UK to Privatize Radio Spectrum?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Tuesday November 23, 2004 @09:59AM 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 So if one technology gets superseded, another one can get rolled out instead (subject to broadcast power limits) without Ofcom having to define what spectrum it should use.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."

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stagnate by LordMyren · 2004-11-23 10:02 · Score: 3, Interesting

technology consortiums will buy spectrum for their technology
and when the technology grows old and die
what corporate shareholder would sever the last limb propping up a technology?
Thatcher lives! by drwho · 2004-11-23 10:12 · Score: 3, Interesting

The undead Thatcher moves again, strinking out with lines of great opportunities for corruption and hate. Oh yes, the poll tax, and now the spectrum wholesaling. What will happen to ham radio? what will happen to public broadcasting? what will happen to unlicensed spectrum?