Public broadcasting: We own the airwaves why do we have to

[rainy]

pay? Shouldn't the big corporations who profit immensely off the use of OUR airwaves pay a user fee that would cover our Public Broadcasting? They make all this money by using our property and pay us NOTHING. Something is wrong with this picture.

[Gman]

1. Such is life now in Bush's America

[Luminous Animal]

2. RE: Public broadcasting

I think most people have forgotten that we own the airwaves.

[SlipperySlope]

3. We don't own them anymore.

Starting in 1994, the FCC started selling the airwaves. Much of the frequency allocation is now private property.

[rodeodance]

5. yes, i recall the selling off--somehow I recall Bob dole being a major

player--but could be wrong--long time ago.

[Luminous Animal]

7. I could be wrong

But wasn't the auction for wireless communication devices? I believe broadcasting (radio and TV) still belongs to the people.

[SlipperySlope]

8. Not if I understand this...

The first auction held was for PCS frequency, but since then they've been auctioning off all kinds of stuff...

http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/default.htm?job=auctions_all

Notice these:

#32: New AM Broadcast Stations
#82: New Analog Television Stations

And here is an interesting map: spectrum for 288 FM radio stations that was auctioned off: http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/data/maps/FMauc37map.pdf

[rainy]

4. I sent an email to byron dorgan and asked him about this.

maybe he will respond.

[dcfirefighter]

6. legal fiction

regardless of 'property laws' or not, all airwaves should be auctioned every 5 years or so, which would keep new players in the game, and eliminate the relative oligopoly a few media giants have on 'public' airwaves. I wouldn't mind retaining a few bands as public radio, but I think the programming offerred by private firms in a truly competitive arena would be better.

Either way p2p is going to put a hurting on the big boys.