Antitrust and Economic Regulation: Essential and Complementary Tools to Maximize Consumer Welfare and Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age

This article is an analysis of the political economy of antitrust and regulation in the communications sector in the traditional sense of the term, which entails the direct relationship of political action to influence the economy through policy.’ To put the matter bluntly, we believe it is nafve at best, immoral at worst, to think that politics and policy do not define the structure and outcomes of the economy. Policymakers must not forgo the opportunity to address market failures and imperfections that harm consumers, like anticompetitive or discriminatory actions, or promote the public interest, like ensuring universal service and diversity in expression.