Re: broadcast spectrum rent
The spectrum leaseholders should be free of any content restrictions (other than the usual laws about fraud). That would create a market for the highest and best social use of the spectrum. I was cheering you on upto here. Banning content restrictions (which I think is a decision that should somehow be made within the viewing area, not Washington) will lead to the most profitable use of the spectrum, but that is not necessarily the highest and best social use. In fact, I think an excellent case could be made for either requiring the spectrum to be used for anything *but* television (best), or making television a government monopoly: in the latter case, with the higher boredom factor produced by bureaucratic management with no profit incentive (yes, it should fully subsidized by us longsuffering taxpayers), viewership would dwindle, much to the benefit of both individual ex-viewers and society at large. ~Alypius
Re: broadcast spectrum rent
excellent case could be made for either requiring the spectrum to be used for anything *but* television (best), or making television a government monopoly: ~Alypius That reflects your personal preferences, but what is the moral justification for imposing your anti-TV personal values? Fred = [EMAIL PROTECTED]
broadcast spectrum rent
--- Wei Dai [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: the broadcast spectrum currently used for television may be worth as much as $400 billion in an auction. How are the 15% of households who still watch TV over the air able to prevent this spectrum from being sold for another use? They should not be able to. The spectrum should be auctioned to the highest bidders who pay for a leasehold franchise good for several years, after which it is again put up for leasehold bid. The annual rent would go to the US Treasury. With a 10% return, that would be about $40 billion. Today, the spectrum holders have a license from the federal government at no charge. But the spectrum legally belongs to the people. So the spectrum holders are receiving an implicit subsidy. The spectrum leaseholders should be free of any content restrictions (other than the usual laws about fraud). That would create a market for the highest and best social use of the spectrum. Fred Foldvary = [EMAIL PROTECTED]
