[BC] Spectrum "looting in progress" update

[Kirk Harnack]

Bill Sepmeier wrote:
> Speakout: Let analog sell-off benefit public
> 
> By Willard D. "Wick" Rowland Jr.
> January 1, 2006
...
> The airwaves are public property, yet they are being increasingly 
> privatized and, in the process, the proceeds are being largely wasted.


and the Libertarian in me would counter with:

There is no greater threat to free speech than the government deciding 
what you get to see and hear.  The FCC likes to say that the airwaves 
belong to the public, but that's not true.  This whole "public's 
airwaves" nonsense was started by people who realized that there was a 
strong advantage to government controlling this new means of mass 
communication.  There can be not one bit of doubt that the men who wrote 
our constitution would have given absolute First Amendment protection to 
broadcasting.  It is our sad fate to have broadcasting come along at a 
time when government was growing rapidly and feeling its oppressive 
oats.  Those radio stations and their frequencies belong to the company 
for which they are licensed.  All radio stations are in business to make 
a profit, not "serve the public"( another often-repeated and worthless 
phrase.)  The proper role of the FCC should be to protect the 
frequencies of the licensed stations and keep them from being infringed 
upon.  Nothing else.



Kirk Harnack