115,337 research outputs found
The End of Net Neutrality
In 2005, the FCC changed the competitive landscape of the high-speed Internet access industry by classifying both DSL and cable modem service as information services. While many hail this move as a victory for competition and free markets, others fear the ruling could jeopardize the future of the Internet. This iBrief examines the potential end of net neutrality and concludes that new federal regulations are unnecessary because antitrust laws and a competitive marketplace will provide consumers with sufficient protection
The Measure and Regulation of Competition in Telecommunications Markets
The development of the canadian telecommunications web is significantly influenced by the regulatory framework put in place to oversee the evolution of the web toward a competitive system. This paper has two specific objectives: first, to develop a methodological framework, which will allow a proper characterization of the level of competition in the telecommunications industry, more specifically in the residential local access market and second, to recommend some (significant) changes in the CRTC approach to the regulation of the Canadian Telecommunications industry. I argue that the current approach to the regulation of telecommunications in Canada is likely to generate significant harms to consumers and businesses as well as efficiency losses for the Canadian economy. I conclude that there is a urgent need for a telecommunications regulatory reform, with a stronger accent put on three crucial roles of the telecommunications regulator as the trusted generator of information for the consumers, as the manager of the level playing field conditions, and as the promoter of efficient investment programmes. Le dĂ©veloppement du rĂ©seau canadien des tĂ©lĂ©communications est influencĂ© de façon significative par le cadre rĂ©glementaire adoptĂ© pour rĂ©gir lâĂ©volution de ce rĂ©seau vers la concurrence. Cet article a deux objectifs principaux : dâune part, dĂ©velopper un cadre mĂ©thodologique adĂ©quat pour caractĂ©riser le niveau de concurrence dans lâindustrie des tĂ©lĂ©communications, plus particuliĂšrement du marchĂ© des services rĂ©sidentiels locaux, et, dâautre part, de proposer des changements (importants) au cadre rĂ©glementaire actuel. Je montre que le cadre rĂ©glementaire actuel peut engendrer des problĂšmes importants pour les consommateurs et lâindustrie ainsi que des pertes dâefficacitĂ© pour lâĂ©conomie canadienne. Il existe un besoin urgent de rĂ©former le cadre rĂ©glementaire actuel, en mettant lâaccent sur trois rĂŽles essentiels de lâagence de rĂ©gulation des tĂ©lĂ©communications comme fournisseur dâinformations aux consommateurs, comme gestionnaire des conditions de concurrence loyale pour toutes les entreprises et comme promoteur de programmes dâinvestissement efficaces.competition, regulatory reform, telecommunications , concurrence, rĂ©forme de la rĂ©glementation, tĂ©lĂ©communication
Notes on Cloud computing principles
This letter provides a review of fundamental distributed systems and economic
Cloud computing principles. These principles are frequently deployed in their
respective fields, but their inter-dependencies are often neglected. Given that
Cloud Computing first and foremost is a new business model, a new model to sell
computational resources, the understanding of these concepts is facilitated by
treating them in unison. Here, we review some of the most important concepts
and how they relate to each other
Auctioning Bulk Mobile Messages
The search for enablers of continued growth of SMS traffic, as well asthe take-off of the more diversified MMS message contents, open up forenterprises the potential of bulk use of mobile messaging , instead ofessentially one-by-one use. In parallel, such enterprises or valueadded services needing mobile messaging in bulk - for spot use or foruse over a prescribed period of time - want to minimize totalacquisition costs, from a set of technically approved providers ofmessaging capacity.This leads naturally to the evaluation of auctioning for bulk SMS orMMS messaging capacity, with the intrinsic advantages therein such asreduction in acquisition costs, allocation efficiency, and optimality.The paper shows, with extensive results as evidence from simulationscarried out in the Rotterdam School of Management e-Auction room, howmulti-attribute reverse auctions perform for the enterprise-buyer, aswell as for the messaging capacity-sellers. We compare 1- and 5-roundauctions, to show the learning effect and the benefits thereof to thevarious parties. The sensitivity will be reported to changes in theenterprise's and the capacity providers utilities and prioritiesbetween message attributes (such as price, size, security, anddelivery delay). At the organizational level, the paper also considersalternate organizational deployment schemes and properties for anoff-line or spot bulk messaging capacity market, subject to technicaland regulatory constraints.MMS;EMS;Mobile commerce;SMS;multi-attribute auctions
U.S. Telecommunications Today, April 1999
This short essay examines the current conditions in the US telecommunications sector (April 1999). We examine the impact of technological and regulatory change on market structure and business strategy. Among others, we examine the impact on pricing of digitization and the emergence of internet telephony. We briefly examine the impact of the 1996 Telecommunications Act on market structure and strategy in conjunction with the history of regulation and antitrust intervention in the telecommunications sector. After discussing the impact of wireless technologies, we conclude by venturing into some short term predictions. We express concern about the derailment of the implementation of the 1996 Act by the aggressive legal tactics of the entrenched monopolists (the local exchange carriers), and we point to the real danger that the intent of Congress in passing the 1996 Act to promote competition in telecommunications will not be realized. After discussing the impact of wireless technologies, we comment on the wave of mergers in the Telecommunications and cable industries.
Designing a Mixed Public and Private System for the Health Insurance Market
Reviews features of a reform proposal offering both public and private plans in a government-run purchasing pool, modeled on Medicare, in the commercial insurance market. Analyzes potential issues, including standardization of benefits and risk selection
Are financial services over-regulated?
As the Equitable Life saga drags on, accounting scandals break over Enron and WorldCom and allegations of self-serving analysts reports swirl around Merrill Lynch and other US investment banks, this may seem an extraordinary question to ask. But this is the very time that one must beware of the âdangerous dogsâ reaction1. It is easy to forget in the immediate aftermath of scandals that extra regulation may achieve little beyond satisfying the call for âsomething to be doneâ and can cumulatively cost a lot, even perversely increase the chances of future disasters2. With the EUâs Financial Services Action Plan, the DTIâs consultation on Company Law, the Sandler review of savings and the FSAâs review of polarisation, Listing Rules and simplified product selling, the opportunity for radical change, good or bad, is all to apparent. This article seeks to give an overview of the current position and assess the danger of an over-reaction
What's the 'big deal', and why is it bad deal for universities?
At first sight the âbig (or all-you-can-eat) dealâ seems excellent value for libraries and their users, and represents the shining possibilities of the electronic age. A more thorough-going evaluation, however, exposes dangers for universities, their funders and publishers. This paper examines the big deal in the light of fundamental market conditions and suggests alternative models for procuring electronic resources. The roles and strengths of the players in the information supply chain are defined and traditional hard-copy procurement is analysed in terms of these roles and the concepts of authority, branding and monopoly. The fundamentals of procuring electronic resources and prevalent purchasing models are discussed in terms of the same roles and concepts. The advantages of the big deal are laid out - access to resources, low unit costs etc. The dangers are also discussed. These arise mainly from the publishersâ position as monopolists. The possible long-term effects, on library budgets and academic publishing, of dealing with monopoly suppliers are examined. Means of avoiding or minimising these dangers â consortia, alternative publishing methods, new economic models to promote competition â are examined
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