DOCSLIB.ORG

Circumscribing the Public Interest in the Voip Debate

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Circumscribing the Public Interest in the Voip Debate Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2006 Circumscribing the Public Interest in the VOIP Policy Debate Kimberley Leahy Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION CIRCUMSCRIBING THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE VOIP POLICY DEBATE By KIMBERLEY LEAHY A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Communication in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded: Summer Semester, 2006 Copyright 2006 Kimberley Leahy All Rights Reserved The members of the Committee approve the dissertation of Kimberley Leahy defended on January 20th, 2006. ______________________________ Stephen McDowell Professor Co-Directing Dissertation ______________________________ John K. Mayo Dean Co-Directing Dissertation ______________________________ Barney Warf Outside Committee Member ______________________________ Jonathan Adams Committee Member _____________________________ Marilyn J. Young Committee Member Approved: ________________________________________________________________________ Stephen McDowell, Chairperson, Department of Communication ________________________________________________________________________ John K. Mayo, Dean, College of Communication The Office of Graduate Studies has verified and approved the above named committee members. ii For John, My love and my life. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to give special thanks to the people who helped see my through this challenging process. First, I wish to thank Stephen McDowell for his teaching and direction over the past four years. His guidance during my research and writing instilled in me a respect for answering the question why. His knowledge allowed me to grow as a researcher and his patience allowed me to grow as an individual. I will always appreciate his calm assuredness and his dedication to thorough research. I would like to thank John Mayo for his contribution of innovation diffusion concepts to my manuscript. His insights into the public interest of VoIP diffusion gave shape to a once scattered research outline. I would like to thank Barney Warf for his contribution of political economic principles to my manuscript. His observations concerning global resource distribution resonated not only within my manuscript, but also within my personal beliefs. I would like to thank Marilyn Young for her contribution of rhetorical discourse to my manuscript. Her guidance ensured that my manuscript remained focused throughout the argument I presented. I would like to thank Jonathan Adams for his technical expertise as I wrote my manuscript. He challenged me to examine aspects of Internet technology that once evaded me, but ultimately gave me a knowledge base upon which I could build salient technological observations on VoIP applications. I would like to offer a personal thanks to Kelly Andrews Smith. Without her friendship, her laughter, and her cheers I could never have weathered the storms that accompanied these past four years. Finally, I would like to thank my husband John Leahy. His unwavering faith in this project gave me the strength to complete the most challenging undertaking of my career thus far. I owe the realization of this dream to his patience across so many long nights of seemingly endless work. Thank you, John, for rejoicing in my soaring highs and lifting me from my bottomless lows. I love you with all my heart. This is for you. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ............................................................................................Page vii 1. The Voice over Internet Protocol Policy Debate ..........................................Page 1 Background. ............................................................................................Page 3 Stakeholder Discourse .............................................................................Page 7 The Research Questions ..........................................................................Page 8 2. Circumscribing of the Public Interest in Communication Literature.............Page 13 Debating the Public Interest.....................................................................Page 15 Innovation, Technology and the Market...................................................Page 19 Economics, Competition and the Public Interest ......................................Page 26 Universal Service ....................................................................................Page 30 3. Telecommunication’s Public Interest History ...............................................Page 38 Early Regulatory History.........................................................................Page 39 The Communications Act of 1934 ...........................................................Page 45 Mid-Century Public Interest Shift............................................................Page 47 The 1982 Consent Decree and 1996 Telecommunications Act.................Page 53 IP-enabled Services Policy ......................................................................Page 56 4. Framing the Debate .....................................................................................Page 64 Rhetorical Theory....................................................................................Page 65 Methods of Analysis................................................................................Page 67 Research Examples..................................................................................Page 73 Research Questions .................................................................................Page 75 The Data ............................................................................................Page 78 5. The VoIP Forum and the NPRM ..................................................................Page 80 Setting the Stage......................................................................................Page 80 The VoIP Forum......................................................................................Page 81 Stakeholders not Included in the Forum Proceedings ...............................Page 99 The NPRM ............................................................................................Page 104 6. Stakeholder Frames Around VoIP and Technology ......................................Page 105 FCC Issue Framing..................................................................................Page 112 Telephone and Transmission Technology ................................................Page 112 VoIP Technology ....................................................................................Page 115 Internet Architecture................................................................................Page 120 Stakeholder Technology Claims ..............................................................Page 123 v 7. Stakeholder Claims Concerning VoIP and Competition................................Page 175 Framing the Claims .................................................................................Page 176 Stakeholder Competition Comments........................................................Page 178 8. The Universal Service Issue .........................................................................Page 228 The Universal Service Debate..................................................................Page 228 Definitions and Contributions..................................................................Page 230 9. Changes in Public Interest Conceptions........................................................Page 269 Innovation, Competition, and Universal Service ......................................Page 271 Looking Back..........................................................................................Page 273 The Larger Regulatory Picture.................................................................Page 275 Changes over Time..................................................................................Page 276 Global Applications for Public Interest Framing......................................Page 279 Reflections and Future Research..............................................................Page 280 Appendix A ............................................................................................Page 283 Appendix B ............................................................................................Page 284 Appendix C ............................................................................................Page 285 Appendix D ............................................................................................Page 287 References ............................................................................................Page 288 Biographical Sketch .........................................................................................Page 309 vi ABSTRACT This inquiry evaluates claims made by stakeholders attempting to circumscribe the concepts of the public interest in the Voice over Internet Protocol policy debate using technology, competition, and the universal service as their foil. The three policy options under debate as stakeholders respond to the 2004 Federal Communications Commission Notice of Proposed Ruling-making 04-28, In the Matter of IP-enabled Services, are the layered approach, the functional approach, and, what this dissertation terms, the dichotomous approach. Each of these approaches to
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The US Experiment with Government Ownership of the Telephone
    University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School Penn Law: Legal Scholarship Repository Faculty Scholarship at Penn Law 4-1-2013 The Wires Go to War: The U.S. Experiment with Government Ownership of the Telephone System During World War I Michael A. Janson Federal Communications Commission Christopher S. Yoo University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/faculty_scholarship Part of the Antitrust and Trade Regulation Commons, Communications Law Commons, Economic History Commons, Legal History Commons, Other Business Commons, Policy History, Theory, and Methods Commons, Science and Technology Law Commons, and the United States History Commons Repository Citation Janson, Michael A. and Yoo, Christopher S., "The Wires Go to War: The U.S. Experiment with Government Ownership of the Telephone System During World War I" (2013). Faculty Scholarship at Penn Law. 467. https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/faculty_scholarship/467 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Penn Law: Legal Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Scholarship at Penn Law by an authorized administrator of Penn Law: Legal Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Articles The Wires Go to War: The U.S. Experiment with Government Ownership of the Telephone System During World War I Michael A. Janson* & Christopher S. Yoo** One of the most distinctive characteristics of the U.S. telephone system is that it has always been privately owned, in stark contrast to the pattern of government ownership followed by virtually every other nation. What is not widely known is how close the United States came to falling in line with the rest of the world.
