Da State

Da State and Economic Functions

• Enforces law

• Provides services

• Arbitration (outside courts)

• Coordination

• Policy as Innovation

Some Basic Laws/Regs

• Freedom of Press

• 1st Amendment

• Antitrust

• Communications Act of ‘34

• Telecommunications Act of ‘96

• Intellectual Property

Enforcement???

• Control Over Society

• Capitalist Property Rights

• Repress (jailing critics)

• Military (extending markets)

Services???

• Provide for Profitable Commerce– Roads– Railroads – Post Office

• Unprofitable activities (post office?)

• Solving Tech Problems (Spectrum/FCC)

Arbitration???

• Out of Court

• Gov. Between Capitalists

• Prevent Clash/Perpetuate System

Coordination???

• Organizes policy formation, process and then laws and regulation– Censorship– Intellectual Property– Commerce

• Regulatory Agencies?

Agencies???

• FCC- regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable

• FTC- “consumer protection,” to prevent unfair methods of competition

• SEC-agency responsible for administering federal securities laws in the US.

• Dept of Justice- Investigate and enforce

FCC???

• "make available…to all the people of the United States, without discrimination…rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication services with adequate facilities at reasonable charges."

FCC…

• Broadband: access for consumers and incentive for providers

• Spectrum: allocate and regulate… licenses

• Media: promote diversity, competition, and the digital transition

• Public safety/homeland security: communications open for safety

More FCC…

• Modernize: "The Commission shall strive to be a highly productive, adaptive and innovative organization that maximizes the benefits to stakeholders, staff and management from effective systems, processes, resources, and organizational culture."

• And…???

Competition…

• “Competition in the provision of communication services, both domestically and overseas, supports the Nation's economy. The competitive framework for communications services should foster innovation and offer consumers reliable, meaningful choice in affordable services."

• Problems???

• Consumer protection• Coercive monopoly• “trust busting”???• Fraud, false advertising,

identity theft, etc.

• Antitrust• Price-fixing conspiracies• Corporate mergers likely to

reduce the competitive vigor of particular markets

• Predatory acts designed to achieve or maintain monopoly power.

What’s the Common Interest???