CEI Congressional Seminar: Tailoring Telecommunications Reform

Date: Friday, October 28, 2005<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />

Time: 12:00 – 2:00 pm

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Location: Rayburn House Office Building, Room B-354, Washington, DC

 

Speakers:

 

  • Braden Cox, Technology Counsel, Competitive Enterprise Institute
  • James Gattuso, Research Fellow, Heritage Foundation
  • Randolph May, Senior Fellow and Director of Communications Policy Studies, Progress & Freedom Foundation
  • Blair Levin, Managing Director, Legg Mason
  • Moderator: Wayne Crews, Vice President for Regulatory Policy and Director of Technology Studies, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Event Description:

 

The rules that govern the telecommunications industry in the United States have been made increasingly irrelevant by recent technological developments. Unless current regulations are phased out, they will continue to add unnecessary costs onto consumers and burden economic growth. How should we transition from current laws to future deregulation? Please join us for lunch and a moderated panel discussion where we will discuss the future of telecom deregulation.

 

In a CEI report released this week about communications reform, Communications without Commissions: A National Plan for Reforming Telecom Regulation, Braden Cox and Wayne Crews assert that Congress must act in tailored, incremental ways that change communications law and reforms the agency that administers it. First, it should establish clear boundaries as to whether an area of communications should be regulated by federal or state governments. Additionally, Congress must restrict the role of the Federal Communications Commission in future communications regulation.

 

The communications of the future is upon us. However, the laws of the past are still with us. The salient question for the present (and at this lunch event) is whether we still need a Commission to oversee our communications needs.

RSVP:  Please RSVP to [email protected] or to Megan Mclaughlin at 202.331.1010 (please leave your name, affiliation and contact info, including your e-mail address).