A systems approach for national telecommunications policy

It is argued that the arrival of the age of information networking in the US is being slowed by the patchwork of ground rules in the telecommunications industry, which prevents the open and universal provision of information networking and related services, and that a national policy is needed. The history of regulatory policy is reviewed, and the current situation is described. The importance of user needs and wants in setting policy is described, and the use of a systems approach is suggested.<>