Telecom Regulation Results: Texas Has Brick-Size Cell Phones When Japan Has Small Picture Cell Phones 7/12/2004
From: Sonia Hoffman of the Institute for Policy Innovation, 972-874-5139 or shoffman@ipi.org. News Advisory: About seven years ago -- when Texans made calls on brick-size cell phones -- Barry Aarons' son was studying in Japan and had access to small camera phones. Why? The Japanese had access to many better, newer telecom technologies. And for one simple reason: Japan had fewer telecom regulations. It is the opinion of the independent, Dallas-based Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI), that Texans don't deserve second best in product or service. Instead, Texas telecom ought to be freed from government regulation and the PUC so that Texans have more job opportunities and better, newer products. Advocates of continued regulation argue that public health and safety, consumer protection with regard to pricing and product availability, and competitive balance make deregulation bad for the consumer. These advocates are entirely wrong. WHO: Barry M. Aarons, Telecom expert and senior research fellow WHAT: The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission will resume hearings on July 13th with public testimony in its review of the role of the Public Utility Commission's (PUC) jurisdiction over the telecommunications industry in Texas. "The Texas Commission can incent massive new investment resulting in tremendous capital formation, more jobs creation, more research and development, more new product development and deployment and more consumer choice at lower aggregate prices by dramatically reducing its regulatory oversight in the wire-line industry." WHEN: Available immediately to print and radio mediums. CONTACT: Sonia Hoffman, 972-874-5139 or shoffman@ipi.org ------ The Institute for Policy Innovation is an independent public policy organization in Dallas, Texas. For copies of Aarons' telecom research, visit http://www.ipi.org and view " Don't Call, Just Send Me An Email" and "Time to Deregulate Wireline Communications." |