FCC wants to auction off more public broadband spectrum

fcc.gov

3 pointsNHQ2 comments

I think the auction process is flawed. It fosters an oligarchy of corporations with deep pockets and consumers end up with absurdly expensive services like texting. Sure the government gets revenues, but it just gives the taxing authority to private entities. Land lines are a natural monopoly but cellular service is not.

I couldn't agree more.

Government shouldn't be auctioning off anything public, whether it is parking meters (Chicago), airports, or airwaves. We've literally had generations of future public revenues sold off for the political gains realized in single elections.

$50 Billion sounds like a lot money, but in reality it is about .4% of our GDP. It is also only a one time deposit for something a corporation gets to lease for probably 50-100 years (I'm unsure of the details). The previous auction saw AT&T and Verizon making off with prime broadband real-estate for less than $30 Billion between them.

Land-lines and many other privately held "public utilities" are often subsidized by direct government cash grants, or through tax breaks.

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