FCC's Adelstein Takes Up Open Spectrum Cause

One down, four to go. That's the count supporters of open airwaves and neutral networks are holding up as Federal Communications Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein publicly voices his support for requiring winners of the upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction to keep a chunk of it open to competition.

This slice of the airwaves is currently used by television networks, but will come available again in 2009 as they switch from analog to digital signals.

Open-airwaves supporters like Google, SaveTheInternet.com, MoveOn.org, and some high profile politicians like Senator
It could deliver essential wireless services to communities that have been overlooked by the cable and phone incumbents, which control high-speed Internet access for more than 96 percent of residential American users."

The FCC has
Strangely, the opposition argues the opposite will happen if the FCC requires the spectrum remains open, falling back on their old standby that regulation stifles the free market. They have little to say, however, about how exactly preventing new competition bolsters new competition, or this so-called "free market" they keep talking about.

Is this the same free market that gave incumbents 96 percent of the broadband market at 40 times bandwidth costs for access and