By Rachel Cericola, Jun 16, 2005
I was never a huge Senator McCain fan. Don’t get me wrong; I’ve got nothing against the guy either. But now it seems like I might be changing my tune.
Today, his office announced a joint venture with Senator Joe Lieberman call the “Spectrum Availability for Emergency-Response and Law-Enforcement to Improve Vital Emergency Services Act.” They’re like Batman and Robin, but the title makes them sound even more official. Thankfully, they’ve put a nice little spin on the bill name: The SAVE LIVES Act of 2005.
Part of the act would call for federal funds to subsidize the purchase of new digital TV receivers by poorer Americans, so that broadcasters can switch to digital broadcasting and free analog spectrum for emergency communications services. Um, how can I get on the list?
The guy makes a point though. If emergency systems had access to these signals, think of the possibilities. Announcements and alerts that could make leaps and bounds through walls and over huge distances. It would be like if either of the Wonder Twins had cool powers.
This bill would force broadcasters to kick the digital transition into high gear, and return the analog spectrum to the government by the end of 2008. It would also provide well over $400 million to households in need of digital receivers.
Every convenience we get "free" from the government costs us in a loss of freedom overall and a hinderance to innovation based on actual consumer preferences, both of which will undoubtedly lead to higher prices for technology in general. Regulating television technology is not even close to the proper role of the federal government of the United States. How can the Congress of the United States of America possibly determine equitably who should get a subsidized TV? And how do they decide which technology is appropriate? My God are we insane that we now believe digital television is a right!? If so, this nation has surely gone insane.