Recent Research: Telecom

Research & Commentary: State Video Franchise Reform in Texas

John Nothdurft
May 12, 2011

Current cable television franchise laws in Texas favor new video service providers over existing ones by not allowing existing service providers to enter into statewide franchises.

Research & Commentary: Wireless Tax Fairness in the States

Marc Oestreich
April 22, 2011

The Wireless Tax Fairness Act of 2011, currently pending in Congress, would put a moratorium on discriminatory state wireless phone and data service tax increases.

Research & Commentary: FCC’s Data-Roaming Mandate

Marc Oestreich
April 3, 2011

On April 7, 2011 the Federal Communications Commission is expected to vote on a data-roaming mandate that would force mobile operators to offer their data networks to smaller carriers on “commercia

Research & Commentary: Retransmission Fees

Marc Oestreich
March 25, 2011

Increasing broadcast retransmission fees have caused much tension between multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and broadcasters.

Research & Commentary: FCC Set-Top Box Regulation

Marc Oestreich
March 25, 2011

Section 629 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 authorized the Federal Communications Commission to regulate the television hardware market.

Research & Commentary: Universal Access and Service Funds Are Outdated, Costly

John Nothdurft
February 1, 2010

Federal and state universal access and service funds (UASFs) have become an ineffective and outdated use of taxpayer money.

No. 124 Neutralism: The Strange Philosophy Behind the Movement for Net Neutrality

Jim Lakely
October 5, 2009

The election of Barack Obama as president ushered in a new era of regulatory zeal in Washington, with both Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) determined to solve alleged probl