[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Immediate Seating

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Immediate Seating
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1183262467.shtml


   The supposed premise of FCC regulation leading to the "Fairness"
   doctrine is that there are only so many frequencies available. Rather
   than be a registrar of deeds as with land, the government has retained
   ownership. It in effect grants leases, not ownership to broadasters
   wishing to use a given frquency.
   Cotinuing this line, it is said that given this "shortage" the public
   interest is best served by some sort of rationing amongst all the
   various competing public interests and uses of the airwaves. Hence,
   the Fairness Doctrine.
   This is sophistry, of course. There is no Fairness Doctrine of music
   genres. There is no Fairness Doctrine for sports or entertainment.
   There isn't even a Fairness Doctrine regarding religion, where
   Christianity dominates almost completely. There is only a Fairness
   Doctrine for politics and anything construed as political speech.
   But let's go back to square one - is the bandwidth truly limited? Not
   in broadcast television, where here in the Twin Cities we have 6
   unused channels. On both the AM and FM bands, I scanned with my
   ccRadio, finding well over a dozen unused frequecies in each. These
   are frequencies with 30 kHz (AM) or 400 MHz (FM) free either side.
   Granted, this is Minneapolis / St. Paul. One would expect fewer
   vacancies in New York City or Los Angeles, but I'd be very surprised
   to not find a few in every band. Regardless, there are always radio
   stations changing formats, in response to low ratings. Such stations
   can be purchased for little more than the equipment you would need to
   buy anyway to start a new station.
   Also note that the government itself is consuming some of the
   frequencies in the form of "public" broadcasting.
   Even if there was a significant shortage of frequencies, technology
   has other answers like Satellite, HD, and with limitations, Wi-Fi and
   low power FM. The cellular concept could also be used and maybe will
   be some day.
   Despite the physical limitations of the spectrum, there is de facto no
   business limitation. There is no need for a Fairness Doctrine on this
   basis.