    [Show full text]
  • ABSTRACT the Emphasis of the Symposium Was the Internet, Or Information Superhighway, and the Provision of Information Services to End Users
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 381 176 IR 055 472 AUTHOR Helal, Ahmed H., Ed.; Weiss, Joachim W., Ed. TITLE Information Superhighway: The Role of Librarians, Information Scientists, and Intermediaries. Proceedings of the International Essen Symposium (17th, Essen, Germany, October 24-27, 1994). INSTITUTION Essen Univ. (Germany). Library. REPORT NO ISBN-3-922602-19-3; ISSN-0931-7503 PUB DATE 95 NOTE 488p.; Festschrift in honor of Frederick Wilfrid Lancaster. PUB TYPE Collected Works Conference Proceedings (021) EDRS PRICE MF02/PC20 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Academic Libraries: *Access to Information; *Computer Networks: Cooperation; Developing Nations; Electronic Publishing; Foreign Countries; Higher Education; 'Information Networks; Information Technology; 'Librarians; *Library Role; Library Services, Professional Training; Quality Control; Users (information) IDENTIFIERS 'Information Superhighway; *Internet; Virtual Libraries ABSTRACT The emphasis of the symposium was the Internet, or information superhighway, and the provision of information services to end users. Many internationally recognized librarians shared their experiences and expressed their ideas on new developments and possibilities related to the information superhighway. The 34 papers presented at the symposium addressed the following issues:(1) definition, applications, cost, security, privacy, access, delivery, and ease of use;(2) strategies and tactics for accessing information . on the superhighway, as well as concern for unauthorized use; (3) tremendous amounts of irrelevant information,
    [Show full text]
  • Dismantling Digital Deregulation: Toward a National Broadband Strategy
    DISMANTLING DIGITAL DEREGULATION: TOWARD A NATIONAL BROADBAND STRATEGY By S. Derek Turner DISMANTLING DIGITAL DEREGULATION: TOWARD A NATIONAL BROADBAND STRATEGY TABLE OF CONTENTS THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE STREAMED 5 Abandoning the Commitment to Competition 7 The FCC’s Premature Deregulation 9 Making Up for Lost Time: A National Broadband Plan 10 DEFINING AMERICA’S BROADBAND PROBLEM 14 The American Decline 15 The U.S. Duopoly Fails to Deliver 19 The Digital Divide Persists as Broadband Becomes an Essential Service 23 Why Some States Are Falling Behind in Broadband Adoption 25 America’s Broadband Failures Are the Result of Policy Failures 27 AMERICA’S BROADBAND PROBLEM: COMPETITION 28 The Computer Inquiries and Competition Policy 30 From Computer II to the 1996 Telecom Act 32 Implementing and Undermining the 1996 Telecom Act 33 The Rest of the World Takes a Different Path 37 Cable TV and the Beginning of the End of Broadband Competition 39 The FCC Kills the Commitment to Competition 42 Platform Competition: Always Right Around the Corner 47 The FCC’s Blindness to Abuses of Market Power 52 FCC Endorses Monopoly Power in the Middle-Mile and Special Access Markets 55 The FCC’s Premature Deregulation of the High-Capacity Broadband Market 59 AMERICA’S BROADBAND PROBLEM: OPENNESS 62 Nondiscrimination and Content Control 63 The FCC Abandons Openness 65 The Early Network Neutrality Debate 68 The Evolution of the Network Neutrality Debate 71 The Case Against Comcast 73 Net Neutrality and the Need for a Fifth Principle 75 Dealing with Managed Services
    [Show full text]
  • The Great Telecom Meltdown for a Listing of Recent Titles in the Artech House Telecommunications Library, Turn to the Back of This Book
    The Great Telecom Meltdown For a listing of recent titles in the Artech House Telecommunications Library, turn to the back of this book. The Great Telecom Meltdown Fred R. Goldstein a r techhouse. com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record for this book is available from the U.S. Library of Congress. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Goldstein, Fred R. The great telecom meltdown.—(Artech House telecommunications Library) 1. Telecommunication—History 2. Telecommunciation—Technological innovations— History 3. Telecommunication—Finance—History I. Title 384’.09 ISBN 1-58053-939-4 Cover design by Leslie Genser © 2005 ARTECH HOUSE, INC. 685 Canton Street Norwood, MA 02062 All rights reserved. Printed and bound in the United States of America. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. Artech House cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark. International Standard Book Number: 1-58053-939-4 10987654321 Contents ix Hybrid Fiber-Coax (HFC) Gave Cable Providers an Advantage on “Triple Play” 122 RBOCs Took the Threat Seriously 123 Hybrid Fiber-Coax Is Developed 123 Cable Modems
    [Show full text]
  • A Comment on Competition and Controversy in Local Telecommunications Howard A
    Hastings Law Journal Volume 50 | Issue 6 Article 7 1-1999 A Comment on Competition and Controversy in Local Telecommunications Howard A. Shelanski Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.uchastings.edu/hastings_law_journal Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Howard A. Shelanski, A Comment on Competition and Controversy in Local Telecommunications, 50 Hastings L.J. 1617 (1999). Available at: https://repository.uchastings.edu/hastings_law_journal/vol50/iss6/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at UC Hastings Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Hastings Law Journal by an authorized editor of UC Hastings Scholarship Repository. A Comment on Competition and Controversy in Local Telecommunications by HOWARD A. SHELANSKI* The principal goal of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 is to open the market for local telephone service to competition. So far, however, the statute has attracted headlines more for generating legal controversy than for creating economic competition. The disputes that have commanded such attention and colored public discussion of the Act involve, at their core, the Federal Communications Commission's interpretation of provisions requiring incumbent local carriers to make parts of their proprietary networks available for use by new entrants. While some observers blame litigation and non- compliance with these "network unbundling" provisions for delaying implementation of a generally sound piece of legislation,' others contend either that the FCC's implementation of the unbundling requirements is impermissible and onerous or that regulators have not gone far enough to help new competitors.2 Given the resources devoted to disputes over the Act, it would be easy to suppose, as a variety of commentators have,3 that the success of the 1996 Act depends on how courts and regulators resolve * Acting Professor of Law, University of California at Berkeley (on leave 1999-2000) and Chief Economist, Federal Communications Commission.
