It's OK if they are axe murderers as long as you have walls around your house and a gun to protect yourself...
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Charlatan: As trade barriers come down and technology provides for ever more channels through the same or similar media, no single government can control the access to airwaves.
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I don't agree with this. It is true that the Internet opens many corridors for broadcast that can jump traditional boarders. What I am talking about is the traditional broadcast and cable spectrum. I am a firm believer in the need for a "public" broadcaster (in fact I think the US is the only nation without a truly public broadcaster - PBS is completely unlike other nation broadcasters).
There is a need for stories, histories, news, etc to be told from a particular nation's point of view. The power and reach of US programming is quite powerful.
I am not saying it is bad or that it shouldn't be licensed by local broadcasters only that alternative programming must be made available. When it is much cheaper to license US (or other foreign made programs) than it is to producer indigenous programs I see no problem with subsidy.
That said, the broadcast spectrum is public property and should be licensed to broadcasters not just given away for nothing. Giving it away to them is practically providing them with a license to print money at our expense...