How the FCC Can Help End US Lag Behind the Rest of the World Using Advanced Digital Technology

Matt Stoller at MyDD discusses the impending FCC auction of digital spectrum, and the possibilities of enormous public benefit, if the FCC decides wisely to end the monopolistic control of the telcos. It's possible that if the FCC is fair, we could get a wireless broadband wholesaler, which would simply rent their network to whoever wants it for whatever purpose they want it. You'd be able to plug your phone into your computer and get broadband. Cell phone and broadband service would be instantly cheap and universal, getting around redlining that denies broadband to poor and rural areas. There would be fewer dropped calls. Roaming charges would drop dramatically. You could pay for things with your phone (or any mobile device you can invent). You could use any phone for any network, and download ringtones easily. And the big national telcos would actually have to compete with all of this.