The Telecom Regulatory Challenge: A Policy Framework For A New Communications Market

The U. S. telecommunications industry has been through some tough times over the past few years. Yet, new technologies as well as entirely new networks have emerged in the industry. Today, wireless and cable networks compete with traditional phone providers. IP networks and applications -- such as Instant Messaging and email -- have emerged to compete with traditional voice service in ways never anticipated by the writers of the Telecom Act. These changes have given Americans many options when they want to communicate.

Despite this new environment, Tom Tauke of Verizon argues, the nation's communications policies have failed to adapt and regulators still tend to see the communications market place through the old regulatory frameworks where voice was the only service and networks were highly centralized. Tauke will explain how the "world has changed" when it comes to telecommunications. He will discuss why keeping the old policy mindset in place is harming investment, stalling innovation and threatening jobs and U.S. competitiveness. The challenge today, in his view, is to develop a new policy framework that recognizes the changed competitive environment and focuses on encouraging investment and innovation. New high-speed networks will give consumers more choices through applications -- like VOIP -- that ride on multimegabit IP platforms.

By understanding how this new competitive market works, Tauke will explain how the existing outdated regulatory model can be changed by moving away from prescriptive regulations. He will lay out a new vision for communications based on a government framework that encourages investment in new high-speed data networks and a new industry commitment to principles that will ensure consumers can use broadband networks to run the applications and devices of their choosing.

Participants

• Tom Tauke
  Former Member of U.S. House of Representatives and Senior Vice President, Public Policy and External Affairs, Verizon Communications