GOP Tech Platform: Give More Spectrum to AT&T and Verizon Filter Porn, Fight Neutrality Rules, Deregulate Incumbents The New Republic notes that one of the cornerstones of the GOP's technology agenda being firmed up at the convention this week (aside from censoring porn, opposing net neutrality and further eliminating consumer protections) is "spectrum reform." The New Republic argues that spectrum reform in GOP parlance is really just code for taking any and all spectrum you can find and selling it to AT&T and Verizon, so they can squat on it and prevent additional competitors from entering the marketplace (aka protectionism).

super concerned about bringing broadband to rural users. For those who actually pay attention however, history has shown repeatedly that a concern for rural America or even broadband coverage has never been anywhere on the GOP or incumbents' radar: quote: Auctions haven’t done much to expand access in the rural areas Republicans claim to love. They have, however, enriched the big businesses who generally love Republicans. Spectrum auctions are nearly always won by the behemoths AT&T and Verizon, which build out infrastructure in more urban areas and leave less-populated areas alone, in the kind of classic market failure that Republicans find so difficult to recognize. However, the report ignores how the Democrats also love to fail miserably on this front, with both parties buying into the In addition to just throwing money at the GOP , the incumbents and the GOP sell the idea of further protecting the nation's duopoly from competition by insisting they're justconcerned about bringing broadband to rural users. For those who actually pay attention however, history has shown repeatedly that a concern for rural America or even broadband coverage has never been anywhere on the GOP or incumbents' radar:However, the report ignores how the Democrats also love to fail miserably on this front, with both parties buying into the spectrum-apocalypse scenarios painted by AT&T and Verizon to help them gobble and squat on any and all spectrum for the promise of a brighter tomorrow. The current Democratic FCC in particular professes to care about rural users, yet consistently ignores competitive issues and just signed off on a Verizon cable deal that could give cable a more potent monopoly over landline broadband in rural markets than ever before. As for new spectrum, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology is urging the Obama administration to push for new shared spectrum technology allowing industry and government to co-inhabit some airwaves, but that's a plan both AT&T and Verizon lobbyists are doing their best to put a stop to. In a few weeks you'll get to see the Democrats take their turn at pretending to support concepts like "Internet freedom" while quietly building a platform built almost solely on AT&T and Verizon wishes and cash.







News Jump Stark New Reality In The Telco Business: Dumb Pipes No Longer Cut It; AT&T Unveils Mix and Match Plans; + more news AT&T Extends Overage Charge Waiver; Verizon And T-Mobile Each Insist Their 5G Strategy Is The Right One; + more news War Of Words Heats Up: T-Mobile Fires Back At Verizon, AT&T; Amazon Intros Gaming Service To Take On Stadia; + more news Starlink's Network Faces Huge Limitations; AT&T Whines T-Mobile Merger Put Too Much Spectrum In One Place; + more news WISPs Get CBRS Range As Great As Six Miles At 100 Mbps Speeds; Windstream Officially Exits Bankruptcy; + more news Charter Relaunches Free 60-day Internet And Wi-Fi Offer; NCTA: FCC Should Stick With 25/3 Speed Threshold; + more news Comcast Shuts Off Internet for Subs Who Were Sold Service Illegally; AT&T, Verizon Team To Stop T-Mobile 5G; + more news California Defends Its Net Neutrality Law; AT&T's Traffic Up 20% Despite Data Traffic Actually Being Down; + more news Are The Comcast-Charter X1 Talks Dead In The Water?; AT&T May Offer Phone Plans With Ads For Discounts; + more news Europe's Top Court: Net Neutrality Rules Bar Zero Rating; ViacomCBS To Rebrand CBS All Access As Paramount+; + more news ---------------------- this week last week most discussed

Most recommended from 63 comments

Terabit

join:2008-12-19 1 edit 3 recommendations Terabit Member Truth The RepubliCon party always beats on about capitalism and the free market, yet fails to grasp or accept that the cornerstone of the free market is competition; which drives the invisible hand.



Therefore, why is it that time and time again, their policies encourage monopolies and duopolies, which actually go against the free-market and are more akin to corporate fascism.



Of course, they excuse this with claiming it's survival of the fittest, failing to ever mention how their creed benefits the American consumer - it doesn't.



Common sense. 5 wireless carriers are better for the consumer than 2 alone. Sprint and Tmobile for example, do not have the spectrum or quality of spectrum to compete with these two incumbents, yet AT&T and VZ want even more.