Upcoming event

Many have hailed online streaming as the music industry’s savior. Streaming revenue surpassed traditional format sales in 2017, and services like Spotify are even making it possible for artists with no mainstream presence or even record label contracts to make a living. But streaming is also bringing changes that may not be good for the industry, musicians, or listeners. Songs now need to get to the chorus faster to avoid being skipped, albums have more tracks because artists are being paid by the song, and the disparity between pop superstars and everyone else is increasing

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the March Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Friday, March 15, 2019:

Spectrum Horizons – The Commission will consider a First Report and Order that would adopt rules to make available 21.2 GHz of spectrum above 95 GHz for unlicensed operations and create a new class of experimental licenses for the 95 GHz to 3 THz spectrum range.  (ET Docket No. 18-21; RM-11795)

Rescheduling – Because the agency is currently funded under a Continuing Resolution that runs through February 15, the FCC’s statutorily-required monthly meeting has been moved from February 21 to February 14.

These items were originally circulated for the January meeting but were withdrawn due to the lapse in appropriations.

Update:

Due to the current partial lapse in appropriations, the items previously set forth in the January 3, 2019 Tentative Agenda (see below) will not be considered at the meeting. The meeting will consist of announcements only.

Sprint and T-Mobile have announced plans to merge, which would significantly increase concentration in the wireless industry—reducing the number of major wireless carriers from four to three, increasing prices for consumers, and lowering wages for workers.

A discussion of groundbreaking new research quantifying the impact of the proposed merger on the wages of retail workers in the wireless industry.

This event is free and open to the public, and lunch will be provided. Your RSVP will help us prepare.

This event will be livestreamed.

12:00 – 12:05 p.m.     Welcome and Introductions

12:05 – 1:05 p.m.       Eliminating Access Arbitrage–What’s at Stake and What Should the FCC Do?

Witnesses

1. The Honorable William E. Kovacic

   Global Competition Professor Of Law And Policy

   George Washington University Law School

   Washington , DC

2. Mr. Geoffrey A. Manne

   President And Founder

   International Center for Law and Economics

   Portland , OR

3. Professor Abbott (Tad) B. Lipsky

   Adjunct Professor Of Law And Director Of Competition Advocacy

   Global Antitrust Institute at Scalia Law School at George Mason University

   Arlington , VA

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Join the Cato Institute—and an array of top experts, technologists, and policymakers—for a probing examination of these issues and many more as we seek to navigate the wilderness.

For nearly half a century, leaders of the technology industry have been seen as visionary, passionate, and committed to building a better, smarter world. But public perceptions today are shifting—at least, elite opinion is—and the tech industry is suddenly on the defensive when it comes to issues ranging from data privacy to income equity, workplace diversity, antitrust enforcement, cultural biases, regulation, and more. To what extent are these criticisms fair or overblown? Is this just a passing phase, or a sign of a more fundamental shift?