The office will focus on economic and data analytics to inform the commission’s policy and rulemaking processes.
12/11/2018 11:00
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai Tuesday announced the official opening of the FCC’s Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA). This new office will help consistently and thoroughly incorporate economic and data analysis into the policy-making work of the agency, news release issued Dec. 11.
“The communications sector is a major part of America’s economy, and our rules can substantially affect incentives of companies and consumers. This makes it essential that we systematically incorporate sound economics in our work,” Pai said in the news release.
OEA strengthens and centralizes the role of economic analysis by housing the vast majority of Commission economists in one office, including the entire staff of the former Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, according to the FCC.
The new office includes four divisions:
• The Economic Analysis Division, which provides analytical and quantitative support for rulemakings, transactions, reviews, adjudications, and other matters.
• The Industry Analysis Division, which designs and administers significant, economically-relevant data collections.
• The Auctions Division, which leads auction design and implementation issues, including for spectrum and universal service auctions.
• The Data Division, which develops and implements best practices, processes, and standards for data management.
“We are excited to have our new office up and running,” Giulia McHenry, acting chief of OEA said in the news release. “This will be a single office to bring together the great economic and data work already being done by FCC staff. We look forward to helping the chairman, commissioners, and other staff to ensure economics is a central consideration in our work.”
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