Telecom Antitrust Handbook, 2nd Edition

The Telecom Antitrust Handbook (2d ed.) provides a comprehensive review and analysis of the application of antitrust law and principles to the communications industries, including telecom, broadband access, and video programming distribution, and is an important and useful resource for communications practitioners who seek an introduction to antirust law, as well as for antitrust practitioners who find themselves thrust into the telecom thicket. 

The book guides the reader through the fundamental economic underpinnings of communications networks that make substantive analysis of antitrust issues in these sectors both unique and challenging (Chapter I), transitioning to a discussion of substantive antitrust law applicable to the communications industries, including: mergers (Chapter II), joint ventures (Chapter III), and restraints of trade (Chapter IV). Monopolization and immunity issues have become particularly challenging for the telecom antitrust plaintiff following the Supreme Court's decision in Verizon Communications Inc. v. Law Offices of Curtis V. Trinko, 540 U.S. 398, 124 S. Ct. 872 (2004). These issues, and their evolution since the 2004 Trinko decision are dealt with extensively in the chapters on monopolization (Chapter V) and immunity (Chapter VI). 

The Handbook also includes a thorough treatment of consumer protection issues in the communications industries (Chapter VII), with updates addressing the evolving treatment of consumer protection and privacy issues in the online space. As with the first edition, the Handbook includes a chapter on international issues that focuses on Canada and the European Union (Chapter VIII), each of which has seen significant regulatory and antitrust developments involving the telecom sector since publication of the first edition. 

Finally, Appendix A contains a comprehensive, and understandable, discussion of the Net Neutrality/Open Internet debate, which addresses the particularly contentious issues surrounding the evolving regulatory and antitrust principles applicable to broadband Internet access practices.