https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...s-been-solved/
The Federal Communications Commission today declared that there is "effective competition" in the United States' mobile wireless market, a finding that could influence how the FCC regulates wireless carriers and whether it approves mergers such as a possible combination of T-Mobile USA and Sprint.
The FCC is required to report annually on the state of wireless competition, but during each year of the Obama administration it declined to make a finding on whether the market benefits from effective competition. The FCC had declared the market competitive during George W. Bush's presidency and is now returning to that finding with Republicans once again controlling the White House and the FCC.Instead of a definition of this essential threshold, we have all manner of apologies and admissions. We are told there is no single definition used by economists or policy authorities. We are told that upstream and downstream market segments involving network equipment, operating systems, and applications are outside the scope, and yet the core of what is "effective competition" remains undefined. In short, it's hard. Well, tough. Congress creates new terms in legislation all the time and it's up to expert agencies like this one to define them. But our failure to do so is inexcusable if the Commission wants desperately to conclude, as it does here, that "effective competition" exists.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Hans de Vries
Bookmarks