Were the Call Letters K-E-L-O?
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It has always been the policy of this country that broadcast frequencies are public property and broadcasters mere "trustees" of the airwaves. And the FCC, a run-of-the-mill regulatory bureaucracy, is hardly analogous to the New London Development Corporation, which goes around seizing people's homes (but not until charging them back rent).
Still, one can't help noticing the family resemblance:
And if WAVM doesn't come in on your political tuner, maybe this does:
Perhaps it's too late to move to private ownership of the airwaves. But it's never too late to understand why it would have been a good idea.
(Via Fark.)
Still, one can't help noticing the family resemblance:
Maynard High School's radio frequency, 91.7 FM, is being seized by a network of Christian broadcasting stations that the Federal Communications Commission has ruled is a better use of the public airwaves.Again, this is of course in no way an eminent domain decision. But it conceivably could have been one, since there is no technological, economic, legal or philosophical reason why airwaves can't be privatized, any different from land or any other finite domain.
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Maynard High's WAVM, which has been broadcasting from the school for 35 years, found itself in this David vs. Goliath battle when it applied to increase its transmitter signal from 10 to 250 watts.
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"The little guy does not stand much of a chance. Legally, we don't have a leg to stand on," [the station's faculty adviser] said.
And if WAVM doesn't come in on your political tuner, maybe this does:
Later this month, Congress will vote on setting a firm date, likely in 2009, when TV broadcasters will have to end their analog broadcasts and return the frequencies used for them.Could you imagine if the New London Development Corp. tried to seize the entire state of Connecticut via eminent domain? That's essentially what the FCC and Congress are doing with the forced transition to digital broadcasts.
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While the final proposal has not yet been circulated, the Senate Commerce Committee may vote on the DTV transition next week, in order to allow some $10 billion in spectrum auction revenues to be included in budget reconciliation.
Perhaps it's too late to move to private ownership of the airwaves. But it's never too late to understand why it would have been a good idea.
(Via Fark.)
Posted by KipEsquire on
19 October 2005
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