Public Knowledge has as website, that proclaims House Republicans proposed draft legislation last week that would let companies like Fox, AT&T and Verizon buy their way out of public interest obligations. I have to admit I'm a little off my main turf, here, but this looks important. I am hoping we can conduct an experiment in collective intelligence and figure out what this means as a group.
I am not familiar with Public Knowledge, or this issue, but it looks like the GOP, and big telecom industries are trying to get away with a fast one, so I'd like to raise a pointer, as I don't see this discussed elsewhere.
From what I gather, the Telecomunication company lobbyists are seeking to use the debt-ceiling to sneak through legislation that will enable them to escape regulation and make even more profit off our public bandwidth. Please help me figure this out.
Here's how Public Knowledge says the scheme will work:
■Broadcasters, like Fox, can buy their way out of public interest obligations if they put spectrum licenses up for sale.
■Wireless companies, like AT&T and Verizon, can buy their way out of consumer protections if they buy this new spectrum.
■"Unlicensed spectrum" is on the auction block, selling off public airwaves and making us pay for future WiFi-like services.
Continued under the fold.
■To make it worse, all of this is wrapped up in the debt ceiling debate, but won't actually make a significant dent in the national debt.
Don't think it's worth the trade-off (less unlicensed spectrum and less wireless innovation for very little benefit to either the public or the government's bottom line)? Call your Member of Congress!
We're making this as easy as possible by setting up a day of action this Friday, July 22. To participate, all you need is a mobile phone with the ability to send and receive SMS messages.* If you haven't already signed up for PK Mobile Action Alerts, take a moment to do so now. We'll contact you on Friday with instructions on how to take action.
For more information on this issue, read up on the Republican spectrum bill in Giga Om and Ars Technica. For a general overview, read our Public Airwaves issue page.
This is another reason we should have on our list of why average citizens whould want to get Republicans out of the House, and Senate. It seems at every possible opportunity, they are trying to screw regular folks out of the common good, for the advantage of for profit special interest groups.
Thanks to anyone who can help us get on top of what this means.
Cheers
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