The policy behind telecommunications is directed by decision makers in the Municipal, State, federal and International arenas; as well as the Legislative, Executive, Judicial branches of government and the Regulatory Commissions like the FCC.

The governing principles behind telecom policy are:

• Economic Regulation of Natural Monopoly
• Antitrust
• Management of Government owned resources (spectrum)
• Public Interest
• National Security

Institutional Framework in U.S.:

• Independent Regulatory Commissions
• FCC, state PUCs (Public Utility Commissions)
• Delegation Doctrine: statutory authority
  • quasi-legislative, executive and judicial functions
• Legislative role (delegation, oversight, budget)
• Executive role (appointment, budget )
• Judicial role (review commission decisions)

The policy framework determines the bundle of service available to the consumer, as well as the industry structure. The hallmark event in the history of the US Telecommunication industry would be the break up of the Bell Telephone company into Baby bells or RBOCs.

The challenge remains preserving competition, while restricting monpolies.

Some of the current challenges:

• Regulation of IP Transport
• Is UNE competition viable?
• Is there really room for multiple Fiber To The Home (FTTH) networks?
• Interconnection and "Open Access"
• Content/Conduit bundling
• Spectrum Policy

Related topics:

• Telecommunication
• Open acces to Broadband
• Communications Act of 1934 - USA
• Telecommunications Act of 1996 - USA
• Common carrier
• Glossary of Telecommunication Terms