November 27, 1996


    ECONOMIC SPEAKER SERIES PRESENTS PROFESSOR MICHAEL SALINGER

     Dr. Michael Salinger will be the next speaker in the Commission's Economic Speaker
Series.  He is an Associate Professor of Economics at the Boston University School of
Management, where he has been the co-director of the Boston University Telecommunications
Policy Project.

     He will speak on Friday, December 6, 1996, from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm in the Commission
Meeting Room, Room 856, at 1919 M Street, NW, Washington, DC.  His presentation is entitled
"Leveling the Playing Field of Local Competition"

     In his talk, Dr. Salinger will discuss that while it is generally acknowledged that there are
potential benefits from vertical integration, there are concerns that vertical integration can be
used as a competitive weapon to "tilt the playing field."  An intuitively appealing set of policies
is to "level the playing field" by requiring vertically integrated companies to deal with external
parties on the same terms that they deal with their own divisions.  Salinger will argue that despite
their intuitive appeal, these "level of playing field" conditions are potentially harmful.  Moreover,
he will argue that the current state of economic knowledge does not provide clear guidance for
identifying those cases when they would be beneficial. 

     The presentation will be shown on closed-circuit television throughout the Commission
and is open to the public.  Reservations are not necessary.

     Additional Information contact: James Pettler (202) 418-2043.
     News Media contact: Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0256.


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