This first consolidated Communications Marketplace Report, the 2018 Communications Marketplace Report, fulfills the requirement set forth in RAY BAUM'S Act of 2018 to streamline the Commission's numerous public reports into a single document providing a comprehensive evaluation of the state of communications in the United States. As Section I of the 2018 Communications Marketplace Report explains, Title IV of that Act directs the Commission to publish in the last quarter of every even-numbered year "a report on the state of the communications marketplace." In total, this streamlining has eliminated or materially modified 10 separate regularly recurring Commission reports to Congress and consolidated most of the data required by those reports into this single comprehensive report.
Section II of the 2018 Communications Marketplace Report addresses the requirement that the Commission assess the state of competition in the communications marketplace, including a discussion of barriers to competitive entry, including market entry barriers for entrepreneurs and other small businesses. It also assesses the state of deployment of communications capabilities and presents data related to the various markets and discussions of intermodal competition, as required by RAY BAUM'S Act.
Section III describes the significant steps the Commission has taken over the previous two years to close the digital divide, enhance competition and encourage the deployment of communications services. Section IV describes the agenda of the Commission for the next 2-year period for addressing challenges and opportunities in the communications marketplace.
In July and August 2018, the Media Bureau, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Wireline Competition Bureau, and International Bureau separately sought public comment to assist the Commission in fulfilling its reporting duties under the RAY BAUM’S Act of 2018. On December 12, 2018, the Commission adopted the 2018 Communications Marketplace Report, which was released on December 26, 2018.
The 2018 Communications Marketplace Report provides a comprehensive evaluation of the state of the communications marketplace, for the most part, as of year-end 2017. Year-end 2018 updates to certain data contained within the 2018 Communications Marketplace Report were released February 20, 2020.
July/August 2018
- Media Bureau Seeks Comment on the Status of Competition in the Marketplace for Delivery of Audio Programming, Public Notice, MB Docket No. 18-227, DA 18-761 (July 23, 2018).
- Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment on The State of Mobile Wireless Competition, WT Docket No. 18-203, Public Notice, DA-18-663, (June 26, 2018).
- Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on The State of Fixed Broadband Competition, GN Docket No. 18-231, Public Notice, DA 18-784 (July 27, 2018).
- International Bureau Seeks Comment on Satellite Communications Services for the Communications Marketplace Report, IB Docket No. 18-251, Public Notice, DA 18-858 (Aug. 17, 2018).
12/12/2018
2/20/2020