FrankRep
02-03-2010, 11:10 AM
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is stifling innovation and technological progress by holding up the release of Apple's new iPad device. by Alex Newman
Government Stifles Technological Progress (http://jbs.org/jbs-news-feed/5920-government-stifles-technological-progress)
Alex Newman | John Birch Society (http://www.jbs.org/)
03 February 2010
Consumers could be surfing the internet, listening to their favorite tunes, reviewing documents or even watching television right now, all for around $500 on a touch-screen device less than ten inches tall. But they can’t. Not yet, at least.
Computer maker Apple has its fancy new gadget ready to go, and it could already be on the market for people to enjoy — except for one little problem: The federal government has not yet “approved” it.
As it turns out, the company cannot sell its new iPad (http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/) until bureaucrats at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) get around to allowing it. Apparently the government “needs” to make sure the device does not interfere with other equipment, operate in the wrong government-allocated spectrum or emit too much radiation — all for the greater good, of course.
But while most analysts predict its prompt approval, the bureaucrats are already making a fuss in a vain attempt to justify their bloated salaries and unconstitutional authority. "Apple's iPad announcement has set off a new round of reports of networks overburdened by a data flow they were not built to handle," wrote (http://blog.broadband.gov/blog/index.jsp?entryId=138385) two federal bureaucrats — John Leibovitz with the FCC and Phil Bellaria from the federal Omnibus Broadband Initiative.
"With the iPad pointing to even greater demand for mobile broadband on the horizon, we must ensure that network congestion doesn't choke off a service that consumers clearly find so appealing or frustrate mobile broadband's ability to keep us competitive in the global broadband economy," they said.
But would internet networks really be “overburdened” without the wisdom of central planners in the federal government? It’s highly doubtful, but even if it did become congested, an intelligent entrepreneur unburdened by bureaucrats and regulations would promptly fill the void in broadband availability.
But what about protecting people from radiation? Well, to put it simply, no company would risk harming its customers knowing full well that such a business model would land them in court paying out millions. Customers would never purchase such a product, and the firm’s self-interest alone would prevent such occurrences.
Apple acknowledged the last regulatory hurdle in a note sent to customers, also pointing out that availability of some functions would likely be restricted in certain jurisdictions. “Some features and applications are not available in all areas,” read the letter as quoted in Wired magazine (http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/01/wondering-why-you-cant-pre-order-the-ipad-it-isnt-legal-yet/). “Application availability and pricing are subject to change. This device has not yet been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.”
As usual, the government, in its zeal to unconstitutionally control everything, is standing in the way of technological progress. The resources expended on securing government approval, filling out forms, hiring attorneys and bending over backwards to appease bureaucrats could have been used instead to research and develop newer and better technologies.
The regulatory obstacle course also makes it more difficult for small firms to enter the market, which translates into less consumer choice, higher costs and less innovation. But for Big Business, it can be great: less competition means a bigger market share.
Wired magazine writer Eliot Van Buskirk concludes his story, entitled ‘Wondering Why You Can’t Pre-Order an iPad? It Isn’t Legal Yet (http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/01/wondering-why-you-cant-pre-order-the-ipad-it-isnt-legal-yet/),’ by noting that “A conspiracy theorist might say that Apple secretly hopes the FCC will step in and ‘force’ it to sell the iPad to all of its potential customers, regardless of which wireless carrier or plan they want to use, but that seems like wishful thinking.” Perhaps. But the point is that in a free-market, under America’s system of constitutional governance, there is no place for government “force” at all (except to punish the improper use of force or fraud).
The federal government should never have become involved in communications, especially considering the fact that it possesses no constitutional authority to do so. But now that it is, there is a simple solution: Abolish the FCC and fire its legions of bureaucrats. This simple step would save taxpayers more than $300 million per year while unleashing American innovation and ingenuity in ways that cannot be foreseen.
The price the American people have paid so far in terms of taxes, lost productivity and the stifling of technological progress is unquantifiable, but it is surely too high. It is past time for true change and a return to the constitutional principles and free market system that made America unique, prosperous and free.
