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UK to Privatize Radio Spectrum?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the going-going-gone dept.

judgecorp writes "The UK regulator, Ofcom, has decided that managing spectrum is a drag, and there are other people around that might do a better job. It is going to open up 73 percent of the radio spectrum to market forces, and make it technology-neutral and tradeable. So if one technology gets superseded, another one can get rolled out instead (subject to broadcast power limits) without Ofcom having to define what spectrum it should use. Radio was first regulated here 100 years ago this year, and a new regime is needed to fit new radio technology. Ofcom is quite proud to be ahead of the US on this one, because we have a recent Communications Act, and the FCC is 'hamstrung' by old laws - at least that's what the head of research at Ofcom said."

11 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. Great idea... by barcodez · · Score: 4, Funny

    because privatising british rail and british telecom went so well.

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    1. Re:Great idea... by Neophytus · · Score: 2, Funny

      Dang.. that daily commute from India to fix Ms. Johnstone's phone line must be a bitch.

    2. Re:Great idea... by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nah- the commute is from the BT-paid for condo where he lives with 56 other technicians in a 4-bedroom flat, and of course any salary he makes after detuctions is paid in Rupees and sent back to feed his 19 kids in India. :-) Come on- we've had ex-BT people in the H-1b forums for three years now.

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      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
  2. Oh no, not more privatisations :-( by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Funny

    Latest news:

    At least seven ham radio operators have died, and over 70 CB operators injured during a routine QSO on 10m between London and Kings Lynn. It is reported that one of the side band of the AM transmission derailled off the airwave and careened into the 11m band, injuring many CB operators. The hams QSOing on 10m were found dead, but one of them managed to write "WHERE IS THIS COUNTRY GOING TO? ARRRRGGHHH I DIE...." with his own blood on his contact map.

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    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  3. British Telecom Lawsuit by Evil+W1zard · · Score: 3, Funny

    BT is going to sue Google because it links to documents about frequencies they own and ways to degrade those frequencies!

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    News Reporters Make Tasty Polar Bear Treats!
  4. Re:Natural Resource Tax by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    If you don't make money you have fewer rights, and so don't deserve spectrum. Which is why I'm going to buy the visible portion and have pay-per-view. Poor people will have their eyes poked out.

  5. Re:Wouldn't that be 'UK to Privatise Radio Spectru by IainMH · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yes, but I have a lower slashdot ID. Ergo I win.

  6. And in related news... by tverbeek · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...the Environment Agency has announced plans to privatise the air, opening as much as 73 percent of it to market forces to determine how to distribute it throughout the UK, and what it should be used for.

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    http://alternatives.rzero.com/
  7. 630nm? by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 4, Funny

    How much does it cost to buy "RED" (a band around 630nm wavelength)? I want to rent the "X" in the Union Jack to the Queen.

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    make install -not war

    1. Re:630nm? by PedanticSpellingTrol · · Score: 2, Funny

      47.5 Terahertz. Good luck to you, but I"ve got dibs on Green. All those plants are gonna pay through the nose to me, oh yeah.

  8. Corporate Superiority by Doc+Ruby · · Score: 2, Funny

    They should let Enron run the spectrum marketplace. They're so efficient, smart and honest, and Enron needs a new mission, what with that Iraq pacification taking so long.

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    make install -not war