Shirky on Spectrum As A Public Good

Clay Shirky writes this excellent primer on the issue of spectrum as property v. spectrum as commons. It's worth reading for those interested in a useful overview. However, while Shirky makes an eloquent case for the spectrum-as-public-good side, he doesn't do a very good job of laying out or responding to the other side on this issue. When he does present the conter argument it is in the context of how and why the vested interests will object to this new regime. But there are real arguments against the commons approach (not about pretecting vested interests) that are worth more debate (remember the tragedy of the commons anyone?). Fortunately we have Tom Hazlett for that. An excerpt from Shirky:

The FCC is considering opening up additional spectrum to unlicensed uses -- the same kind of regulatory change that gave rise to Wifi. Much of the spectrum being considered for unlicensed use is currently allocated for broadcasters, however, so FCC's proposal creates tension between incumbents and groups that want to take advantage of the possibilities inherent in unlicensed spectrum.