Telecom Déjà Vu: A Model for Sharing in the Broadband Internet

41 Pages Posted: 19 Mar 2018 Last revised: 4 Oct 2018

See all articles by William Lehr

William Lehr

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL)

Douglas Sicker

University of Colorado at Boulder - Department of Computer Science; University of Colorado at Denver

Date Written: March 16, 2018

Abstract

There is significant debate over whether there remains a last-mile broadband bottleneck. In this paper, we explore what might be the nature of this bottleneck and review options for regulatory responses. Building on our work in CommAct2021, we expand on our discussion of the need for a reformed Communications Act and FCC to have a capability to mandate shared access to potential bottleneck facilities in the Internet ecosystem. We explain why this framework will require public utility-like regulatory authority, which should be used sparingly since it is inconsistent with the evolution toward light-handed market-based regulation. We review the lessons from earlier efforts to mandate sharing and explain why the earlier approach based on common carrier Title II is problematic and why we think our proposal for a new Title II as part of a new Communications Act offers a better path forward.

Keywords: Broadband, Bottleneck Regulation, Open Access, Internet, Telecommunications Policy

JEL Classification: L5, K23, L96, L82, L86

Suggested Citation

Lehr, William and Sicker, Douglas and Sicker, Douglas, Telecom Déjà Vu: A Model for Sharing in the Broadband Internet (March 16, 2018). TPRC 46: The 46th Research Conference on Communication, Information and Internet Policy 2018, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3142172 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3142172

William Lehr

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) ( email )

Stata Center
Cambridge, MA 02142
United States

Douglas Sicker (Contact Author)

University of Colorado at Boulder - Department of Computer Science ( email )

Boulder, CO
United States

University of Colorado at Denver ( email )

Box 173364
1250 14th Street
Denver, CO 80217
United States

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