The role of competition in a national broadband policy

• Robert Atkinson
• Journal of Telecommunications and High Technology Law

JTHTL

09 March 2009There is perhaps no issue more central to the debate about broadband policy than the state and role of competition. Indeed, the issue of competition drives many of the debates over broadband, including net neutrality, wireless spectrum auctions, municipal broadband, and unbundling proposals. Although some advocates claim that the current state of broadband competition is more than adequate, others decry market conditions and seek proactive public policies to spur more competition. Yet almost everyone involved in broadband policy in Washington, D.C., agrees that regardless of the current state of competition, more competition is better.