NAB: Government shouldn't pick winners, losers

National Association of Broadcasters CEO Gordon Smith says the government should not choose winners and losers in the technology sector when allocating broadcast spectrum.

The Federal Communications Commission is weighing a number of options that could hurt broadcasters, including taking airwaves from them to free up more resources for wireless broadband. It's all part of the Obama administration's goal of rolling out ubiquitous high-speed Internet service. In Vegas, Smith and other broadcasters were trying to show how their industry is embracing new technologies through their use of spectrum. He thinks the industry has two winners in mobile DTV and Sezmi, a start-up offing a new pay-TV service. He said Sezmi, which depends on broadcast spectrum to deliver cable channels, is a superior service to cable and satellite and would be less expensive.

His message comes as the Obama administration and Democrats come under pressure from unprecedented interventions in the private sector. The government has spent hundreds of billions in bailing out banks, other financial institutions and auto companies General Motors and Chrysler. While much of the money from banks has been repaid, it is less clear whether loans to the automakers will be repaid.