The Battle for Communications Justice: An Open Spectrum Manifesto

For three-quarters of a century, spectrum regulation has shaped the flow of communications world-wide.  While originally formulated to maximize use of the airwaves, contemporary telecommunications conglomerization has reached unprecedented levels, the diversity of voices on the airwaves has waned, and key democratizing technologies have been systematically crushed by incumbent license-holders.  A new form of hegemony has developed -- one that controls not only media content; but also, fundamentally, how we communicate with one-another.

An epic, transnational battle is brewing between those who have predicated their business models upon artificial scarcity, limited access, and command-and-control, and telecommunications provocateurs hell-bent on freeing the airwaves and liberating communication.  We'll take a look at where things stand today and plot a path forward in an attempt to avoid an internecine war.