U.S. Communications Spectrum Giveaway

The FCC is preparing to divvy up a vacated portion of the communications spectrum when broadcast television completes the switch from analog to digital in 2009. Unless pressured to do otherwise, the FCC will do so to the great advantage of the huge multinational telecoms who have given those of us in the U.S. some of the slowest internet speeds at the highest prices on the planet. Not to mention cable prices that have continued to grow despite assurances from the industry that if monopolies were allowed, prices would decrease.

I have long been of the opinion that commerical TV should be free -- if programming includes commercials, advertising dollars should pay for the content. The business model for the early days of television was such that no one had to pay for over-the-air broadcasts, they were paid for by sponsorship/advertising, kind of like over-the-air radio today. How is it that we now pay cable/satellite companies hundreds or in some cases thousands of dollars a year to feed us programming featuring twice as much advertising as in the 1960s?

Please click here to tell the FCC that the airwaves belong to the public, not to corporations. This is a battle that will help turn the tide back in the favor of We The People.