European Competition Law Annual 1998: Regulating Communications Markets (European Competition Law Annual)

This 1998 volume on the regulation of communications markets is the third in a successful series of European Competition Law Annuals founded upon open dialogue between technical experts, market analysts and legal practitioners. Gathering together academic papers and edited transcripts of expert discussions, it offers readers a lively and informed insight into the topical debate of whether governments of the European Union should intervene to prevent powerful firms from abusing their control of critical gateways between consumers and communication information services. The volume examines the technical and market evolutions that have allowed the development of single communications networks which offer consumers a variety of telephone, audio-visual and computer data services. In an era of market liberalization, the editors and contributors ask how private ownership of such communications networks may be reconciled with the need to ensure consumers easy access to the services that underpin the information society.