The United States now spends around $7 billion on universal service programs?subsidies intended to ensure that the entire country has access to telecommunications services. Most of this money supports telecommunications service in ?high cost? (primarily rural) areas, and the High Cost fund is growing quickly. In response to this growth, policymakers are considering using reverse auctions, or bids for the minimum subsidy, as a way to reduce expenditures. While the U.S. has not yet distributed funds for universal service programs using reverse auctions, the method has been used widely.
Broadband
High-speed data connections, or broadband, are critical to the economy. Our work on broadband covers a wide range of topics, including the digital divide, wireline and wireless provision, spectrum, net neutrality, competition, and more.
Unbundling Regulations do Not Necessarily Promote Broadband Investment according to Wallsten analysis
Washington, DC – While the United States has moved away from unbundling regulations in recent years, the European Union has increasingly adopted them in order to stimulate broadband investment. A new paper by Scott Wallsten assembles a unique panel dataset to test the effects of different types of unbundling regulations on broadband penetration and speeds across OECD countries. Wallsten finds that unbundling regulations do not promote broadband investment and may even reduce it. He also finds, however, that rules that make it easier for an entrant to interconnect are positively correlated with broadband penetration and speed.
Whence Competition in Network Industries? Broadband and Unbundling Regulations in OECD Countries
Wallsten, Scott. “Whence Competition in Network Industries? Broadband and Unbundling Regulations in OECD Countries” December 2007
Managing the Network? Rethink Prices, not Net Neutrality
Wallsten, Scott. “Managing the Network? Rethink Prices, not Net Neutrality.” October 2007.
Communications, Broadband and Competitiveness.” Testimony before the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Senate
Wallsten, Scott. “Communications, Broadband and Competitiveness.” Testimony before the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Senate, September 26, 2007.
Doing the Hustle at the FCC
Wallsten, Scott. “Doing the Hustle at the FCC.” July 2007.
Comments to the Federal Communications Commission – Antitrust, Two-Sided Markets, and Platform Competition: The Case of the XM-Sirius Merger
Wallsten, Scott. “Comments to the Federal Communications Commission – Antitrust, Two-Sided Markets, and Platform Competition: The Case of the XM-Sirius Merger.” July 2007.
Comments to the Federal Communications Commission Regarding Broadband Industry Practices
Lenard, Thomas. “Comments to the Federal Communications Commission Regarding Broadband Industry Practices.” June 14, 2007.
Communications, Broadband and Competitiveness: How Does the U.S. Measure Up?” Testimony before the Committee on Science, Commerce, and Transportation, U.S. Senate
Wallsten, Scott. “Communications, Broadband and Competitiveness: How Does the U.S. Measure Up?” Testimony before the Committee on Science, Commerce, and Transportation, U.S. Senate, April 24, 2007.
Great Branding, Bad Policies: The Flaws of Open Access Regulations
Wallsten, Scott. “Great Branding, Bad Policies: The Flaws of Open Access Regulations.” April 2007.