The expansion of wireless broadband is a bright spot in the U.S. economy, but a shortage of liberally licensed spectrum rights could put a crimp on this expansion. The freeing up of spectrum from other uses would allow greater expansion of wireless broadband and would bring substantial gains – likely in the hundreds of billions of dollars – for U.S. consumers, businesses, and the federal treasury. Developing a plan to increase the amount of spectrum for wireless broadband is a high priority of the FCC’s Omnibus Broadband Initiative, which is developing a national broadband plan. Failure to allocate sufficient spectrum will slow the rollout of broadband services, increase their prices, and cost consumers and taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. TPI has assembled a panel of experts to discuss the options.
Press Releases
More Spectrum Needed from Public and Private Sector
The growth of wireless broadband is a bright spot in the U.S. economy, but a shortage of flexibly licensed spectrum rights could put a crimp on this expansion, according to a new study released by the Technology Policy Institute. The study was coauthored by Thomas Lenard, president and senior fellow at TPI; Lawrence J. White, professor of economics at the NYU Stern School of Business; and James Riso, a research associate at TPI.
SAVE THE DATE: TECHNOLOGY POLICY INSTITUTE ASPEN FORUM
The Technology Policy Institute will be holding its first annual Aspen Forum next August 22-24 on the topic “Innovation and Critical Policy Choices: Is the United States Losing its Edge.” Innovation and technological change are crucial to the nation’s long-run economic health and ability to improve standards of living, as well as to our ability to address national challenges in energy, the environment, health care and other priority areas. The United States has long been a leader in innovation, but there is growing concern that the U.S. is losing its edge.
FCC’s Open Internet Rules Should Not Be Adopted
The Federal Communications Commission should not adopt its proposed Open Internet Rules, according to comments by TPI president and senior fellow Thomas Lenard. Lenard argues that “the Commission has not provided evidence showing that the rules would address a significant problem or market failure, has not identified harms to users that the proposed rules would remedy, and has not demonstrated that the benefits of the proposed rules would exceed their costs.”
SAVE THE DATE: TECHNOLOGY POLICY INSTITUTE ASPEN FORUM
The Technology Policy Institute will be holding its first annual TPI Aspen Forum next August 22-24 on the topic of “Innovation and Critical Policy Choices: Is the United States Losing its Edge.
Lenard Critiques Berkman Center Broadband Study
The broadband study prepared by the Berkman Center for Internet and Society to help the Federal Communications Commission develop a National Broadband Plan is “incomplete and not objective,” according to TPI President and Senior Fellow Thomas Lenard. Lenard said the study “did not accomplish its intended purpose,” in an analysis submitted in response to the Commission’s request for comments on the study.
TPI Co-Hosting IGF Workshop on Net Neutrality
TPI is co-hosting a workshop on the subject of network neutrality on November 18th at the Internet Governance Forum in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
October 16th Event: Antitrust and the Dynamics of Competition in High-Tech Industries
The way the government applies antitrust laws can significantly affect innovation and investment, for good or ill. IT firms have characteristics that make antitrust enforcement more complex, including significant amounts of intangible capital, supply- and demand-side economies of scale, and rapidly changing markets characterized by continuous innovation. The new administration has signaled a more proactive approach to antitrust enforcement, particularly with respect to high-tech and Internet-based markets. This Congressional Seminar will examine the proper application of antitrust policy to the IT sector and the direction the new administration is taking.
Should the Government Prepare Personal Income Tax Returns
British MP Ian Liddell-Grainger will present a new bi-partisan report of the All-Party Parliamentary Taxation Group that examines the UK’s experience with “return-free” tax filing, under which the tax authority prepares individuals’ income tax returns. Mr. Liddell-Grainger’s presentation will be discussed by former Congressman Bill Frenzel, George Washington University economist Joseph Cordes, and Brookings economist William Gale. Frenzel, currently a Guest Scholar at the Brookings Institution, was ranking minority member on the House Budget Committee and a member of the President’s Advisory Panel on Tax Reform during 2005. Cordes has held senior positions at both the Treasury Department and the CBO. Gale is co-director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.
Wallsten to be Economics Director of FCC Broadband Task Force
The FCC has named TPI Vice President for Research and Senior Fellow Scott Wallsten economics director of its broadband task force, which is charged with developing the U.S. national broadband plan. Wallsten will take a temporary leave of absence from TPI to work on the plan, which is scheduled to be completed in February, 2010. He will return to his position at TPI after the task force has completed its work.