Phone Service
Current Issues in the Pricing of Telecommunications Services
Research Report
David Gabel, Ph.D., Queens College
June 2001
In this AARP Public Policy Institute study, Dr. David Gabel of Queens College examines pricing practices and consumer welfare in a variety of competitive markets as a means of evaluating conflicting views on pricing behavior and consumer welfare in an increasingly competitive telecommunications market. The findings indicate that local telephone companies price their services in a manner that is inconsistent with pricing practices demonstrated in deregulated markets. Ultimately, this pricing structure is detrimental to consumers, who are obligated to pay high prices to access the telephone network. (44 pages)
Pub ID: D17416