Public airwaves? Public Broadband access? Nah… Congress set to auction off valuable public resource.
Sand, Sun and Spectrum Policy, By Craig Aaron, In These Times, August 30, 2005.
[T]he real scandal of the digital television transition is whatÕs going to happen to the analog spectrum thatÕs being vacated by the broadcasters and returned to the government.
After returning from the recess, Congress intends to auction off the public airwaves to the cell phone companies for at least $20 billion.You wouldnÕt know from the paltry press coverage of this boondoggle that thereÕs an alternative. Instead of a one-time fire sale, Congress could open the airwaves to the public and lay the groundwork for universal, broadband access. All they have to do is set aside a portion of the spectrum as Òunlicensed,Ó meaning anyone can use it, not just the highest bidder.