The Federal Computer Commission

Abstract

It is an article of faith that the computer industry thrives in the absence of government regulation. This conventional wisdom is wrong. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules touch every personal computer ever made. Over the last quarter-century, the FCC has steadily increased its influence over personal computing devices and applications. And the Internet's arrival only accelerated this trend. Perhaps surprisingly, though, the Federal Computer Commission has largely been a positive force in the technology sector.

The FCC is now poised to take several actions that could shape the future of the Internet and the computer industry. Willful blindness about the FCC's role will only foster confusion and poor decision-making. Exposing the Federal Computer Commission provides a foundation for more reasoned policy approaches. The fate of a dynamic and important set of industries should not be decided under the influence of a myth.

Keywords: FCC, communications, regulation, telecommunications, computer law, Internet