Over the past few months there have been calls to impose "wireless net neutrality" rules on the burgeoning United States wireless industry. These critics assert that certain practices by the wireless industry - such as handset "locking" practices, data bandwidth limitations, and control over...

Licensed to nonprofit educational entities, the 2500-2690 MHz band of spectrum has been plagued by overly intrusive governmental policy since its inception over forty years ago. As a consequence, this spectrum is woefully underutilized. In 2004, the Federal Communications Commission recognized...

Many policymakers have recently expressed concern over the practice of multichannel video programming distributors ("MVPDs") such as cable and satellite video providers, to "bundle" a large number and variety of channels together into a "take-it-or-leave-it" package. In this BULLETIN, we...

Traditional phone carriers have announced ambitious multi-billion dollar plans to bulk up their networks with fiber in order to deliver a range of new services, including multi-channel video in competition with video incumbents. This competition promises to benefit consumers through lower...

In this paper, we consider the argument that Carterfone-type rules are required in response to mobile operators' use of term contracts, early termination fees, and allegedly restrictive handset certification and support policies. First, we show that such practices by mobile operators are...

In this Policy Bulletin, we evaluate Network Neutrality proposals from the standpoint of consumer welfare and economic efficiency by presenting a cost/benefit analysis framework for examining the effect on consumers of Network Neutrality proposals that would limit operators from injecting...

When a terrestrial radio station plays a song during its over-the-air broadcast, the artists and their record labels receive no compensation for the sound recording right. Yet radio's digital competitors — including streaming services and satellite radio — do pay performance royalties to...

This Bulletin presents a brief primer of the FCC's merger review authority under the Communications Act. As outlined herein, precedent dictates that the FCC has independent (and indeed broader) authority to review communications industry mergers separate from the authority bestowed upon the...

For decades, economists have encouraged regulators to implement more efficient telephone pricing policies in order to eliminate the pervasive cross-subsidies from usage-based services to basic connections. Slowly, and reluctantly, regulators have moved in this direction. The most recent...

Last fall, the Federal Communications Commission issued an Order on Reconsideration and Eighth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish a clear set of rules for public safety spectrum located in the 4.9 GHz band. Among other reforms, the Notice proposes to centralize non-public safety...