Lessig: It's Time to Demolish the FCC | Newsweek Technology

Reboot the FCC

Email To A Friend

Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link.

oldjoe, the problem with your comment is that it doesn't have to be all one way or the other.

We can have designated spectrum assignments for critical services - fire, police, etc - and we can have a semi-free for all in the area of neighborhood broadcasters limited to a hundred watts or so in another part of the spectrum. The FCC *could* very easily map out the country on a per-channel basis and assign channels on first-come, first serve, and then expire the assignment if the channel is not used.

The point is, the FCC *totally* swings towards regulation that favors large commercial entities and NO-ONE else.

They go where the money is (following the example set by congress, I might add.)

It would be wonderful to reboot them and make them actually serve the public AND corporate interests. You know, balance. But your objection and prediction of chaos is rooted in an entirely incorrect assumption that only the two poles: utter chaos and tight-fisted monopoly control - are all there is. Not so.

Member Comments

- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: MichaelX @ 02/03/2009 9:30:43 AM

Who really "owns" the airwaves?The FCC does not. It merely "licence's" space and time.They are ineffectual in that they believe in their prohibition and censorship. That is all it is about. Controlling what is said, and heard.
Ignore the media, what are they going to do about it? Manipulation can work both ways, we are out to get you, media.
- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: fyngyrz @ 01/14/2009 5:48:29 PM

(laughing) Editors need to justify their existence. That's all there is to it.
- Reply
- Report Abuse
Posted By: fyngyrz @ 01/14/2009 5:46:17 PM

oldjoe, the problem with your comment is that it doesn't have to be all one way or the other.

We can have designated spectrum assignments for critical services - fire, police, etc - and we can have a semi-free for all in the area of neighborhood broadcasters limited to a hundred watts or so in another part of the spectrum. The FCC *could* very easily map out the country on a per-channel basis and assign channels on first-come, first serve, and then expire the assignment if the channel is not used.

The point is, the FCC *totally* swings towards regulation that favors large commercial entities and NO-ONE else.

They go where the money is (following the example set by congress, I might add.)

It would be wonderful to reboot them and make them actually serve the public AND corporate interests. You know, balance. But your objection and prediction of chaos is rooted in an entirely incorrect assumption that only the two poles: utter chaos and tight-fisted monopoly control - are all there is. Not so.