ABSTRACT

As the new millennium dawns, casual observers of the US telecoms market-place could easily conclude that the days of significant eco­ nomic regulation are numbered. Each day brings reports of emerging technologies and services that have the potential to revolutionise our communications capabilities. A multitude of new telecoms operators and service providers spring on to the business pages, promising to inject competition into this or that market. Mobile operators tell us that our tiny portable phones will soon handle all of our information and communication needs far better than our current computers and fixed link phones. Satellites and electricity lines are touted as future telecoms pathways. The impression one gets is that we will soon be deluged with a choice of affordable and astounding communications *

options. The best action for regulators, it would seem, is simply to get out of the way.