Economic Report of the President

cation controls during a disruption, the SPR may enhance privatesector preparation as well.Except to the extent that use of foreign energy supplies is increasedartificially by price controls and other adverse policies, it isnot the policy of this Administration to reduce dependence on foreignenergy suppliers beyond the level determined by market forces.In a world with relatively free trade and substantial capacity for reallocationof supplies, the allocative effects of a change in oil prices(other than those operating through the exchange rate) are independentof whether a given nation's use of foreign supplies is greator small. A disruption would raise prices and thus reallocate all availablesupplies whether foreign or domestic. Thus, a nation totally selfsufficientin energy supplies still would face the same oil prices as anation totally dependent on foreign sources. It is the policy of thisAdministration to facilitate free trade while preparing for future contingenciesthrough primary reliance on market adjustments and judicioususe of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONSThe transportation and communications industries serve vital linkagefunctions in our Nation's economy. Until recently, these industrieswere broadly subject to traditional rate and entry regulation.Regulation of most transportation sectors is probably not efficientunder contemporary market conditions. Most transportation markets,due to the mobility of most of the capital assets of the firms in thosemarkets, are highly contestable. That is, with nearly costless entryand exit, new firms can enter markets which have excessive pricesand can take advantage of the profitable opportunities that they provide.Thus, even with significant economies of scale in a transportationmarket, the threat of entry by new rivals should result in nearcompetitivepricing of transportation services. Additionally, mosttransportation firms face significant intermodal competition. Theyare also disciplined indirectly in some cases by competitive conditionsin the national or international markets in which the commoditiesthey transport are sold. The only segments of the interstatetransportation system for which regulation on a natural monopolybasis may be justifiable are the major gas pipelines, long-distanceelectric transmission lines, and those sections of the rail systemwhere shippers do not have an effective choice of carrier or mode oftransport.Telecommunications, due to a high rate of technological development,is one of the most rapidly changing sectors of the U.S. economy.The Federal Government plays an active role in the telecommu-108