The unrestrained growth of the digital economy means that both competition and regulatory authorities have to apply their traditional analysis and toolbox of remedies to rapidly changing innovation-intensive industries. However, the digital economy raises increasingly complex competition and regulatory challenges. As it is inherently interconnected, cooperation and coordination between firms across different regulated and unregulated sectors becomes unavoidable.

While such cooperation may be procompetitive and beneficial to consumers, it may also be anticompetitive and harmful. Competition and regulatory authorities as well as policymakers need not only to gain a profound understanding of the forces at play, but they must also be able to provide rapid responses where intervention is needed, if they want to secure a level playing field in the economy.

FSR Communications & Media and Florence Competition Programme Annual Training

The Florence School of Regulation (FSR) contributes to a European dialogue on regulatory topics in the fields of communications and media. The School carries out applied research and organises training and policy events for regulators, policy makers from European Institutions and international organisations, and staff from companies.

Combining a focus on competition law and economics, the Florence Competition Programme is a hub where European and international competition enforcers and other stakeholders can exchange ideas, share best practices, debate emerging policy issues and enhance their networks.

The Florence School of Regulation Communications & Media and the Florence Competition Programme are directed by Professor Pier Luigi Parcu, with the support of a high level Scientific Committee and qualified research fellows and associates.

• Gain an in-depth insight into and multidisciplinary understanding of forces which are at play in the Digital Economy
• Benefit from the line-up of prominent speakers that includes European policy makers, former and current regulators, renowned academics and industry specialists.
• Expand your network and develop yourself professionally by sharing knowledge with professionals from other sectors and industries

Our Annual Training caters in particular for the needs of:

• Officials from National Regulatory Authorities and from other public bodies
• Professionals from firms active in the electronic communications sector, such as network operators and service providers, OTTs, cyber-security firms, platform operators
• Policy and decision-makers
• Academics
• Lawyers and economists interested in gaining in-depth knowledge over a short period of time.

COMPETITION LAW AND ECONOMICS

2 0 – 2 5 OCTOBER 2019
The first block provides an advanced state-of-the-art overview of the latest trends in the EU and global competition law and economics. It will be opened by a keynote speech, which Professor William Kovacic will deliver during a wine tasting event in Chianti. In terms of topics the block will cover traditional areas of competition law.

OPENING SPEECH

SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER
Recent Developments in EU Competition and US Antitrust Law – William Kovacic

MONDAY, 21 OCTOBER
Fundamentals of Competition Policy

TUESDAY, 22 OCTOBER
Comparative Perspectives on the Abuse of Dominance

WEDNESDAY, 23 OCTOBER
Merger Control: Analysis and Procedures

THURSDAY, 24 OCTOBER
Anticompetitive agreements

SPECIAL EVENT

FRIDAY, 25 OCTOBER
Hipster Antitrust, the European Way?
One-day conference discussing the main ideas behind the “New-Brandeis School” in the USA and its influence on EU competition policy and beyond

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA REGULATION

9 – 13 DECEMBER 2019
The second block provides a comprehensive overview of the most relevant regulatory issues and developments in the telecommunications and media sectors. A historical perspective, necessary for putting the recent EU reform in context and understanding regulatory trends, is complemented by economic insights into the latest developments in the field of fixed and mobile broadband, 5G spectrum auctions, and case studies from the European Union and other jurisdictions.

MONDAY, 9 DECEMBER
Fundamentals of the Electronic Communications Markets

TUESDAY, 10 DECEMBER
Mobile Access and Spectrum

WEDNESDAY, 11 DECEMBER
Content Regulation, Net Neutrality and Zero Pricing

THURSDAY, 12 DECEMBER
The Future of Networks

SPECIAL EVENT

FRIDAY, 13 DECEMBER

The EECC and its impact on investment in very high capacity networks (VHCN)

One-day conference focused on the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) and its key objectives

Download the Block 2 programme here.

DIGITAL MARKETS AND NEW REGULATORY CHALLENGES

30 MARCH – 3 APRIL 2020
The third block provides a fundamental overview of the most timely competition and regulatory challenges raised by the Digital Economy. Starting from disruptive innovation and business models that challenge competition policy as we know it, the block covers such topics as data as a source of market power, algorithms, robo-sellers, price discrimination, killer mergers and data protection.

MONDAY, 30 MARCH
Understanding Internet and the Digital economy

TUESDAY, 31 MARCH
Algorithms, Machine Learning and Robo-Sellers

WEDNESDAY, 1 APRIL
Vertical Agreements and Consumers Protection in E-Commerce

THURSDAY, 2 APRIL
Data and Market Power

SPECIAL EVENT

THURSDAY, 2 APRIL

Gravity Force in the Digital Era. Trends in Market Concentration and Firms’ Mark-Up

One day Conference co-organised with the OECD to discuss the trend of market concentration and its implications in terms of firms’ mark-up, with a focus on digital markets

RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS:

• Interactive lectures: Our instructors will provide lectures on the key theoretical concepts and will complement them by the most illustrative real examples and case studies from the industry. Such blended approach encourages the discussion and enhances the learning experience.
• Q&A sessions: Each lecture concludes with an interactive Q&A session which stimulates active discussion and allows participants to verify their understanding of the concepts covered during the lecture.
• Class exercise and group studies complement our lectures to foster inter-disciplinary collaboration among participants and to further enhance the learning outcomes.

ONLINE ACTIVITIES:

• Quiz: A self-assessment quiz will allow participants to verify their level of knowledge and familiarity with the issues covered during the residential blocks.
• Reading materials: in advance of each block, we will provide participants with comprehensive, carefully selected and most-up-to date preparatory readings. The self-study materials will allow participants to better understand the content of each module to participate in the residential block more actively.
• Individual and Group Assignments: Following the first two blocks, participants will be asked to submit one group and one individual assignment. Individual feedback will be provided to participants after the evaluation.
• Forum Discussions: During the entire training participants will have an opportunity to discuss issues of interest among themselves, share their knowledge and country case studies, express their opinions and interact with their colleagues as well as submit questions related to topics covered during the modules.
• Multimedia resources: Participants will have access to audio-recordings, power-point presentations, and other useful electronic and multimedia resources.

Pier Luigi Parcu is currently Area Director of the FSR Communications & Media, where he is supported by a Scientific Committee of widely known experts. At the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, Professor Parcu also directs ENTraNCE, a new project in competition law and economics, and the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (CMPF).

He is Chairman of a consultancy company specialized in antitrust and regulatory issues of network industries. From 2000 to 2003, he was CEO of the Independent System Operator running the Italian Electricity Grid (GRTN). From 1991 to 2000 he was the Director of Investigation at the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) in charge of several regulated sectors. Previously, he served as Chief Economist at the Italian Security and Exchange Commission (CONSOB) and as Economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). His research in the area of industrial organization and law and economics focuses on the interaction between regulation and antitrust in shaping firms’ behaviour in network industries

A limited number of seats at a reduced fee are available for outstanding PhD students.

The registration fee covers:

• Course attendance
• Access to the online platform during the training
• Coffee breaks and lunches
• All social activities (e.g. guided tour of Florence, cocktail at the course venue, group dinners, wine tasting)
• Shuttle bus service to the train station and the airport at the end of each training block

The registration fee does not cover:

• Travel costs to/from Florence
• Accommodation