The previous section discussed the conduct issues arising from market power. In this section, we discuss how the major source of market power can be countered through access policies.
Market power can be earned (eg by superior service or patented innovation) but in communications it often comes from control of an essential facility. Typically, the incumbent has a legacy access network which it is uneconomic to duplicate and for which there are no close substitutes (ie a natural monopoly). This market power is removed with mandated open access.
Specifically, this section will address:
• Policy Issues
• Key Concepts
• Interconnection
• Unbundling
• Infrastructure Sharing
Section 4 will look at the important question of the price for access.