I think my main problem with the criticism so far is this: my paper has been misinterpreted as a call to regulate the industry. And since its the most familiar thing to do everyone is bringing out their favorite “don’t regulate” arguments.

The main point of the paper is to get the facts out on what is happening in wireless, and why it is bad for innovation. That as I say in the introduction, doesn’t immediately mean regulation. It may mean questions for the industry itself, for example, or greater consumer pressure.

The problem is that people, especially in DC, get too used to a “regulate don’t regulate” debate, which is boring after a while frankly. We all know the arguments on both sides.

Libertarians, in my opinion, make a mistake when they assume that companies here are making the right decisions all of the time. If you spend time in industry, you know that they make serious mistakes. Think, say, MCI, if you need a telecom example.

It is only a unthinking libertarian who assumes these industries don’t make mistakes, and I see it as part of my job to point these things out.

TW