The recent Cablevision-Fox dispute illustrates the delicate nature of negotiations between video programmers and distributors. In reaction to the dispute, the Federal Communications Commission announced it intends to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on retransmission in early 2011. Because negotiations between programmers and distributors take place in the shadow of FCC regulations, regulatory changes may have large effects on those negotiations. How will reformed retransmission regulations affect programming deliberations and deals? These questions will be explored at “Retrans Redux: The Economics of Retransmission Consent,” hosted by the Technology Policy Institute.
Antitrust and Competition
Economic analysis of markets is a core part of what we do. Our research has focused on mergers, vertical integration, and global competition policy. Our experts have deep experience in competition policy.
Innovation Effective in Addressing Competition Concerns
Technological innovation has a much greater effect on competition in high-tech sectors than antitrust remedies, according to research by Robert Crandall and Charles Jackson in ‘Antitrust in High-Tech Industries’ released today by the Technology Policy Institute. Antitrust remedies have not been successful at accelerating competition in such markets; rather competition has developed from technology that regulators could not predict. The paper is a revised version of a paper presented at the recent TPI conference, “Antitrust and the Dynamics of Competition in High-Tech Industries.”
Antitrust in High-Tech Industries
A large share of the recent growth in the United States economy has been in high-technology industries or service industries that use high-tech services. Information and communications technologies have developed very rapidly, generating productivity growth throughout the economy. The firms developing many of these technologies�such as Oracle, Intel, and Microsoft�have achieved a dominant position in the marketplace and thus attracted the attention of competition authorities. But successful innovation, with or without patent protection, is often accompanied by a position of market power. Transitory or even not so transitory monopoly profits are the reward for successful innovation and may be required to promote a dynamic economy, as Joseph Schumpeter explained decades ago. As a result, successful innovators often find themselves in conflict with competition policy authorities.
Pearlstein on Google
Steven Pearlstein writes in the December 14 issue of The Washington Post…
Peering or End of the Internet as we know It?
One of the top tech stories in the headlines of late is…
Antitrust and Vertical Integration in “New Economy” Industries
Whether the firms that supply Internet hardware and software should face restrictions on the use of their property is an important and controversial policy issue. Advocates of “net neutrality” � including President Obama and the current FCC majority�believe that owners of broadband distribution systems (hardware used to distribute Internet and video services) and producers of certain “must-have” video content should be subject to prophylactic regulation transcending present-day antitrust law enforcement. Their objective is to protect the free and open culture of the Internet from efforts to foreclose or limit competition in the provision of content, including online video services, which they see as potential competition to older video distribution methods.
Antitrust and Vertical Integration in ‘New Economy’ Industries
Where does a firm end and a market begin? This existential query…
October 22 Event: Antitrust and the Dynamics of Competition in High-Tech Industries
Please join the Technology Policy Institute on October 22 for “Antitrust and the Dynamics of Competition in High-Tech Industries,” where experts will discuss and critique four papers examining antitrust issues of concern for the technology and communications sectors. The papers were prepared as part of the TPI project “Maintaining U.S. Leadership in Information and Communications Technology: Antitrust and the Dynamics of Competition in ‘New Economy’ Industries.”
October 22 Event: Antitrust and the Dynamics of Competition in High-Tech Industries
Antitrust enforcement in technology industries is complex, in part because the sector is characterized by continuous innovation. How can antitrust policy be formulated to prevent abuses yet not stifle innovation in these dynamic sectors? Please join the Technology Policy Institute on October 22 for “Antitrust and the Dynamics of Competition in High-Tech Industries,” where experts will discuss and critique four papers examining antitrust issues of concern for the technology and communications sectors. The papers were prepared as part of the TPI project “Maintaining U.S. Leadership in Information and Communications Technology: Antitrust and the Dynamics of Competition in ‘New Economy’ Industries.”
Tom Lenard on five Q’s on tech
Last week, Rob Haralson did a quick interview with TPI’s Tom Lenard…