The Progress & Freedom Foundation Blog

Typically, opinion essays have a short shelf life. However, this excerpt from an essay produced by the inestimable analyst Michael Barone for the forthcoming Almanac of American Politics 2006 is atypical. It is a keeper.

In "American Politics In The Networking Era" he offers juicy bits such as, "Changes in politics resemble changes in the larger society. For several decades now, we have seen the change from industrial America to post-industrial America, from an industrial nation characterized by centralization and large command-and-control organizations to a post-industrial, Information Age nation characterized by decentralization and network-connected organizations." But in the main, it is a sharp-eyed look at the American electorate and how politics and campaigning are changing.

Notwithstanding my understandable fear that I have been blogging away in the darkness, it appears (through my rose-colored glasses) that some of my wonkish pleas have been heard at the highest levels of government. Specifically, as other telecom junkies speculated publicly about who will replace Chairman Michael Powell at the helm of the FCC, I suggested we focus instead on whether the White House would make it a priority to promote innovation and investment in digital technologies through the type of regulatory restraint Powell has championed. I then chose hope over disappointment with respect to the faint (but, I argued, nontrivial) references to promoting investment and innovation in last month's State of the Union Address.

To those naysayers who scolded me privately for getting choked up by that speech, I respond that perhaps that knot in my throat was not for naught: the President's economic advisors appear to have been similarly moved.

While in Europe we heard much praise of Friedrich Hayek, Ayn Rand, etc., and quite reasonably so. But I'd like to add Jackie Robinson to the list. This is not to be taken as another Black History Month moment; I feel it's insulting that we declare any people to only be worth praising one month a year, and in this case Robinson's brethren were given the shortest month.

Now race can't be separated from the praise I'm going to give Robinson, because this story ties directly into his efforts to break down the walls of segregation in society. But my tale is as much about economics as it is race, in particular Robinson's keen understanding of economics, particularly the power of aggregation.

The battle continues to heat up between cable operators and telephone companies hoping to get into the video business. Today's Comm Daily [Lexis subscription required] reports on Verizon's legislative efforts in California to avoid a state law that would force VZ, where it is deploying fiber to support video service, to build out to the entire franchise area served by the incumbent cable provider. Not surprisingly, the local cable association has raised concerns with Verizon's bill. The statute from which VZ would be exempted if the proposed law passes has been described as an attempt to provide market competitors a regulatory "level playing field." But that unfortunate metaphor provides little guidance on how to piece through the many complex issues related to whether and how cable and telco video competitors should be regulated.

The legislation discussed here has taken a few steps toward passage. Today the bill is scheduled for its second reading on the House floor. (In many states, legislation must be read on successive days prior to a vote.) Last week HB 1518 cleared committee after what I'm told were significant revisions to the consumer protection sections.

Can't say I've read the new bill yet. But if you're inclined, take a look at it here and email me your thoughts. The bill has until Tuesday to pass the House, otherwise Hoosiers will have to wait until next year for reform.

NB -- Two days ago, ALEC held a legislative forum in Indianapolis that attracted a couple dozen participants. I'm told PFF testimony on the bill was featured in the discussion.