After years of market-based pricing for broadband, state and federal officials are considering price controls to ensure affordability. One might think that broadband is already affordable given that the industry grew faster than the US economy for 15 of the past 16 years. But federal officials are pressing states to introduce price controls for low-cost broadband and perhaps broadband for the middle class. Middle-class subsidies and price benchmarking are also being contemplated.
Will these efforts re-create telecommunications regulation? How would regulation affect affordability? Would such regulations improve or hinder broadband development?
2:00 p.m.
Opening Remarks:
Mark Jamison, Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
2:05 p.m.
Panel Discussion
Panelists:
Jonathan Chaplin, Lead Analyst, New Street Research
Michelle P. Connolly, Professor of the Practice of Economics, Duke University
John Horrigan, Benton Senior Fellow, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society
John W. Mayo, Elsa Carlson McDonough Chair of Business Administration, Georgetown University
Moderator:
Mark Jamison, Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
3:30 p.m.
Q&A
4:00 p.m.
Adjournment
