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Spectrum -battles ahead?
Noting developments over the past few months, we're beginning to fear that commercial pressures on the spectrum will push governments and regulators towards enforced switch-offs of old analogue technology long before citizens as a whole would wish to change their receivers or benefit from the changes. The pressures have long been foreseen as far as digital TV is concerned with the massive spectrum used by analogue TV broadcasts turning into a potential cash-cow for governments as well as potentially offering many more channels to the audience. As we've noted recently ( RNW Feb 18 and RNW March 13 )the same pressures are building in radio. Does it matter?
The question which arises to us is how much this offers
opportunity for better use of a limited resource and how far could it
affect existing services which may not have the same commercial clout
but perform valuable services for society or force consumers into purchases
they only need to make for the benefit of others. At its simplest, do
you want to get rid of your top quality receiver or have to purchase a
digital one as well so that strangers can chat on a mobile phone or receive
E-mail and news snippets on a WAP (wireless application protocol) enabled
phone. Equally would you feel happy to find some emergency services switched
to mobile phones rather than existing dedicated services?
What should the balance be?
The questions mean that we need
to think about what is desirable and, in this particular context, whether
the market place should rule unfettered. Some of you will doubtless think
it should; that is not our position as we feel your logic ultimately leads
to significant risk of an unfair and unbalanced regulatory system. An
exaggeration? Not really if you look at the situation in some countries
where a government may well be happy to kick an educational radio or TV
channel of the air to boost finances knowing full well that those with
the clout to make their views known won't generally be using the educational
services (they can afford to pay for their children's education) but are
likely to use the mobile phones and pay-T.V. channels that use the spectrum
thus released.Guiding principles?
We suggest that the best guiding principles in this debate, since we think
the airwaves are effectively joint property of us all, has to be the greater
good of the greatest number. This doesn't necessarily mean harsh regulation
but it does mean having sensible open debate and you can bet your bottom
dollar that in that debate the big commercial interests won't lack means
to forcibly put their point of view. Ideally to us, before any analogue
switch-off is permitted to free spectrum for digital rules, should be
developed which mean that this does not further disadvantage the underprivileged.
If that means some kind of levy to provide free or subsidised equipment
for those who would be cut off by the change and unable to afford new
equipment, so be it providing the balance is maintained. Equally we would
not rule out loss of some of the spectrum currently used by emergency
services and for private company communication but again on the basis
that the public interest will not suffer. And in this respect we feel
those advocating change should have to make an overwhelming case.
Watch our reports in future to see how far that case is developed.
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Jan 2000