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Putting the TV Broadcast Spectrum to Better Use?

Posted by Cliff on from the replacing-the-traditional-'airwaves'-with-something-better dept.

KoshClassic asks: "Recently, on the NPR show All Things Considered, an interview was broadcast with Thomas Hazlett, formerly the chief economist of the FCC. Although short on details, Mr. Hazlett raises the point that, with the high penetration rate of cable / satellite TV into American homes, broadcasting television over the air has (or soon will) become superfulous and that this portion of the radio spectrum could be better utilized for other purposes. What do Slashdot readers think of this idea and, for those who agree, what alternative uses of the broadcast spectrum would you like to see?"

18 of 772 comments (clear)

  1. Rabbit Ears by The_Rippa · · Score: 5, Funny

    But I still use rabbit ears, you insensitive clod!

    1. Re:Rabbit Ears by sogoodsofarsowhat · · Score: 4, Funny

      Your the one thats being insensative.... RABBIT KILLER :P

      --
      . I love the sound of burning women and screaming rubber....
    2. Re:Rabbit Ears by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Wasn't there a Rural Electrification program during the Great Depression that put all those places on the power grid? Maybe we'll need a Rural Cabilization during Bush's Depression.

    3. Re:Rabbit Ears by Wayfare · · Score: 2, Funny

      I get depressed everytime I see his face . . .

  2. Stop using it altogether! by Vengeance · · Score: 3, Funny

    Cut broadcast radio, too! Let's trick those darned aliens monitoring us into thinking we blew each other up or something.

    --
    It was a joke! When you give me that look it was a joke.
  3. Obviously... by $hecky · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sell it all to ClearChannel.

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    You never know who will get one.
    1. Re:Obviously... by $hecky · · Score: 2, Funny
      ...if the FCC dude is right about the future of TV program distribution...

      Of course he's right. He's an economist.

      Nate

      --
      You never know who will get one.
    2. Re:Obviously... by Eq+7-2521 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Or similarly (worse actually), leave it all in the hands of the government. I'm sure they'll find the best use for it.

      --
      At my age I find coming up with a witty signature too exhausting.
    3. Re:Obviously... by JUSTONEMORELATTE · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sell it all to ClearChannel.
      Too late. WAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY too late.

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  4. The answer is obvious. by grub · · Score: 5, Funny


    Give it back to the public for them to use as they see fit. I think The Goatse.cx Channel would get quite a following, at least it's not Trading Spaces.

    --
    Trolling is a art,
  5. Wait a minute by Rhinobird · · Score: 4, Funny

    You WANT a goatse.cx channel? I've only seen the picture briefly, like 2 years ago, and I've been scarred for life...sniff sniff...every time someone makes faces in a window, I start to gag. Any time someone mentions goats, I get a cold shiver down my spine. I've had to stop eating middle eastern food.

    --
    If Mr. Edison had thought smarter he wouldn't sweat as much. --Nikola Tesla
  6. Re:Not everyone can afford cable.... by The_K4 · · Score: 4, Funny

    And $10 a month for unlimited dial up would get me about 1/7 of the way to what I would need to spend to get cable, and I would still only watch FOX, NBC and CBS.

  7. Re:Not everyone can afford cable.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    what do the people who can't afford cable do then?

    They don't vote Republican. Screw 'em.

  8. The "I-hate-SCO" channel by cbdavis · · Score: 5, Funny

    24/7 broadcasts of geeks/antiM$people/Slashdotters ranting and raving about the new Great Satan. We could have weekly code compares with ANY *nix, hosted by Leonard Nimoy.
    Hourly updates about the zillion lawsuits spreading throughout the world claiming ownership of linux. The Iraq InfoMinister could interview SCO Veeps and they could all deny or assert whatever seems appropriate. Sundays would have Linus leading us all in prayer that SCO dries up and disappers. Oh, and NO M$ or MSN commercials! I hate rainbow-colored moths!!

  9. Re:Excellent thoughts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    And let's face it, if a terrestial broadcast TV station turned off it's over the air transmitter, what perentage of it's customers notice?
    That would be the pitchfork & torch wielding percentage.
  10. Re:"Basic Cable" by $hecky · · Score: 2, Funny
    You're right. That would also save me the hassle of choosing whether to buy cable. I wish all my decisions could be made by someone else who knows how to spend my money. Then I'd have more time to pay taxes.



    Nate

    --
    You never know who will get one.
  11. Clear the airwaves! by rocjoe71 · · Score: 4, Funny
    ...A reduction in electro-magnetic activity would mean I could finally take off my tin-foil hat without fear of you beaming blipverts into my brain anymore...

    Yes, I'm talking to you...

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    Height: 38U, Weight: 0 Newtons, Eyes: #0000FF, OS: Gray Matter 1.0 (Alpha)
  12. Set it free by demigod · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you love your spectrum set it free.

    If it doesn't come back to you it was never yours to sell in the first place.

    --
    "The last thing I want to do is deal with a bunch of people who want something."
    Major Major