In 2002, J. Gregory Sidak prepared two major journal articles with Jeffrey H. Rohlfs of Strategic Policy Research and Hal J. Singer of Criterion Economics examining international telecommunications regulation. "Exporting Telecommunications Regulation: The U.S.-Japan Negotiations on Interconnection Pricing" (Harvard Journal of International Law) explores the difficulties of transporting the Federal Communications Commission's interconnection policy into the telecommunications marketplace of another nation. "How Can Regulators Set Nonarbitrary Interim Rates? The Case of Local Loop Unbundling in Ireland" (Journal of Network Industries) addresses how the regulator can select an interim rate in the face of inherently imperfect information.

In April, AEI held an event featuring Jerry A. Hausman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who addressed the future of third-generation (3G) services for wireless competition in the United States. Mr. Hausman presented evidence that explained why the European, Asian, and Australian markets have been more successful than the United States in achieving higher wireless penetration rates and in introducing innovative 3G services.

A telecommunications policy event in June featured economic, legal, and legislative perspectives on the future of telecommunications regulation. The speakers, who included AT&T's C. Michael Arm-strong and Representative Charles "Chip" Pickering (R-Miss.), discussed the serious inefficiencies caused by regulatory uncertainty in telecommunications. They noted that, after barely changing for most of the twentieth century, telecommunications regulation has been much less stable in recent years and does not yet appear to be reaching equilibrium.

Harold Furchtgott-Roth organized a conference on the online distribution of video programming, one of the much-anticipated applications of the Internet, but one that has yet to be substantially developed. James Ramo, chief executive officer of Movielink, a new company formed to distribute Hollywood programming online, discussed his company and the future of video distribution.

At "Investment and Regulation in Wireline Communications in Japan," academic experts and government leaders from the United States and Japan gathered in Tokyo to address current regulatory issues that affect investment and competition in telecommunications.