Deregulating Telecommunications: U.S. and Canadian Telecommunications, 1840-1997

Deregulating Telecommunications critically examines the transition from monopoly to competition in the U.S. and Canadian telecommunications industries. Accessibly written with a minimum of technical language, this thorough yet concise book looks at the history of the telephone industry, its regulation, and over a century of related public policy. Featured are discussions of the roles of public sector institutions, private sector actors, and processes and policies concerning rates, subsidies, licensing, and rules governing interconnection of networks, among other key issues. This valuable comparative analysis shows the U.S. influence on Canadian policy, offers insights on the policymaking processes in both countries, and moves us toward a better critical understanding of the contemporary telecommunications environment.