Study
| EST. READ TIME 1 MIN.Spectrum Auction Rules and Competition Policy
This paper addresses the Canadian government's controversial limits (or caps) on the blocks of spectrum that can be acquired for the upcoming auction of 700 MHz spectrum on January 14, 2014. Large Canadian carriers (TELUS, Bell, and Rogers) have expressed concern over Verizon's possible participation in the auction. While the perceived scenario of Verizon acquiring one or more smaller wireless carriers and then successfully bidding for prime spectrum has garnered national attention, the broader issue of whether the policies being implemented by the government are in the interests of Canadian wireless customers is equally significant. This paper argues that preventing large incumbent carriers from unduly restricting competition in the future can and should be addressed through the Competition Act, rather than through "handicapping" the competitive process, including spectrum auction caps.
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Steven Globerman
Senior Fellow and Addington Chair in Measurement, Fraser Institute
Mr. Steven Globerman is a Senior Fellow and Addington Chair in Measurement at the Fraser Institute. Previously, he held tenuredappointments at Simon Fraser University and York University and has been a visiting professor at the University of California, University of British Columbia, Stockholm School of Economics, Copenhagen School of Business, and the Helsinki School of Economics.He has published more than 200 articles and monographs and is the author of the book The Impacts of 9/11 on Canada-U.S. Trade as well as a textbook on international business management. In the early 1990s, he was responsible for coordinating Fraser Institute research on the North American Free Trade Agreement.In addition, Mr. Globerman has served as a researcher for two Canadian Royal Commissions on the economy as well as a research advisor to Investment Canada on the subject of foreign direct investment. He has also hosted management seminars for policymakers across North America and Asia.Mr. Globerman was a founding member of the Association for Cultural Economics and is currently a member of the American and Canadian Economics Associations, the Academy of International Business, and the Academy of Management.He earned his BA in economics from Brooklyn College, his MA from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his PhD from New York University.… Read more