[BC] Mom & Pop Stations Going the Way of the Dodo (was Re: TheEmployment Issue)

[Mark Humphrey]

For the sake of discussion, I'll re-introduce the Libertarian argument:

If we truly believe in "free enterprise", why don't we just phase out the
licensing system and open the bands to everyone interested in offering a
broadcast service?   There would be no cost of entry other than purchasing
equipment.  Interference issues would be handled on a case-by-case basis by
private agreement, rather than through formalized rules handed down from
Washington.

I understand that Italy moved in this direction years ago, and the outcome
hasn't been as chaotic as expected.  Talk about choice: I visited Rome a few
months ago and could receive 65 FM stations in my second-floor hotel room on
a Sony Walkman.  The majority sounded fine -- clean stereo and negligible
adjacent channel interference.  Does anyone on the list have more to add
about the Italian experiment in free enterprise?

On a related subject, check this:  "In its 2007 budget proposal, the Bush
Administration has included a vaguely worded proposal to tax unlicensed
spectrum".  Some fear this could lead to "user fees" on WiFi and Bluetooth
devices, although the OMB claims it is only looking to go after taxicab
companies and similar industrial users that have "taken advantage of the
free bands."  Could the NCE-FM and ham bands be next?

http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=1579

Aren't we happy that the Republicans are working to get government off our
backs?

Mark

On 2/14/06, Cowboy <curt at spam-o-matic.net> wrote:
>
> On Tuesday 14 February 2006 09:01 am, Bailey, Scott wrote:
>
> >It would probably get no where, and I would just get laugh at!
>
> Of course it would get nowhere !
> Kinda flies in the face of the whole free enterprise system,
> don'tcha think ?
>
> ( though I still think that the whole auction thing is a REALLY bad idea )
>
>