Joseph Fewell

Stop Big Media from Hoarding the Publics' Airwaves

As we are all aware, our public radio frequency spectrum, the People's airwaves (radio, television, and Wi-Fi internet), are about to go up for auction to the highest bidder. This is because the digital spectrum, which will become mandatory in 2009, is finally ready for mass consumerism. Or rather, Big Media has finally found a means to structure proprietary, financially efficient advances to the quality of the technology, which allows the monopolistic market structure to remain intact-securing renewed profitability and excessive barriers to entry for alternative media providers. That is the governor on technological advancement in America; and, it is why we are nothing more than a middle of the road country in countless economic and social variables, such as education and media literacy.
Strikingly, it is a matter of fact that our media system profits more than any other country for its services, while we're near last in overall coverage of high speed internet; not to mention, the annual rate hikes, well beyond anything close to inflation. We get in depth analysis of America fascination with celebrity, but when Dan Rather, raises a question concerning the ignominious activities of our President he is discarded, not worthy of a voice to express such deep investigative reporting.
America will be moving into the digital spectrum in 2009; at which time, the public spectrum that is currently being used, will be redundant. But, Big Media wants proprietary control over that too. The benefit will allow them to control multiple, current and future, public spectrum, which could be used to provide municipal high speed, wireless internet-sharing medical information at the blink of an eye, or to bring educational material to rural and improvised communities. Why not make it a not-for-profit, public utility that can be regulated and monitored under the pedantic eye of accountable, elected officials. In a natural state of American Democracy, this would be the domain of the FCC; however, the People have put a "no-faith" vote against the FCC because of thier poor decision-making processes in the past couple of decades. No, they do not hold the credibility or resolve to provide for the needs of American Democracy, and need to be phased out, in favor of some other as of yet undefined regulation committee. The choice is ours, Big Media wants it so they can profit lust; but, the People need it to ensure the safety of Democracy and public wellbeing. Not just you and me, average middle class citizens, but the poverty stricken and elderly on fixed incomes.

By Joseph C. Fewell