Congress got a John Kerry sighting yesterday, and he appeared to be championing the issue of the Broadband Gap.
Kerry spoke on behalf of having the FCC let spectrum between TV stations be used for unlicensed services, and actually chided the Bush Administration on failing to meet its goal (pushed by the Bells) of getting everyone broadband service by 2007. There is also a bipartisan bill in the Senate hopper to this effect.
But the AP story on his talk demonstrated just how hard a job any reform in this area will be.
A representative from broadcasters trotted out the shopworn "argument"
that the proposal threatens "free TV," which since we’re talking
digital it definitely does not.
But that is where the money is. You combine the broadcasters with the
Bells and such Luddites as the PFF and you’re going well uphill.
The next few weeks will show whether we have a champion in Kerry or just a tourist looking to sideswipe the guys who beat him.