    [Show full text]
  • Longhorn ​Startup
    LONGHORN STARTUP ​ UT Austin Spring 2021 Syllabus as of 1/12/2021 ​by Joshua Baer & Mellie Price. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Longhorn Startup Lab (LSL): Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship Practicum ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Longhorn Startup Lab (LSL) i​s an intensive project-based course in the Spring semester that identifies student entrepreneurs who are building scalable technology companies and gets them real course credit for working on their startups while still in school. These students receive weekly one-on-one mentoring sessions with successful entrepreneurs. The semester culminates in a Demo Day where the students present their companies to the Austin community. Any student from any college can register but final team selection is by approval of the instructor. Each team that is selected will also receive other benefits. This list is subject to change. ● Personalized mentoring from Austin entrepreneurs ● Pitch onstage to 1,000 people at Demo Day at the end of the semester ● $1,000 cash grant for each team ● $5,000 Amazon Web Services free hosting credits ● Free coworking memberships at Capital Factory from January-August 2021 ● Free table at the Austin Startup Crawl during SXSW ● Chance to pitch onstage at SXSW ● Demo Day winners interested in continuing to work on their company after completion of Longhorn Startup Lab will have the opportunity to accept a guaranteed spot in the Capital Factory Accelerator
    [Show full text]
  • Solutions 2020 Call to Action Plan ) ) ) Public
    Before The FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20554 In re: ) ) Public Notice #342689 #Solutions 2020 Call to Action Plan ) COMMENTS ON DRAFT #SOLUTIONS2020 ACTION PLAN The Wright Petitioners,1 Prison Policy Initiative, New Jersey Advocates for Immigrant Detainees, and United Church of Christ, OC Inc. (collectively, the "ICS Advocates"), hereby respond to the above-referenced Public Notice and submit these Comments on the Draft #Solutions2020 Action Plan released on December 19, 2016 (the "Action Plan"). While the Public Notice sought comment on a number of issues discussed in the Action Plan, these comments are limited to those raised therein regarding the Comprehensive Reform of Inmate Calling Services ("ICS"). In particular, the ICS Advocates have long-supported the Action Plan's call for the development of "real competition" and "reasonable rates in ICS and video visitation services," as well as the abolishment of "kickbacks to correctional facilities."2 Moreover, the ICS Advocates applaud the Action Plan's recognition that any rule changes adopted with regard to contraband cell phones should be mindful of the imposition of additional costs on inmates and their families. 1 The Wright Petitioners are: Dorothy Wade, Annette Wade, Ethel Peoples, Laurie Nelson, Winston Bliss, Sheila Taylor, Katharine Goray, Ulandis Forte, Charles Wade, Earl Peoples, Darrell Nelson, Melvin Taylor, Jackie Lucas, Peter Bliss, David Hernandez, Lisa Hernandez, Vendella F. Oura, along with The D.C. Prisoners’ Legal Services Project, and Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants. Martha Wright, the grandmother of Ulandis Forte, passed away on January 18, 2015. 2 See Action Plan, pg. 2. 1 87383168.1 As set forth below, the ICS Advocates are supplying information regarding the current state of the ICS industry with respect to the rates charged by ICS providers.
