Instant Messaging on the Internet: Interoperability Issues of Competition and Fair Access (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
March 28, 2002 |
| Report Number |
RS20688 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Jeffrey W. Seifert, Resources, Science, and Industry Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Instant Messaging (IM) is one of the fastest growing Internet applications. The recent debate
about
IM is related to the broad issues of open access rules and competition in the high speed Internet
service and cable television markets. Although IM technology has evolved largely independent of
formal regulation, a review of the AOL-Time Warner (AOL-TW) merger brought issues of
interoperability (the ability to exchange messages between multiple IM services) among IM services
under scrutiny both in the US and Europe. Concerns about open access and accessibility for the
disabled, have been raised by Members of Congress, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the European Commission (EC). These issues
highlight the growing complexity of regulating converging technologies. This report discusses the
technology behind instant messaging and provides an overview of the issues. It will be updated as
necessary.
