Slashdot Mirror
Spectrum as Property
the economist troll writes "An article in this week's Economist argues that overcautious control of electromagnetic spectrum, on the part of regulatory agencies, has resulted in the sheer waste of up to 95% of available spectrum. The article suggests remedies for this sorry state of affairs, including (but not limited to) various methods of privatization. Peppered with history and interesting facts--for instance, did you know only 2% of America's spectrum allocation is determined by auction?--this is one article you won't want to miss."
wikipeida on opponents of "market fundamentalism":
"...They argue that where the market works for the public interest, it should be allowed to do so, and where markets work against the public interest, state regulation should step in."
Note that "public interest" is synonymous with "self interest." (Which is distinct from selfish intererest.) Each person interprets "public interest" to mean what he, himself believes is best, which are his self interests. Free pizza or free beer?, linux, OS X or windows or BeOS? Vanilla or chocolate, space exploration or cancer research or golf? The mixture which you believe constitues the ideal describes your self interests. Some people are not content to make these decisions for themselves but want to impose their own self interests on others. When they do this, they term their own self interests the "public interest". (With respect to any decision the interests of the public consist of a diversity of individual interests and the notion of a unitary "public interest" is absurd.) By substitution:
"...They argue that where the market works for their self interest, it should be allowed to do so, and where markets work against their self interest, state regulation should step in."
Note also that "market" is synonomous with "freedom". A free market is a system by which each individual is free negotiate transactions on his own behalf. Market forces are the cumulative outcome of multiple free choices about buying and selling. By subsitituion:
"...They argue that where freedom works for their self interest, it should be allowed to do so, and where freedom works against their self interest, state regulation should step in."
Opponents of market fundamentalism are efficient fascists. They do not claim absolute authorty. The claim authority only when you will not voluntary fall into line with their dictates.
Ceci n'est pas une signature.
Broadcasters only like this idea when it comes with "incumbent protection", i.e. they get the spectrum they're using now for free. They're terrified of the possibility that "their" channels might be put up for bid. The Bush Administration is into "incumbent protection", because they don't want to offend the existing stations.