Professional Affiliation

Emeritus Professor of Telecommunications and Law

Expert Bio

Since July, 2021, Rob Frieden serves as Emeritus Professor of Telecommunications and Law at Penn State University, capping a 29 year career where he taught courses in telecommunications law, regulation, business, and policy. Professor Frieden offers an interdisciplinary perspective acquired as an educator, grant seeker, consultant, writer, web page creator, policy advocate and researcher. His work experience includes extensive commercial and academic partnerships with lawyers, business professionals, engineers, economists, and educators. Professor Frieden has published 4 books, written over 100 articles and book chapters about telecommunications and the Internet. He frequently provides insights on current controversies for media, conference attendees and consultancy clients throughout the world. Professor Frieden holds a B.A., with distinction, from the University of Pennsylvania (1977) and a J.D. from the University of Virginia (1980).

Expertise

• Economics and Globalization
• Science and Technology
• Security and Defense
• Asia
• Europe
• Latin America
• North America

Wilson Center Project

Digital Sovereignty and Weaponizing Radio Spectrum Management: The Risks and Rewards

Project Summary

National governments usually reach consensus on radio spectrum allocations without controversy. Recently, this essential exercise has become more complicated as new ventures seek to participate and national governments raise concerns about fair trade, national security and supply chain stability. Uniform global frequency allocations promote efficiency, uniformity, technology optimization and cost savings like the economies of scale accruing when wireless equipment manufacturers throughout the world can offer handsets useable in most countries. National governments agree to relinquish some degree of national sovereignty in exchange for the benefits of nonpartisan, results-driven decision making on matters of radio spectrum planning, standard setting, and new technology adoption. This research will explain why United States government representatives have become more inclined to emphasize unilateral spectrum planning instead of relying on complex and time consuming consensus building at the International Telecommunication Union. The research identifies both positive first mover advantages and negative consequences.

Major Publications

• Rob Frieden, Challenges to the Conventional Wisdom About Mergers and Consumer Welfare in a Converging Internet Marketplace, 65 VILLANOVA LAW REVIEW, 479-521 (2020); https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3456&context=vlr
• Rob Frieden, The evolving 5G case study in United States unilateral spectrum planning and policy, 44 TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY (2020); available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2020.102011
• Rob Frieden, The Internet of Platforms and Two-Sided Markets: Implications for Competition and Consumers, 63 VILLANOVA LAW REVIEW 269-320 (2018); https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3373&context=vlr