Friday, February 17, 2012
Congress Will Auction Public Airwaves to Pay for Benefits
Due 17 Feb 2012. What do you think? Does selling these assets make good policy? Why does the government "own" airwaves in the first place?
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I think the reason why the government control the airwaves is because the airwaves can be used to implement policies easier. Airwaves and media are powerful tools to centralize the government and stabilize the nation. So the purpose of "owning" the airwaves is reasonable. According to the article, “With 13 million Americans still seeking employment, job creation is a driving force behind efforts to expand wireless broadband” Nevertheless, I still think it wouldn't do much to improve our economy. "This is an economic relief package, not a bill that’s going to grow the economy and create jobs.”
ReplyDeleteThe government essentially owns the airwaves because it is a way to keep maintain control over what is being publicized. It allows the government a method to monitor what does and does not go on air. Selling these assets seem to be a decent idea. It isn't the best but it is something that the government can do in order to boost the economy. Regardless of whether or not it is a good idea, the fact that the government is seeking to find methods to improve the economy is good enough.
ReplyDeleteAs of right now, I think that this will provide some needed money to the government in an easy way. If the government is just holding the airwaves, I think that selling them is smart for the government and people of growing cities. It will provide “building large Wi-Fi networks in urban areas and for use by cellphone companies in temporarily easing crowding on their networks.” The purpose of the government owning the waves is for that the FCC can regulate commercial radio broadcasting. If government does decide to auction airwaves off, they should at least keep some for emergencies in the future. They might come in handy if another major terrorist attack occurs.
ReplyDeleteI think the government is trying to control public opinions about them. They most likely own the airwaves in order to create a sort of impression that they're trying to stabilize the economy and keep control of society. Selling the assets doesn't seem like a harmful idea and there wouldn't be a risk involved. Might as well try. I think it shouldn't be too much of a problem and could create a stimulus of hope for the nation.
ReplyDeleteI think that the government wants to control the airwaves in order to place more censorship on the people. The government will gain revenue and benefit financially from this new control of the airwaves. I think that this policy is good for government as it expands its powers. As for the people, it limits more of their freedoms. The government wants to help the economy in any way possible. This measure will create more competition among private companies as the government will now be intervening. This will most likely create more prosperity in our economy.
ReplyDeleteThe government is trying to control the airwaves in order to control what is and what isn't released to the public. I think that this is a good idea because it would definitely stimulate the economy, which we desperately need right now. I also think that this will cause controversy, though, since there are extreamist who will view this as censorship and an invasion of their rights and will probably protest it.
ReplyDeleteThe government owning airwaves allows them to be in control over the public. I think they are selling them to help better the economy since they gain revenue from it and to show that they are trying to figure out ways to stimulate the economy. Since we do need a boost in our economy, I think that it is somewhere of a start to help us.
ReplyDeleteThe government owns the airwaves because they want to be able to be in control off everything that is being publicized and seen in the public eye. It seems that selling them right now is a good idea because it would help stimulate our economy and this is something that we are in dire need of at this time.
ReplyDeleteThe governmant owns the airwaves in order to control the public and the informantion it recieves. Selling them is a way to help the economy, and it is a good thing in that aspect. So for right now, the government is making a good decision, go figure.
ReplyDeleteI think the reason I don't do the blogs are because I often find myself disgusted to the point of physical illness how screwed up EVERYTHING is.... -sigh- BUT ANYHOW....
ReplyDelete"Controlling" the air waves is an idea from the last century that has already come and passed. The government already HAS control over public AND private airwaves, it's called the FCC, and the power they have would make your head spin if you had any clue.
Anyhow, about "owning" airwaves... the 'airwaves' they're selling are not tangible. Truly, they're selling the LICENSE to broadcast. Years ago, the FCC stopped issuing these licenses, making the supply for these licenses virtually perfectly INELASTIC, without a tangible product. Naturally, the government seized an inordinate amount of licenses for use at their own discretion, and NOW, years later, the Obama administration realizes they can make a pretty penny and boost confidence in the current administration.
This whole thing is fishy at best. The conditions under which these airwaves are sold (or leased, which they SHOULD be, but it is unclear whether they are or not) are unclear, and no information about it is readily available to the public.
And what does this mean for us? Does this mean the big telecomm companies are going to stop charging me an arm and a leg for shit that doesn't cost them a THIRD OF A PENNY -- Unlikely.
If anything, it would make sense if we made PUBLIC airwaves a fricken PUBLIC UTILITY instead of handing off airwaves to the people who are looking to screw us out of every penny we own.
Don't get me wrong though, there's (some) good that comes out of this, but I can tell you that's not the governments M.O. in this case.
This is something clearly aimed to impress the common man who has no clue, which unfortunately is the majority of adults in this country.
Anyhow, at this point I've lost the will to condescend upon our screwed up world, so that's it.