The Next Frontier for Openness: Wireless Communications

TL;DR

This paper discusses how current FCC policies favor competition over openness in wireless communications, leading to reduced innovation and user choice, and proposes policy solutions like a Carterfone for wireless and increased unlicensed spectrum.

Contribution

It highlights the need for policy changes to promote openness and multi-level competition in wireless communications, suggesting specific regulatory approaches.

Findings

Current FCC policies favor competition over openness.

Vertical integration reduces hardware and software innovation.

Proposed policies include a Carterfone for wireless and more unlicensed spectrum.

Abstract

For wireless communications, the FCC has fostered competition rather than openness. This has permitted the emergence of vertically integrated end-to-end providers, creating problems of reduced hardware innovation, software applications, user choice, and content access. To deal with these emerging issues and create multi-level forms of competition, one policy is likely to suffice: a Carterfone for wireless, coupled with more unlicensed spectrum.