Even if we were so inclined, we could not stop the march of technological change. This truth counsels for humility. We policymakers should not arrogantly maintain that we can control the destiny of digital technology. We may shepherd change, but we must not make the error of thinking we can engineer it. Third, we must acknowledge that we cannot accurately predict what technologies and services will ultimately prevail in the marketplace.
Regulatory history is filled with examples of failed predications about technological progress.
Remember that there were those who thought television was a fad and the color television sets would be too expensive to become truly popular. The truth of unpredictability counsels restraint. We should not dare to pick technology winners or losers, whether consciously or unconsciously, because we will assuredly be wrong more than right. I have a Betamax VCR in my basement to prove it. Consider the fruits of competition and innovation.