludes that a return to broad state ownership in telecommunications is unlikely. However, the balance between private and state activity has been and will continue to be pragmatically realigned, resulting in new institutional arrangements that might better take advantage of the comparative strengths of the public and the private sector.

Keywords: State ownership, Privatization, Liberalization, Regulatory reform, Industrial policy

JEL Classification: L32, L33, L50, L96, L98

Suggested Citation

Bauer, Johannes M., Changing Roles of the State in Telecommunications (March 31, 2010). International Telecommunications Policy Review, Vol. 17, No. 1, 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1837320

Johannes M. Bauer (Contact Author)

Michigan State University-Quello Center and Department of Media and Information ( email )

409 Communication Arts Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-1212
United States
517-432-8005 (Phone)
517-355-1292 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://https://quello.msu.edu/johannes-m-bauer/

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