Regulatory and Political Influences on Media Management and Economics

Sustainable development of a nation’s telecommunications infrastructure requires regulatory policies that satisfy both political feasibility and the economic conditions for maintaining a financially viable industry. Fulfilling the joint requirements of political feasibility and economic viability in the context of telecommunications deregulatory policies, in contrast to the traditional monopoly regimes, is becoming particularly difficult given the rapid rate of technological change, the growing complexities of communication technology, and the increasingly vital role of the information sector to global economies. In the United States, early warning signs of unsustainable deregulatory policies in the telecommunications industry include declining stock values and investments, bankruptcies, and growing customer service problems.