Regulatory barriers to home information services

Joseph A. Grundfest, Walter S. Baer

Expert InsightsPublished 1978

Advances in microelectronics make it possible to send information over the switched telephone network for display on a TV receiver. The British Post Office is beginning field trials of such a system. Their Viewdata system will offer financial data, job information, sports results, betting odds, etc. In the United States, policies regarding industry structure, regulatory jurisdiction, and pricing create barriers to such a system. Although information services do not show strong natural monopoly characteristics, they may be subject to regulation both by the Federal Communications Commission and state public utility commissions. Using telephone carriers' billing systems for information charges also raises complex legal issues analogous to those in the recently resolved cable TV pole-attachment controversy. Despite these problems, developing a competitive market for information services to the home seems both feasible and desirable.

Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 1978
  • Pages: 8
  • Document Number: P-6106

Citation

Chicago Manual of Style

Grundfest, Joseph A. and Walter S. Baer, Regulatory barriers to home information services. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1978. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P6106.html.
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