Competition, Regulation, and Convergence: Current Trends in Telecommunications Policy Research (Telecommunications (Mahwah, N.J.).)

The telecommunications industry has experienced dynamic changes over the past several years, and those exciting events and developments are reflected in the chapters of this volume. The Telecommunications Policy Research Conference (TPRC) holds an unrivaled place at the center of national public policy discourse on issues in communications and information. TPRC is one of the few places where multidisciplinary discussions take place as the norm. The papers collected here represent the current state of research in telecommunication policy, and are organized around four topics: competition, regulation, universal service, and convergence. The contentious competition issues include bundling as a strategy in software competition, combination bidding in spectrum auctions, and anticompetitive behavior in the Internet. Regulation takes up telephone number portability, decentralized regulatory decision making versus central regulatory authority, data protection, restrictions to the flow of information over the Internet, and failed Global Information Infrastructure initiatives. Universal service addresses the persistent gap in telecommunications from a socioeconomic perspective, the availability of competitive Internet access service and cost modeling. The convergence section concentrates on the costs of Internet telephony versus circuit switched telephony, the intertwined evolution of new services, new technologies, and new consumer equipment, and the politically charged question of asymmetric regulation of Internet telephony and conventional telephone service. The Telecommunications Policy Research Conference (tprc) Holds An Unrivaled Place At The Center Of National (and International) Public Policy Discourse On Issues Of Communications And Information. Attracting Influential Figures From Business, Government, And The Academic Community, One Of The Conference's Most Compelling Features Is Its Multidisciplinary Papers And Discussions, Which Are Not Only Encouraged But Are Considered An Integral Part Of The Ongoing Interaction.--jacket. Representing This Confluence Of Experience, Interests, And Backgrounds, The Chapters Included Here Reflect The Current State Of Telecommunications Policy Research. Taken Together, They Provide Insight And Analysis Of And Policy Suggestions For Many Of The Challenges Facing The Telecommunications And Information Industries, Characterized By Technology-driven Behavioral Changes Among Both Users And Suppliers.--jacket. Effecting A Price Squeeze Through Bundled Pricing / Debra J. Aron And Steven S. Wildman -- Combination Bidding In Spectrum Auctions / Paul Milgrom -- Regulating Anticompetitive Behavior In The Internet Market : An Applied Imputation Model For Peru / Arturo Briceño -- Trademarks And Domain Names : Property Rights And Institutional Evolution In Cyberspace / Milton Mueller -- An Economic Analysis Of Telephone Number Portability / P. Srinagesh And Bridger M. Mitchell -- Promoting Telephone Competition--a Simpler Way / Timothy J. Brennan -- Telecommunication Regulation In The United States And Europe : The Case For Centralized Authority / William Lehr And Thomas Kiessling -- Operator, Please Give Me Information : The European Union Directive On Data Protection In Telecommunications / Viktor Mayer-schönberger -- The Architectures Of Mandated Access Controls / Lawrence Lessig And Paul Resnick -- Beyond Infrastructure : A Critical Assessment Of Gii Initiatives / Heather E. Hudson -- The Persistent Gap In Telecommunications : Toward Hypothesis And Answers / Jorge Reina Schement And Scott C. Forbes -- Do Commercial Isps Provide Universal Access? / Thomas A. Downes And Shane M. Greenstein -- Proxy Models And The Funding Of Universal Service / David Gabel And Scott K. Kennedy -- Internet Telephony Or Circuit Switched Telephony : Which Is Cheaper? / Martin B.h. Weiss And Junseok Hwang -- An Ip-based Local Access Network : Economic And Public Policy Analysis / Daniel Fryxell, Marvin Sirbu, And Kanchana Wanichkorn -- Implications Of Local Loop Technology For Future Industry Structure / David D. Clark -- The Internet And Telecommunications Services, Access Charges, Universal Service Mechanisms And Other Flotsam Of The Regulatory System / Jonathan Weinberg. Edited By Sharon Eisner Gillett, Ingo Vogelsang. A Selection Of 17 Papers From The 26th Annual Telecommunications Policy Research Conference Held In October 1998. The Entire Program Of The Conference With Links To Papers And Authors Is Available At The Tprc Website, Http://www.si.umich.edu/%7eprie/tprc--p. Xi. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. The current state of research in telecommunications policy, covering competition, regulation, and integration of media carriers. For scholars, policy makers, and businesspeople involved with future direction and policy decisions in telecommunications