Spectrum Spaces

Scientific American: "Microsoft, Google and several more of the world’s largest and most influential technology companies have found a way to provide wireless Internet access that is so fast it makes today’s Wi-Fi networks seem as sluggish as dial-up service. The prospect, however, has big media broadcasters up in arms, because this blazing-fast network access may hamper television signals when they go digital next year."

The trouble, basically, is that this wireless internet service uses the same portion of the spectrum on which TV stations will be broadcasting digital signals. We could resolve the problem if only there were some set of human institutions that allow scarce resources to come into the possession of those capable of deploying them in the most high-value way. Like, say, an auction rather than just giving the space away to TV broadcasters. But that's crazy talk.