Economics at the Federal Communications Commission: 2006–2007

Abstract

Content diversity, Economic experiments, Localism, Media ownership, News programming, Package bidding, Public affairs programming, Simultaneous multiple-round (SMR) auction, Spectrum auction design, Viewpoint diversity,

Economics at the FCC: 2007–2008

“…2 Froeb et al (2008) discuss the tradeoffs between a functional and divisional organization for economists within policy organizations. 3 Much of this background section borrows extensively from Marx (2006) and Connolly and Kwerel's (2007). public. The FCC has tried to implement this goal by designing auctions that specify and assign licenses quickly and efficiently, are robust to strategic behavior by bidders, raise significant revenue, and are perceived to be fair, transparent, and objective.…”

“…In the two previous survey articles on "Economics at the FCC", Marx (2006) and Connolly and Kwerel's (2007) highlighted several issues of interest to economists in the area of auction design, including auctions with endogenous license characteristics, anonymous bidding, and package bidding. The latter two were implemented in the recently concluded 700 MHz auction.…”

“…These studies were published on July 31, 2007. The content of the individual studies was summarized in Connolly and Kwerel's (2007).…”

“…5 This is not to minimize the importance of endogenous product choice in an auction context. In a recent FCC working paper,Bykowsky et al (2008) analyze an auction-based approach to selling both spectrum licenses and the licensing rules that apply to that spectrum.6 Marx (2006) also describes the use of anonymous bidding in the auction for Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) Connolly and Kwerel's (2007). describe the motivation for and consequences of package bidding as well as experimental evidence on the performance of package bidding in auction contexts.…”

“…This helps overcome the "threshold" problem discussed inConnolly and Kwerel's (2007).20 See 2006 Quadrennial Review Order, Para 1.21 See 2002 Biennial Regulatory Review -Review of the Commission's Broadcast Ownership Rules and Other Rules Adopted Pursuant to Section 202 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Report and Order…”