    [Show full text]
  • Tilman Tells It Like It Is Coworking with the Cowboys Catching up with Mark Cuban
    Q1 2020 THE BUSINESS OF TEXAS SPORTS TILMAN TELLS IT LIKE IT IS No-Nonsense Business Lessons from the “Billion Dollar Buyer” COWORKING WITH THE COWBOYS A Chat with Jerry Jones Jr. CATCHING UP WITH THE MARK CUBAN RELAUNCH 7 Questions for the Legend ISSUE Warren is cleaning up Texas– and KEEPING IT SAFE. Warren Paynes | Lead Residential Driver | Texas Disposal Systems, Inc. Warren Paynes doesn’t just make Texas a cleaner place — he makes it a safer place. As a driver for Texas Disposal Systems, he knows that driving safe protects him, his route partner and everyone around them. He stays focused, performs inspections on his vehicle and puts his cell phone away. Warren takes his driver safety training seriously, and that’s why Texas Mutual is proud to support him and all the Texans who make the road their workplace. Texas Mutual is changing the way workers’ comp works for you. See Warren ON THE JOB at WorkSafeTexas.com/OnTheJob. © 2019 Texas Mutual Insurance Company Warren is cleaning up Texas– Letter from the KEEPING IT SAFE. OWNER and Great CEOs create great jobs. And meaningful work is something almost everyone craves. That’s why I have always felt that building a business is a noble cause. By creating and running great businesses, we satisfy our need to help others even as we provide for our own needs. This dynamic is, in large part, why we are excited to relaunch Texas CEO Magazine with the mission of helping CEOs across Texas grow their businesses and master their role as head of the organization.
    [Show full text]
  • WBENC August 2015 President's Report
    REPORT AUGUST 2015 MICHAEL ROBINSON AWARDED ALCORN AWARD A LEADER OF #Hes4Shes CALENDAR OF EVENTS THIS CALENDAR INCLUDES EVENTS HOSTED BY WBENC’S REGIONAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS. VISIT WBENC’S ONLINE CALENDAR FOR MORE EVENTS. AUGUST 2015 GWBC Power of Partnering DIR Luncheon Featuring WPEO-NY Program with PepsiCo 6th Annual LBA Minority 18-19 Marketplace & Golf 19 Keynote Speaker, the 25 Click here for details. 26 Women’s Business Conference Scholarship Tournament Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr. Burbank, Calif. Atlanta, Ga. Detroit, Mich. BMW-PROCON Business Click here for details. 26 Click here for details. Click here for details. Matchmaking & Procurement Conference Garden Grove, Calif. Click here for details. SEPTEMBER 2015 WBDC Annual Entrepreneurial SoCalGas Mastering Go for the Greens 2015: A National Women’s Business 2 Woman’s Conference 11 Business Growth 2015 17-19 World of Opportunity 27-29 Conference Hosted by Chicago, Ill. (Thru November 13) Lake Buena Vista, Fla. NAWBO Click here for details. Redlands, Calif. Click here for details. San Antonio, Tex. Click here for details. Click here for details. 3 The Power Conference 18 WPEO-NY Brown Bag Lunch Co-hosted by WPEO WBEC-West Strategic with The Hartford WBEA Annual Golf Classic & North Bethesda, Md. 15-17 Procurement Opportunity New York, N.Y. 28 Silent Auction Click here for details. Conference Click here for details. Sugarland, Tex. Santa Barbara, Calif. Click here for details. WPEO-DC WBE to WBE – Click here for details. WBEC-PA-DE-sNJ Annual 8 15th Anniversary Celebration 18 Awards Luncheon 2015 USBLN 18th Annual 28-1 Washington, D.C.
