Suchergebnisse

Argues that net neutrality legislation should be rejected given the idea that efficiencies fostered by contracts for quality of services (QoS) between broadband service providers & Internet content providers far outstrip any anticompetitive harms such legislation would protect against. Following a look at current forms of QoS, proposed net neutrality legislation is examined, along with anticompetitive arguments. Tables. Adapted from the source document.

Demonstrates that the dial-up model in play during the formative years of the Internet cannot be replicated for broadband; ie, independent broadband Internet service providers (ISPs) cannot contribute to the value of the service, which is thriving without unaffiliated ISPs. The role of regulation in preserving independent ISPs is discussed. The lack of value of unaffiliated ISPs is shown using the case of Excite@Home, which failed in 2001. The possibility of a "price squeeze" occurring even without anticompetitive intent on the part of incumbent DSL providers is considered.

Abstract
An expanding economics literature has examined the theoretical linkages between mandatory unbundling in the telecommunications sector and the incentives to invest in facilities by both incumbent local carriers and competitive carriers. Recent empirical evidence that substantiates the theory has emerged. That literature documents CLECs' reluctance to make facilities-based investments instead of availing themselves of incumbents' UNEs at low regulated prices that are based on total element long-run incremental costs (TELRIC). By examining the variation in facilities-based investment in loops across U.S. states and over time, we find that facilities-based line growth relative to UNE growth was faster in states where the cost of UNEs was higher relative to the cost of facilities-based investment.

The panel continued the debate surrounding regulation of the Internet. Specifically, they discussed the steps some states are taking to regulate where the Federal government has retreated, and whether such states have the legal authority to do so.