Competition Policy for an Open Internet Ecosystem

In my Georgetown Law Technology Review article, I propose a new policy framework to restore an open Internet ecosystem.  In my first post on this topic, I made the argument for such a framework, and in my second post, I discussed the policy recommendations in two of the policy categories, regulatory oversight, and privacy.  In this post, I’ll discuss my recommendations for perhaps the most difficult and broadest issue to address - competition. Improving competition for broadband internet access service (BIAS) providers and for the largest search, social media, and e-commerce sites will require the most change and oversight but may have the greatest impact in opening the Internet ecosystem. BIAS providers and platforms perform different roles and operate under different business models; solutions for promoting competition in each industry are similarly diverse. However, improvements to antitrust law can be applied across the board and well beyond the Internet ecosystem.

[Gigi B. Sohn is a Distinguished Fellow, Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy and Benton Senior Fellow and Public Advocate.]