Spectrum Policy Petition on "We The People"

Since World War II, the Federal government has given away as much as $480 billion in spectrum rights to the private sector, including wealthy individuals and highly profitable corporations such as TV broadcasters, satellite operators, and mobile phone carriers. In the early 1990s, Congress mandated that spectrum rights be allocated by auction. But most spectrum rights have continued to be given away, often with a pretext of public interest obligations that are unenforced and later renegotiated. The Obama Administration has engaged in much talk about spectrum auctions and fees, but most spectrum rights have continued to be given away. When the government transfers spectrum rights from the American public to private corporations, the public should receive fair compensation for its property.