Firms that wish to offer wireline, multichannel video programming services in direct competition with cable incumbents are being faced with calls by those incumbents and policymakers to "build-out" to entire communities as a pre-condition of receiving a franchise. This "build-out" requirement is...

This Policy Bulletin measures the gains to consumer welfare of the new "all distance"/"all you can eat" competition produced by the market-opening provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Analysis reveals that the consumer welfare gain amounts to approximately $10 billion per year, and...