The Phantom of the Broadcast Spectrum Policy Opera

The Phantom of the Broadcast Spectrum Policy Opera

Hudson Institute
February 22, 2012
12:00 - 1:30 PM
http://www.hudson.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=hudson_upcoming_events&id=921

One of the most valuable swaths of underdeveloped spectrum is currently allocated for television broadcasting. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) now has plans to reallocate parts of that spectrum for mobile broadband purposes and to auction the spectrum to the public. Congress last week passed legislation that would give the FCC the authority it needs to implement its specific plan.

The legislation has reignited the debate over broadcast spectrum and how to structure FCC auctions. Professor Thomas Hazlett will discuss the value of getting more spectrum into the marketplace, the dangers of regulatory micro-management, and various means to move spectrum quickly from low value to higher value uses.

Hazlett is Professor of Law and Economics at George Mason University, where he also serves as Director of the Information Economy Project. He has written for many publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Slate, and the New York Times, and is a columnist (on technology policy issues) for the Financial Times. He has previously held faculty appointments at the University of California-Davis, Columbia University, and the Wharton School, and served as Chief Economist of the FCC.

Senior Fellow and Director of the Center, Harold Furchtgott-Roth, will moderate the discussion.

Questions can be submitted via Twitter: @HudsonInstitute with the hashtag #HudFCC