We analyze how network regulation affects investment into network infrastructure and complementary services. While regulation negatively affcets investment incentives in the regulated network market, the effects of network regulation on investment in complementary services can be either negative...

In this paper we study the implications of service level guarantees (SLGs) in a model of oligopoly competition where providers compete to deliver a service to congestion-sensitive consumers. The SLG is a contractual obligation on the part of the service provider: regardless of how many customers...

This paper investigates the incentives to invest in improving the quality of service (as distinguished to investment in a new activity) in telecommunication industry. This kind of investment is very important in telecommunication industry because of the rapid technological progress that makes...

In the U.S. paying for priority arrangements between Internet access service providers and Internet application providers to favor some traffic over other traffic is considered unreasonable discrimination. In Europe the focus is on minimum traffic quality requirements. It can be shown that...

The changing role of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standard setting process from designing and implementing the best effort TCP/IP protocol as a universal standard towards a platform for dealing with the increasing need for variety in the design of a Quality of Service (QoS)...

This paper develops a structural model which allows estimating the impact of regulatory decisions looking for the setting of download-speed standards on market structure and performance. We characterize a setting under which quality standards improve both service quality and availability. As to...

This paper analyzes the efficacy of the Universal Service Fund's High-Cost Support programs in achieving two of its formal aims—increased availability and comparable or improved service quality. In light of a narrowed rural digital divide, increased facilities-based competition, and...

There is growing evidence that low-quality customer service prevails in the mobile telecommunications industry. In this paper we provide theoretical support to this empirical observation by using simple game theoretical models where inefficient low-quality service levels are part of an...

Marsden explains for a general policy audience what the regulatory and governance problems and potential solutions are for the issue referred to as ‘network neutrality’, unpacking its ‘lite’ and ‘heavy’ elements. Eschewing technical, economic or legalistic explanations which he has...