Jamison Cites Momentum for Revamping Silo-Based FCC Structure for Convergence

structure that moves away from antiquated silos -- wireline, wireless, and media -- to one that reflects the dynamic digital ecosystem and that empowers sound analytical work," he wrote in a blog post Thursday, noting he was speaking for himself not the team. "The existing structure limits how people think, encourages regulations that limit innovation, and facilitates industry capture." The FCC's regulation, bureaucracy, reports and analysis "still reflect old wireline, wireless, and media structure. Unsurprisingly, the staff and commissioners often think in these silos," he wrote. Consumers "are not so stuck in the past" and prefer "technology-neutral broadband," with mobility key to many applications, but the U.S. "is far behind even many developing countries when it comes to laws and rules reflecting convergence," he wrote, citing policies in Tanzania, El Salvador and Guatemala. "A new structure would be up to the FCC and Congress, but one that would satisfy my criteria would include a bureau of economics that analyzes markets and conducts regulatory impact assessments, a bureau of engineering that assesses technologies and is responsible for radio spectrum and equipment licensing, a competition bureau that enforces rules that protect liberal markets, and a consumer protection bureau," he wrote. "The first two bureaus are all about analysis, and the latter two are all about enforcement, with the engineering bureau also playing a significant enforcement role with respect to radio spectrum and equipment." The transition team apparently discussed restructuring the FCC along the lines that Jamison backed (see 1701310062).