Author(s)
Einer Elhauge and Damien Geradin
Source
Hart Publishing (Oxford, UK and Portland, Oregon), 2007
Summary
This book discusses how changing communications services raise trade issues.
Policy Relevance
As trade continues, differences among policies for audio-visual and other communications set at the national level will become problematic.
Main Points
- For decades, different electronic communications services have been “converging.” Cable companies offer phone service; telephone companies offer video service and email, and so on.
- Convergence changes competition; meanwhile, regulations were based on old business models that assume separate telephone, cable television, and broadcast companies.
- Also, communications services and equipment are going global, which raises international trade issues.
- Standards associated with only one region can become trade barriers.
- Some nations regulate different types of communications, including language.
- Many subsidies and taxes are also nationally based.
