IP: My comment Re: Bells Stand to Benefit From New FCC Chairman's Neutrality, Economists Say

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

It is very seldom I  give my opinion explicitly on a IP mailing but I will 
in this case.

My experience with Mike Powell left me with a very warm feeling of a person 
who was committed to a competitive marketplace. There are two ways of 
achieving that with respect to FCC actions. One is preventative -- one 
looks into the future (a rough task) and based on that look acts in the 
present to "fix" things. That requires a very good crystal ball. The other 
way is to let the market place work it's way, monitoring and acting rapidly 
if it goes wrong.  How fast one can act in a fast moving technology is the 
issue here.

Mike is, I believe, an advocate of the latter path.  Both paths have 
problems and both are valid approaches. What is true I believe, is that 
Mike is far from a passive player who will stand by and watch the Bells 
lock up the marketplace. That will take very careful watching and very 
rapid action if the market fails. One hopes the Congress does not tie 
Powell future hands with restrictive laws.

As many of you know I have little love for monopolies and made a major 
effort to stop one. I am prone to believe Mike will  also.

Dave




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