Economics at the FCC, 2015–2016: Competition, Merger Review, and Spectrum Management

Abstract

The Federal Communications Commission is responsible for regulation in the telecommunications and electronic media sectors, and for management of the nation’s non-federal radio frequency spectrum. During the past year, Commission economists contributed to the analysis of market power and the efficacy of various regulatory regimes in the business data services market, assessed potential harms that were associated with major mergers in the cable television industry and the efficacy of conditions designed to mitigate those harms, and helped to structure service and licensing rules to promote efficient usage of spectrum in the face of burgeoning demand for new wireless broadband services.