IPI Publication Press Release
IPI Policy Guide
Related Publication Title:
A State Legislators Guide to Telecom Policy (2004)
Released by Sonia Hoffman on 08/13/2004
IPI Policy Guide
Related Publication Title:
A State Legislators Guide to Telecom Policy (2004)
Released by Sonia Hoffman on 08/13/2004
Full Text
Press Release (08/13/2004)
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IPI Touts Aggressive Telecom Deregulation,
Industry Representatives Also Endorse Deregulation
For Immediate Release: Friday, August 13, 2004
Contact: Sonia Hoffman, shoffman@ipi.org or (703) 912-5742 (Washington, DC) The Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) touts an aggressive telecommunications deregulation approach. Now industries like MCI and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, who have historically favored regulation, are also singing the praises of deregulation.
Addressing hundreds of state legislators at the recent American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) summit in Seattle, Washington, IPI Research Fellow Barry M. Aarons noted, “We start at IPI with a premise. Frankly, that premise is really very simple, some would say radical, we would say bold. That is, nothing in telecommunications should be regulated, period.”
Aarons urged legislator’s to “take back [their] authority with regard to telecommunications in the future” by “do[ing] what the legislative branch of government is responsible for – making policy.”
Instead of allowing regulators to apply discretionary regulations in telecommunications, Aarons suggested that legislators should use their sunset and policy authority to determine not what level of regulation should be applied, but whether there should be any regulation at all.
Remarks from MCI and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association representatives also showed support for deregulation.
“I am very pleased to see that my colleagues from MCI and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association are both placing their organizations clearly on the side of real, true and appropriate deregulation,” Aarons noted. He added, “They are obviously recognizing the benefits of a free market approach.”
Aarons is also the co-author of IPI’s new “2004 Guide to Telecommunications Policy,” released at the ALEC conference. The guide explains the issues public policymakers face in considering the future of telecom. The guide also offers a non-partisan – but distinctly free-market approach – to telecom policy.
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For copies of the event transcript or for IPI’s new “2004 Guide to Telecommunications Policy, email Sonia Hoffman at shoffman@ipi.org or call (703) 912-5742. Barry Aarons is available for interview.
