Communication Technology Update, 10/e, 10th Edition

IV

TELEPHONY

 

Telephone revenues in the United States from local, long distance, and wireless services exceed those of all advertising media combined. Clearly, point-to-point transmission of voice, data, and video represents the single largest sector of the communications industry. The sheer size of this market has two effects: companies in other areas of the media want a piece of the market, and telephone companies want to grow by entering other media.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was designed to stimulate competition in the provision of these services, but, to date, comparatively little competition has emerged. Ironically, the advanced technology that promised new markets and revenues for incumbent and competitive service providers ...