Letter to Chairman Wheeler: Economic Evidence on Competition in Communications Markets and Implications for Key Policy Issues

7 Pages Posted: 13 Dec 2013

See all articles by Robert D. Atkinson

Robert D. Atkinson

Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

Kevin W. Caves

McClave + Associates

Robert W. Crandall

Brookings Institution; AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies

Wayne Crews

Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI)

Everett Ehrlich

ESC Company

Jeffrey A. Eisenach

NERA Economic Consulting; American Enterprise Institute

Gerald R. Faulhaber

University of Pennsylvania - Wharton School

Robert W. Hahn

Technology Policy Institute; University of Oxford, Smith School

Kevin A. Hassett

American Enterprise Institute (AEI)

Steve Pociask

The American Consumer Institute

Hal J. Singer

Econ One

Timothy J. Tardiff

Advanced Analytical Consulting Group, Inc.

Leonard Waverman

Berkeley Research Group,LLC

Dennis Weisman

Kansas State University - Department of Economics

Date Written: December 11, 2013

Abstract

Dear Chairman Wheeler:

Congratulations on your confirmation as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. As economists who study and write about communications policy and regulation, we agree with your comment during your confirmation hearing that “the role of the FCC has evolved from acting in the absence of competition to dictate the market, to promoting and protecting competition with appropriate oversight.” The economic evidence on this point is clear: in all but a few areas, communications networks no longer have the characteristics of natural monopolies, and should no longer be regulated as public utilities. Indeed, the convergence of the communications sector into the dynamic, intensely competitive Internet ecosystem is now virtually complete.

We write because we believe these economic facts have important implications for some of the key challenges facing you and the Commission in the months and years ahead.

Suggested Citation

Atkinson, Robert D. and Caves, Kevin W. and Crandall, Robert and Crews, Wayne and Ehrlich, Everett and Eisenach, Jeffrey A. and Faulhaber, Gerald R. and Hahn, Robert W. and Hassett, Kevin A. and Pociask, Steve and Singer, Hal J. and Tardiff, Timothy J. and Waverman, Leonard and Weisman, Dennis, Letter to Chairman Wheeler: Economic Evidence on Competition in Communications Markets and Implications for Key Policy Issues (December 11, 2013). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2366417 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2366417

Robert D. Atkinson

Information Technology and Innovation Foundation ( email )

1101 K Street N.W.
Suite 610
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United States

Kevin W. Caves

McClave + Associates ( email )

2970 SW 50th Terrace
Suite 3S
Gainesville, FL 32608
United States

Robert Crandall

Brookings Institution ( email )

1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036-2188
United States
202-797-6291 (Phone)
202-797-6181 (Fax)

AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies

1150 17th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Wayne Crews

Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) ( email )

1899 L St. NW
12th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Everett Ehrlich

ESC Company ( email )

Washington, DC
United States

Jeffrey A. Eisenach (Contact Author)

NERA Economic Consulting

1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20037
United States
202-448-9029 (Phone)
202-466-3605 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.nera.com

American Enterprise Institute ( email )

1150 17th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Gerald R. Faulhaber

University of Pennsylvania - Wharton School ( email )

Steinberg-Dietrich Hall
Suite 1400
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6372
United States
215-898-7860 (Phone)

Robert W. Hahn

Technology Policy Institute ( email )

1401 Eye St. NW
Suite 505
Washington, DC 20005
United States

University of Oxford, Smith School ( email )

Oxford
United Kingdom

Kevin A. Hassett

American Enterprise Institute (AEI) ( email )

1150 17th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
United States
202.862.7157 (Phone)
202.862.7177 (Fax)

Steve Pociask

The American Consumer Institute ( email )

1701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
United States

Hal J. Singer

Econ One ( email )

805 15th Street
Suite 501
Washington, DC 20005
United States
202.312.3065 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.econone.com/staff-member/hal-singer/

Timothy J. Tardiff

Advanced Analytical Consulting Group, Inc. ( email )

Advanced Analytical Consulting Group, Inc.
112 Water Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02109
United States
6178274043 (Phone)

Leonard Waverman

Berkeley Research Group,LLC ( email )

470 Atlantic Avenue
4th Floor
Boston, MA 02210
United States

Dennis Weisman

Kansas State University - Department of Economics ( email )

Manhattan, KS 66502-4001
United States

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