Brookings: Topics - Federal Communications Commission

Improving Broadband Innovation and Investment

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 09, 2009, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Broadband and wireless technologies are key elements of our nation’s economic, social and civic development. With the Federal Communications Commission’s stated goals of bringing broadband access to all Americans, it is crucial to determine how to be innovative when investing in broadband infrastructure. On November 9, the Brookings Institution hosted a policy forum to examine this issue and to discuss ways to overcome barriers to developing this infrastructure.

FCC Chairman Proposes New Net Neutrality Plans

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced his plan to expand “net neutrality” rules for Internet providers. The chairman advocated an anti-discrimination rule that would prevent Internet providers from blocking or slowing the utilization of competing services, and a transparency rule that would require providers disclose how they manage traffic, writes Darrell West.

An Economic Strategy for Investing in America's Infrastructure

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Infrastructure investment has received more attention in recent years because of increased delays from road and air congestion, high-profile infrastructure failures, and rising concerns about energy security and climate change. Manasi Deshpande and Doug Elmendorf discuss a strategy for America to increase investment in physical and telecommunications infrastructure to spur a more prosperous economy.

Extending Deregulation

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:10:42 GMT

Few industries remain subject to classic economic regulation in the United States. Senior Fellow Robert Crandall says the next president should help remove some of the controls left on these industries in order to help promote economic expansion.

Telecom Time Warp

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Crandall and Hal Singer argue that, eventually, either the FCC or the courts will realize that regulating competitive telecommunications networks for the benefit of select content providers is not in the interest of American consumers.

Extending Deregulation: Make the U.S. Economy More Efficient

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Since the 1970s, deregulation has succeeded in increasing overall economic welfare and sharply reducing prices, generally by about 30 percent, for transportation—including air travel, rail transportation, and trucking—and for natural gas and telecommunications. Few industries remain subject to classic economic regulation in the United States.

The Myth of Network Neutrality and What We Should Do About It

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Litan and Robert Hahn examine the Internet industry today, especially in light of the current "network neutrality" debate, and conclude that further regulation of the Internet is not warranted at this point in time.

Economists' Statement on U.S. Broadband Policy

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

In this statement, a group of economists make the following recommendations to improve the competitive provision of broadband services.

The Big Telecomm Mergers: Nothing to Fear

Fri, 18 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Litan writes that the FCC-approved mergers of AT&T and SBC, and MCI and Verizon are a profound reshaping of the large companies that provide communications services. But, while these mergers certainly merit a watchful eye by antitrust authorities and regulators, the new facts in telecomm should significantly ease concerns that the mergers are anti-competitive.

Competition and Chaos : U.S. Telecommunications since the 1996 Telecom Act

Fri, 15 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT

In Competition and Chaos, Robert W. Crandall analyzes the impact of the 1996 Telecommunications Act on economic welfare in the United States and how the act and its antecedents affected the major telecommunications providers.

The End of the Road for Long-Distance Companies...and Most Telecom Regulation

Tue, 15 Mar 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Robert W. Crandall reviews the telecommunication regulatory debate with a merger proposal from the two largest companies.

The Proper Direction for Telecommunications Reform Legislation

Tue, 14 Dec 2004 00:00:00 GMT

In his presentation, Robert W. Crandall argues that regulators should be required to "open up" the local market through mandated unbundling, allowing entrants an entry toe-hold on the way to facilities-based competition.

Internet Telephones: Hanging up on Regulation?

Wed, 01 Dec 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Robert W. Crandall, Robert W. Hahn, Robert E. Litan, and Scott Wallsten examine whether there is a need to regulate Voice over Internet Protocol.

Relieve the Spectrum Shortage

Thu, 15 Feb 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings economists and others encourage the Federal Communications Commission to advance the public interest by eliminating barriers to the productive use of radio spectrum.

Managed Competition in U.S. Telecommunications

Mon, 15 Mar 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Robert W. Crandall writes about the dangers that are now apparent in the "deregulation" of telecommunications.