Mercatus Events

Telecom Policy in the Golden State

Jul 13, 2006
12:00pm – 1:30pm
CSAC Conference Center<br /> 1020 11th Street, 2nd Floor<br /> Sacramento, California

Click here  to view Dr. Ellig's Power Point presentation from this lecture.
Click here to view Dr. Shelanski's Power Point presentation from this lecture.

Related Materials:
Video Killed the Franchise Star: The Consumer Cost of Cable Franchising and Proposed Policy Alternatives (PDF)

The past decade has produced dramatic changes in the telecommunications industry.  The emergence and diffusion of new technologies and a changing corporate landscape have challenged the existing federal and state regulatory frameworks and caused many policymakers to call for major reforms in telecommunications policy. 

California is one of several states considering significant changes to the way state and local governments regulate telecommunications products and services.  Most recently, Sacramento has become the focal point of a national debate on the topic of video franchising. 

This session will explore the economic implications of telecommunications technology, competition, and the changing regulatory structure for California’s consumers.  Discussion will highlight economic principles relevant to cable and video franchise policy and draw upon those principles to examine other timely telecommunications issues in California. 

Participants will address such questions as:

  • What does economic research tell us about the effects of cable competition, franchise fees, and video regulatory mandates?
  • How can the economic principles used to analyze the video debate also illuminate other aspects of California telecommunications policy?
  • What can economics teach us about the most effective way for federal, state, and local governments to share regulatory authority over the telecommunications industry?
  • How effective have telecommunications regulations been in achieving their desired outcomes?