Too fat to dance

摘要

One of the ironies of telecoms deregulation is that it is frequently nothing of the sort. Opening telecoms markets to competition usually requires more regulation, not less. In the United States, the break-up of Ma Bell in 1984 created a series of regional Baby Bell monopolies in local calls and a long-distance company, AT&T. The result? A thicket of new rules to prevent Ma Bell's offspring from exploiting customers, and AT&T from bullying its opponents. Last year the Telecommunications Reform Act added yet more rules governing the way in which long-distance operators, the Baby Bells and even cable-TV companies can invade each other's markets. More players require more referees.