The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a telecom policy think tank headed by former telecom exec Robert Atkinson, issued a new report criticizing lawmakers and telecom regulators for believing that competition can solve all of telecom's problems. The report encourages new thinking about how to regulate telecom in the broadband age, and how to make the U.S, a broadband leader instead of a broadband laggard. It also adds fuel to the arguments of those who say surface-level pro-competitive policy actually encourages the development of competitive conglomerates, rather than enabling truly broad competition.
Meanwhile, as a side note (because it's mentioned in the story we link to below) someone recently told me I didn't give a certain former First Lady-turned-senator-now presidential candidate enough credit for having outlined new telecom policy as part of her campaign. Duly noted. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D.-NY) did in fact propose tax incentives for companies to roll out broadband more aggressively in rural markets.
For more on the ITIF report:
- Read this story in InfoWorld