investment incentives<\/a> in broadband and video markets.<\/p>\nICLE\u2019s core thesis is that traditional market silos \u2014 fixed broadband, mobile, satellite, and video \u2014 no longer reflect how consumers behave or how firms compete. Households now switch fluidly among cable, fiber, fixed wireless access (FWA), mobile broadband, and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite. This substitutability constrains pricing power even in markets that appear concentrated on paper. The rise of FWA is a prime example: T\u2011Mobile\u2019s Home Internet service has grown to millions of subscribers, directly pressuring cable operators and accelerating churn. Cable\u2019s counter\u2011move \u2014 bundling MVNO\u2011based mobile services \u2014 illustrates how formerly distinct markets now operate as a competitive continuum.<\/p>\n
ICLE argues that the FCC\u2019s competition assessments must reflect these cross\u2011technology dynamics. Market definitions built around legacy service categories risk overstating market power and understating the competitive discipline imposed by emerging substitutes.<\/p>\n
While convergence increases competitive pressure, ICLE stresses that it does not change the underlying economics of broadband deployment. High fixed and sunk costs, long payback periods, and economies of scale mean that only a limited number of facilities\u2011based providers can operate sustainably in most markets. Policies aimed at maximizing the number of competitors may therefore undermine the investment needed for next\u2011generation networks.<\/p>\n
ICLE warns that fragmentation \u2014 especially in markets with modest density \u2014 can reduce per\u2011firm revenues below sustainable levels, deterring fiber upgrades, 6G deployment, and rural expansion. The organization argues that the FCC should prioritize sustainable competition: lowering deployment costs, streamlining permitting, and ensuring merger policy accounts for investment benefits, not just static concentration metrics.<\/p>\n
In video, ICLE contends that broadcast ownership rules and retransmission\u2011consent frameworks no longer match market realities. Broadcasters now compete with national streaming platforms unconstrained by ownership caps, yet broadcasters remain subject to legacy restrictions rooted in spectrum scarcity\u2014an economic rationale ICLE argues is obsolete.<\/p>\n
Retransmission consent, originally designed to counter cable bottlenecks, now creates bargaining asymmetries that can inflate fees and distort negotiations. ICLE recommends comprehensive reform: either phasing out retransmission consent entirely or pairing ownership deregulation with safeguards that reduce blackout risks and limit fee escalation.<\/p>\n
ICLE wants the FCC to modernize its analytical framework when assessing competition to reflect converged markets, cross\u2011platform competition, and the investment\u2011driven economics of broadband. Interventions by regulators should avoid distorting markets that are already delivering lower prices, improved quality, and greater choice. The role of the regulator is to promote predictable, investment\u2011supportive policy. “The agency\u2019s guiding principle should be to reduce regulatory distortions, preserve investment incentives, and allow competition \u2014 not legacy silos \u2014 to discipline communications markets.”<\/p>\n
There is much in the ICLE’s paper that is relevant for Canadians. It is worth a look.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Are regulatory authorities using best practices when assessing competition in telecommunication markets? In a new paper [pdf, 364 KB], the International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE) argues that US communications markets are more dynamic and competitive than legacy regulatory frameworks assume. The submission urges the FCC to modernize its analytical approach, emphasizing technological convergence, …<\/p>\n
Assessing competition in telecommunications<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","two_page_speed":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nAssessing competition in telecommunications • Telecom Trends<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are regulatory authorities using best practices when assessing competition in telecommunication markets? 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In a new paper [pdf, 364 KB], the International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE) argues that US communications markets are more dynamic and competitive than legacy regulatory frameworks assume. 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