Networks in Telecommunications: Economics and Law

by Daniel F. Spulber , Christopher S. Yoo

• ISBN13: 9780521673860
• ISBN10: 0521673860
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-06-08
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Networks in Telecommunications addresses fundamental issues in discussions of regulatory policy by offering an integrated framework for understanding the economics and law of networks. It extends theories on network design associated with the mathematics of graph theory, which provides insights into the complex, systemic interrelationship between network components. It also applies the principles of transaction cost economics to analyze decisions about the appropriate boundaries of proprietary network architecture. The book introduces network theory to the study of the economics and law of telecommunications. The discussion opens up the black box of the cost function in telecommunications. The analysis also goes beyond the "network externalities" approach that focuses primarily on the size of networks. The book highlights the effects of network architecture and the tradeoffs inherent in network design

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Economics of Networks

The structure and functions of networks

The design and costs of networks

Pricing network services

The Regulation of Networks

Network regulation basics

Economic effects of regulating access to networks

Pricing of access to networks

Constitutional limits on the pricing of access to networks

Policy Applications

The regulation of local telephone networks

Antitrust as applied to network industries

The regulation of last-mile broadband networks

The regulation of broadband networks and the internet: network neutrality versus network diversity

The regulation of broadband networks and the internet: network neutrality versus network capacity

Conclusion

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