Posted by Richard Whitt, Washington Telecom and Media Counsel transition from analog to digital TV broadcasts. The Federal Communications Commission is right now developing rules for how that auction will proceed. As the LA Times recently editorializedThe FCC's goal for the auction should be to encourage the development of more broadband Internet services. So much of the economy's potential depends on high-speed Internet access, yet the U.S. lags many Asian and European countries in the percentage of broadband users. Times put it:The commission should heed recommendations from high-tech and satellite TV firms, which say a 10% increase in the size of the current plan's blocks would allow for more types of wireless broadband technology. Having more sources of broadband is particularly important in rural areas, where high-speed Internet service has been scarce. The rules should also allow bidders to offer a premium for a national set of licenses, which would encourage the creation of national broadband networks while deterring present broadband suppliers from hoarding the airwaves in a single region. Those suppliers might still try to buy national licenses and offer services that don't compete with their DSL offerings.
Nooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe want them to free these airwaves, let anyone get them. Don't auction them off. I could write a whole post here about why my idea is better - but who is going to read it?