Subsidizing the Digital Television Transition

[Commentary] Why is George Will concerned about the transition to digital television? Will is apparently outraged at the loss of rugged individualism that he claims has led the GOP to declare TV a “collective right.” Lloyd is more concerned that Congress could cut funds for food stamps and school loans but provide subsidies for television viewers regardless of income. It might surprise Will to know that James Madison, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin, among others, actually formulated a philosophy of government subsidies to encourage communications. While the Founding Fathers were generally united against a standing army or entanglement in foreign disputes, they built a vast and robust communications system, the Post, under the control of government. And they subsidized the carriage of newspapers even to the territories. But then the Founding Fathers were subsidizing a republic of engaged, communicating citizens, not a society of individual consumers. Perhaps Congress might reconsider a set of policies that does not respond only to the influential and wealthy voices of the various segments of the communications industry, but actually considers what would best develop a republic of engaged citizens.
http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=1314449
* The Inalienable Right to a Remote
[Commentary] George Will's inspiring column from 12/08/05.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/07/AR200512...