In US history, imposing public utility regulation on an oligopoly has usually created either cartels or shortages. Why would public utility regulation of broadband be any different?
Drawing on his distinguished career as a scholar and policy maker, Prof. Robinson will present three stories to illustrate salient features of FCC regulation at this free event.
The FCC’s chairman and broadband task force have announced that they want to include universal service reform in the FCC’s national broadband plan even before the public comment period on this topic has closed. Far from jumping the gun, they are simply recognizing what everyone who follows universal service has known for years.
If the terms of a transaction aren’t comprehensively regulated, watch for unintended consequences when the government just regulates some of the terms.