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| | Shirky: The Possibility of Spectrum As A Public Good |
 | | Spectrum, in the aggregate, is just a collection of waves, and a wave is defined by its characteristic frequency, measured by counting the number of waves that pass a given point in a second -- the more waves, the higher the frequency. |
 | | The 2.4Ghz spectrum is not treated as property, with the FCC in the ungainly role of a 'No Trespassing" enforcer; instead, it is being treated as a public good, with regulations in place to require devices to be good neighbors, but with no caps or other restrictions on deployment or use. |
 | | Even if novel uses of spectrum can be shown not to interfere with the current broadcast model, evidence that spectrum can be transmuted from a property-rights model to being treated as a public good might not be welcome, in part because it could call into question the hold the broadcasters have on spectrum. |
| shirky.com /writings/spectrum_public_good.html (2836 words) |
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