Can we modernize the FCC?

[Commentary] There seems to be a growing consensus that the Federal Communications Commission’s structure is outdated and hinders its work. What should be done? Implement a structure that moves away from antiquated silos — wireline, wireless, and media — to one that reflects the dynamic digital ecosystem and that empowers sound analytical work. The existing structure limits how people think, encourages regulations that limit innovation, and facilitates industry capture.

To return the US to a position of world leadership, guiding principles for our policies should include: 1) Any person should have the right to purchase communications services from anyone else at any time (i.e., no entry restrictions for network, functions, applications, and content); 2) Anyone should be allowed to provide any communications service using any legally placed and acquired technologies (i.e., no technology restrictions); and 3) No government activity or regulation should provide a uneconomic favored position to any provider (i.e., no distortion of customer-led markets).

A new structure would include a bureau of economics that analyzes markets and conducts regulatory impact assessments, a bureau of engineering that assesses technologies and is responsible for radio spectrum and equipment licensing, a competition bureau that enforces rules that protect liberal markets, and a consumer protection bureau. The first two bureaus are all about analysis, and the latter two are all about enforcement, with the engineering bureau playing a significant enforcement role with respect to radio spectrum and equipment. Effective leadership will be needed to address the adaptive challenges of letting go of long-held traditions and embracing new values of rigorous analysis, political and industry independence, transparency, etc. Congress will need to act to focus the agency on ex ante regulation only in the presence of monopoly and on managing scarce resources (such as radio spectrum and funds for universal service) consistent with dynamic and competitive markets.

[Jamison is the director and Gunter Professor of the Public Utility Research Center at the University of Florida – and a member of President Trump’s FCC Transition team]