FirstNet was created to establish a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) to provide reliable, modern and interoperable communications to first responders. Every Governor has the right to “opt-out” of the FirstNet plan for his or her state and develop an alternative plan for the...

In February 2012, Congress created the “First Responder Network Authority,” otherwise known as “FirstNet.” FirstNet is charged with overseeing the construction, operation, and maintenance of the country's first nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN). FirstNet is obliged to...

FirstNet was created to establish a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) to provide reliable, modern and interoperable communications to first responders. Every Governor has the right to “opt-out” of the FirstNet plan for his or her state and develop an alternative plan for the...

FirstNet was created to establish a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) to provide reliable, modern and interoperable communications to first responders. Every Governor has the right to “opt-out” of the FirstNet plan for his or her state and develop an alternative plan for the...

The Federal Communications Commission has spent $30 billion over the past decade on subsidies for phone service in high cost areas, but it has never developed outcome goals or measures to assess whether the subsidies have accomplished the intended results. Congress should require the FCC to...

Reform of federal programs and regulations that subsidize phone companies in rural areas is a perennial topic of debate at the Federal Communications Commission and in Congress. Economic analysys suggests several principles that would lead to a reform plan most conducive to overall consumer...

One important concern for the upcoming and highly-complex voluntary incentive auctions for broadcast television spectrum is the degree to which the largest mobile wireless providers will be allowed to participate. Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice encouraged the Federal Communications...

Economic analysis of spectrum allocation policies focuses on competitive bidding for wireless licenses. Auctions generating high bids, as in Germany and the UK, are identified as successful, while those producing lower receipts, as in Switzerland and the Netherlands, are deemed fiascoes. Yet,...

The design of the FCC spectrum-license auction is a case study in the application of economic theory. Auction theory helped address policy questions such as: Should an open auction or a sealed-bid auction be used? Should the licenses be auctioned sequentially or simultaneously? Should the...

The aim of this paper is to highlight empirically some important worldwide differences in the impact of privatization of the fixed-line telecommunications operator on network expansion, tariffs, and efficiency during the 1985-2007 period for a large panel of countries. Our work suggests that the...