Upcoming event

Many have hailed online streaming as the music industry’s savior. Streaming revenue surpassed traditional format sales in 2017, and services like Spotify are even making it possible for artists with no mainstream presence or even record label contracts to make a living. But streaming is also bringing changes that may not be good for the industry, musicians, or listeners. Songs now need to get to the chorus faster to avoid being skipped, albums have more tracks because artists are being paid by the song, and the disparity between pop superstars and everyone else is increasing

Topics selected for FCC open meeting agendas will be posted on the Commission's website approximately three weeks prior to the Commission's next monthly meeting. The Commission will also issue a public notice of the "Commission Meeting Agenda" one week before the meeting and announce at that time the items that are scheduled for the agenda.

Topics selected for FCC open meeting agendas will be posted on the Commission's website approximately three weeks prior to the Commission's next monthly meeting. The Commission will also issue a public notice of the "Commission Meeting Agenda" one week before the meeting and announce at that time the items that are scheduled for the agenda.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the Jan Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 30, 2019. Should the current lapse in funding end before Jan 9, additional items may be added to the tentative agenda:

Sprint and T-Mobile have announced plans to merge, which would significantly increase concentration in the wireless industry—reducing the number of major wireless carriers from four to three, increasing prices for consumers, and lowering wages for workers.

A discussion of groundbreaking new research quantifying the impact of the proposed merger on the wages of retail workers in the wireless industry.

This event is free and open to the public, and lunch will be provided. Your RSVP will help us prepare.

This event will be livestreamed.

12:00 – 12:05 p.m.     Welcome and Introductions

12:05 – 1:05 p.m.       Eliminating Access Arbitrage–What’s at Stake and What Should the FCC Do?

Witnesses

1. The Honorable William E. Kovacic

   Global Competition Professor Of Law And Policy

   George Washington University Law School

   Washington , DC

2. Mr. Geoffrey A. Manne

   President And Founder

   International Center for Law and Economics

   Portland , OR

3. Professor Abbott (Tad) B. Lipsky

   Adjunct Professor Of Law And Director Of Competition Advocacy

   Global Antitrust Institute at Scalia Law School at George Mason University

   Arlington , VA

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Join the Cato Institute—and an array of top experts, technologists, and policymakers—for a probing examination of these issues and many more as we seek to navigate the wilderness.