Some Things Should Not Be Compromised

I hope we don't live to regret political actions affecting our business being hammered out in Washington this week.

It took a decade to come to an agreement on LPFM and in spite of the fact that one of my Senators has been a big proponent of it as an antidote to 15 years of consolidation I still wonder what is going to happen as thousands of new 100 watt FM stations get sandwiched onto the airwaves with very little chance of economic viability driven by "volunteer" programming which will likely be about as compelling as cable television's public access channels.

I like Maria Cantwell a lot on most other issues and fervently hope that she's proven right about the "need" for it.

Now, it's looking as if we may find ourselves with two internets, one with an express lane on it and another one for the rest of us who can't afford to pay for as much speed as the big guys can. On this one, I find myself aligned with my hometown newspaper (click the link to read a Seattle Times editorial that makes simple, direct sense to me) and my Congressman.

I hope Plato was right about politics and that it's more than just an exercise of power.

And, don't even get me started about the implications of possibly impending Performance Rights legislation...