 products that are complementary SO that con- sumers can combine computers, software applications, and peripheral devices such 4 47 U.S.C. §§ 251(a)(1),(b)(5), & (c)(2), 252(d)(2)(i); 47 C.F.R. $ 51.705(a)(1). 5 47 U.S.C. § 252(d)(2)(B)(i). Economic Effects of Regulating Access to Networks as printers, monitors, and memory devices that work together. In addition, the components of the computer itself, including microprocessors, memory chips, and monitors, are sufficiently standardized to allow these products to be supplied by a variety of industries connected to information technology. In markets for elec- tronic equipment and software, a platform often refers to standardization through a collection of technical specifications that permit interchangeable products. Such common technological standards need not be confined to high-tech industries; sim- ilar modularity is observed in a variety of products such as automobiles, bicycles, audio systems, and video display systems. Multiple companies produce compo- nents for these products. Also, consumers can purchase a wide variety of add-on complementary products. The notion of an open platform is a very general one and includes networks as well as suites of complementary products, although in the discussion that follows we restrict attention to networks. Platform access requires network owners to conform to a set of standards that allows other companies to provide complementary services to the network's cus- tomers. It usually also includes the ability of suppliers of complementary services to know and use the technological standards of the network when creating com- plementary products and services. Platform access also typically includes access to the network's transmission services SO that the supplier can provide services over the network and the network's customers can receive the complementary services. In principle, a company that owns a network can grant selective platform access to a limited group of companies through licenses, partnerships, and other contrac