Charles, as regards the telecosm in the US and Canada we will continue to see incrementalism: a step forward here, two steps back there. If one were to critique regulatory performance - which is merely a constant equivocation between status quo and newly-arisen forces - the terms unimaginative, vacillating, and directionless come to mind. But regulators such as CRTC and FCC are merely arms-length buffers, an arena beyond the political forum, where different interests including the government of the day play out their agendas. How can we blame them for their inadequacies?
On a completely unrelated matter, Paul Volcker made what the WSJ called "... a blistering, off-the-cuff critique leveled at nearly every corner of the financial system." He hit the mark squarely, particularly with this comment, equally applicable to telecomms:
On judgment — “Let me suggest to you that relying on judgment all the time makes for a very heavy burden whether you are regulating an individual institution or whether you are regulating the whole market or whether you are deciding what might be disturbing or what might not be disturbing. It's pretty tough and it's subject to all kinds of political and institutional blockages as well.”
blogs.wsj.com
Telecomms in North America is just one dreary never-ending game: much ado about very little, grist for incessant controversy about millimeter movement, increasing fragmentation, constantly-changing actors and technology, all without change in the underlying dynamics.
Jim |
