Should the FCC Be Abolished?
dvorak.org slash blog highlights an article on Slate about the argument for abolishing the FCC in the US of A. The basic idea for creating the FCC in the first place was that radio spectrum was considered to be a “scarce” resource and that a government agency needed to be created to help manage that resource.
I’m a little torn on this one. On one hand, I like the idea of having someone out there saying “these are the standard frequencies for X” where X is some kind of technology. On the other hand, I realize that the whole concept of requiring the use of specific frequencies is an outdated concept. Today’s radio technology can be smart enough to utilize a wide range of spectrum in a way that does not prevent others from using the same frequencies.
I would like to see more “open” swaths of spectrum to permit for experimentation like the 2.4 Ghz band. I would like to see the spectrum laws liberalized in such a way that new technologies are given a chance to prove themselves quicker.
The other thing I hate about the FCC is their “censorship” role. Personally, I think the FCC should get out of that business, though I suspect they won’t any time soon.