    [Show full text]
  • PHOENIX CENTER POLICY BULLETIN NO. 17 Page 1 of 18
    PHOENIX CENTER POLICY BULLETIN NO. 17 Page 1 of 18 PHOENIX CENTER POLICY BULLETIN NO. 17 George S. Ford, Ph.D. Thomas M. Koutsky, J.D. Lawrence J. Spiwak, J.D. April 2007 WIRELESS NET NEUTRALITY: FROM Carterfone TO CABLE BOXES Abstract: Over the past few months there have been calls to impose “wireless net neutrality” rules on the burgeoning United States wireless industry. These critics assert that certain practices by the wireless industry—such as handset “locking” practices, data bandwidth limitations, and control over features included on handsets—unduly hamper the ability of consumers to access and use advanced data communications services and, therefore, require severe regulatory intervention to protect consumers. To correct this perceived market defect, wireless network neutrality advocates essentially seek to turn highly sophisticated wireless telecommunications networks into commodity-based networks. In support of this proposal, wireless network neutrality advocates point to the Federal Communications Commission’s 1968 Carterfone decision and the more recent Cable Navigation Devices rules as examples in which the Commission has taken what they allege to be a similar regulatory approach for both the landline telephone and video programming distribution market. In this BULLETIN we show that neither the mandates of, nor conditions relevant to, Carterfone and the Cable Navigation Devices decisions appear to support the regulatory intervention sought by the wireless network neutrality advocates. Indeed, the Carterfone and Cable Navigation Devices decisions appear to decidedly call for a rejection of the recent proposals for wireless network neutrality. We also discuss the substantial risks that Carterfone-type regulation would commoditize wireless network services in a way that could substantially harm the prospects for entry and competition in the industry.
    [Show full text]
  • WR Bulletin Vol 3 Issue #8 12-Feb-02
    The Wainhouse Research Bulletin ONLINE NEWS AND VIEWS ON VISUAL COLLABORATION AND RICH MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS SPECIAL EDITION VCON/MITEL INTRODUCE VOICE FIRST As always, please feel free to forward this newsletter to your colleagues. To be added to our automated email distribution list, simply visit www.wainhouse.com/bulletin. SUBSCRIBE NOW! IT’S FREE! Andrew W. Davis, [email protected] Mitel Networks and VCON Collaborate to Deliver Converged IP Voice and Video VCON and Mitel Networks have announced a development and distribution agreement to deliver converged IP video solutions. This relationship will lead to Mitel’s integrating VCON’s video technology with its IP- based Integrated Communications Platforms (PBX machines) to deliver true application- level convergence of voice and video. The relationship between the two companies is based on a paradigm dubbed “Voice-First” that enables enterprise users to add interactive video to a conversation through the push of a button on a Mitel IP handset. The joint development and distribution agreement will initially involve the integration of the Mitel Networks 3300 Integrated Availability of the Mitel-VCON solution will be in the Communications Platform with the VCON Media Q2 2002 timeframe. Demo versions are running now. Xchange Manager (MXM), enabling the industry’s first truly converged voice and video communications There are two key elements to the Mitel solution. Using Voice-First, a user simply places a Networks/VCON relationship. 1) Mitel Networks and normal voice call. If both users are also video-enabled, VCON will enter into joint development to create the the “video” button on the phone flashes.
    [Show full text]
  • FROM CARTERFONE to the Iphone: CONSUMER CHOICE in the WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKETPLACE
    FROM CARTERFONE TO THE iPHONE: CONSUMER CHOICE IN THE WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKETPLACE Michael T. Hoekert Obituary Ma Bell Dies at 107. Ma Bell died at the stroke of midnight, Saturday, De- cember 31, 1983. She succumbed to the forces of technological change and the pub- lic's desire for competition. She was 107 years old. Funeral arrangements were made by the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust department team led by William Baxter. Officiating was Judge Harold H. Greene.' I. INTRODUCTION So began a tribute written by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1944 upon the divesture, in late 1983, of the largest company the world had ever seen, the American Telegraph and Telephone Company ("AT&T").2 Tens of thousands of proud men and women could not help but mourn the loss of the $155 billion telephone empire that they had a very real hand in constructing. Through the twentieth century, AT&T brought universal local and long distance telephone service to the United States, a monumental task by any measure. As a government-sanctioned and vertically integrated monopoly with universal service as its mandate, AT&T harnessed immense economies of scale and scope in tackling this challenge.4 By the 1950s, AT&T t J.D. Candidate, May 2009, The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. The author would like to recognize Professor Robert Frieden's passion for the issues dis- cussed here, and thank him for his eagerness to share his knowledge and criticism through- out the development of this Comment. I The Day the Bell System Died, http://www.porticus.org/bell/bellsystemdied.html (last visited Sept.
    [Show full text]