Economics at the FCC 2021-22: 5G Spectrum Auctions, Affordable Connectivity, Broadband Data Collection, and Merger Review

Joanna Fister; Catherine Matraves; Martha Stancill; Donald Stockdale; Sean Sullivan; Shane Taylor; Aleksandr Yankelevich

doi:10.1007/s11151-022-09887-6

Economics at the FCC 2021-22: 5G Spectrum Auctions, Affordable Connectivity, Broadband Data Collection, and Merger Review

Rev Ind Organ. 2022;61(4):489-520. doi: 10.1007/s11151-022-09887-6. Epub 2022 Nov 16.

Authors

Joanna Fister¹, Catherine Matraves^{1

2}, Martha Stancill¹, Donald Stockdale¹, Sean Sullivan¹, Shane Taylor¹, Aleksandr Yankelevich¹

Affiliations

¹ Office of Economics and Analytics, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street, Washington, DC, NE 20554 USA.
² Deputy Chief Economist, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, USA.

Abstract

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for regulation in the communications marketplace and for management of the nation's non-federal radio spectrum. During the past year, FCC economists continued to work on auctions so as to repurpose mid-band spectrum for advanced wireless services - including 5G - as well as initiatives to close the connectivity gap and make broadband more affordable. FCC economists also evaluated the likely competitive effects of Verizon's proposed acquisition of prepaid competitor TracFone Wireless. Finally, FCC economists helped in setting up the novel Broadband Data Collection.

Keywords: Affordable Connectivity; Broadband Data Collection; Connectivity Gap; FCC; Homework Gap; Merger; Rural Health; Telecommunications Policy.