Blog
In the intricate realm where law meets economics, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) proposed revisions to their merger guidelines serve as a stark reminder of the perils that accompany regulatory misdirection. Announced in July 2023, the draft guidelines swiftly garnered criticism from all corners of the political spectrum, with legal [...]
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) marked a significant change in tactics for bridging the digital divide—the gap between broadband haves and have-nots—by ushering in the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Intended to bring the digital age into unserved and underserved areas, the BEAD program is armed with $42.45 billion allocated [...]
In a concerning turn of events, the now Democrat-controlled Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expanding its control of telecommunications beyond what the agency had in the days of Ma Bell’s monopoly. As a result, Americans are facing diminished broadband services at a higher cost. The FCC is overreaching on two fronts. One is its push [...]
Maine voters don’t like their electric utilities, but they balked at paying billions to buy them out
Frustration with electric utilities is universal today. Whether it’s concerns over high rates, poor service or a combination of both, people are constantly looking for a better answer to the systems that serve them. In the Nov. 7, 2023, election, voters in Maine had a chance to consider a new model for electricity service that [...]
On October 2, AEI hosted an expert panel to discuss how price controls might affect broadband affordability and ways to ensure broadband is affordable for all Americans. The panel featured New Street Research’s Jonathan Chaplin, Duke University’s Michelle P. Connolly, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s John Horrigan, and Georgetown University’s John W. Mayo. [...]