SOURCE:
http://jbs.org/jbs-news-feed/5920-government-stifles-technological-progress
Government Stifles Technological Progress (http://jbs.org/jbs-news-feed/5920-government-stifles-technological-progress)
Alex Newman | John Birch Society (http://www.jbs.org/)
03 February 2010
Consumers could be surfing the internet, listening to their favorite tunes, reviewing documents or even watching television right now, all for around $500 on a touch-screen device less than ten inches tall. But they can’t. Not yet, at least.
Computer maker Apple has its fancy new gadget ready to go, and it could already be on the market for people to enjoy — except for one little problem: The federal government has not yet “approved” it.
As it turns out, the company cannot sell its new iPad (http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/) until bureaucrats at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) get around to allowing it. Apparently the government “needs” to make sure the device does not interfere with other equipment, operate in the wrong government-allocated spectrum or emit too much radiation — all for the greater good, of course.
But while most analysts predict its prompt approval, the bureaucrats are already making a fuss in a vain attempt to justify their bloated salaries and unconstitutional authority. "Apple's iPad announcement has set off a new round of reports of networks overburdened by a data flow they were not built to handle," wrote (http://blog.broadband.gov/blog/index.jsp?entryId=138385) two federal bureaucrats — John Leibovitz with the FCC and Phil Bellaria from the federal Omnibus Broadband Initiative.
"With the iPad pointing to even greater demand for mobile broadband on the horizon, we must ensure that network congestion doesn't choke off a service that consumers clearly find so appealing or frustrate mobile broadband's ability to keep us competitive in the global broadband economy," they said.
But would internet networks really be “overburdened” without the wisdom of central planners in the federal government? It’s highly doubtful, but even if it did become congested, an intelligent entrepreneur unburdened by bureaucrats and regulations would promptly fill the void in broadband availability.
But what about protecting people from radiation? Well, to put it simply, no company would risk harming its customers knowing full well that such a business model would land them in court paying out millions. Customers would never purchase such a product, and the firm’s self-interest alone would prevent such occurrences.
Apple acknowledged the last regulatory hurdle in a note sent to customers, also pointing out that availability of some functions would likely be restricted in certain jurisdictions. “Some features and applications are not available in all areas,” read the letter as quoted in Wired magazine (http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/01/wondering-why-you-cant-pre-order-the-ipad-it-isnt-legal-yet/). “Application availability and pricing are subject to change. This device has not yet been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.”
As usual, the government, in its zeal to unconstitutionally control everything, is standing in the way of technological progress. The resources expended on securing government approval, filling out forms, hiring attorneys and bending over backwards to appease bureaucrats could have been used instead to research and develop newer and better technologies.
The regulatory obstacle course also makes it more difficult for small firms to enter the market, which translates into less consumer choice, higher costs and less innovation. But for Big Business, it can be great: less competition means a bigger market share.
Wired magazine writer Eliot Van Buskirk concludes his story, entitled ‘Wondering Why You Can’t Pre-Order an iPad? It Isn’t Legal Yet (http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/01/wondering-why-you-cant-pre-order-the-ipad-it-isnt-legal-yet/),’ by noting that “A conspiracy theorist might say that Apple secretly hopes the FCC will step in and ‘force’ it to sell the iPad to all of its potential customers, regardless of which wireless carrier or plan they want to use, but that seems like wishful thinking.” Perhaps. But the point is that in a free-market, under America’s system of constitutional governance, there is no place for government “force” at all (except to punish the improper use of force or fraud).
The federal government should never have become involved in communications, especially considering the fact that it possesses no constitutional authority to do so. But now that it is, there is a simple solution: Abolish the FCC and fire its legions of bureaucrats. This simple step would save taxpayers more than $300 million per year while unleashing American innovation and ingenuity in ways that cannot be foreseen.
The price the American people have paid so far in terms of taxes, lost productivity and the stifling of technological progress is unquantifiable, but it is surely too high. It is past time for true change and a return to the constitutional principles and free market system that made America unique, prosperous and free.
SOURCE:
http://jbs.org/jbs-news-feed/5920-government-stifles-technological-progress