So Much for Promises

A plan--decided by Congress and carried out by the Federal Communications Commission--to hand over about $70 billion worth of the public airwaves to broadcasters has drawn sharp criticism from consumer watchdogs and others. Eddie Fritts, president of the National Assn. of Broadcasters, wrote The Times insisting that there was “no giveaway,” that “the channels would be used in the public interest to smooth the transition” to high-definition television. It would be “the fastest transition to a new technology in American history,” he said, and broadcasters would not use the deal to cash in on lucrative businesses like pager services.

Washington handed over the airwave space in April on the promise of this new technology, which would offer laser-sharp pictures and CD-quality sound, Since then, broadcasters have been retreating from every one of Fritts’ promises. Earlier this month, the Sinclair Broadcast Group (which operates 29 television stations) and ABC Television said they will broadcast digital programs sharper than today’s programs but inferior to real HDTV. Other broadcasters are expected to use their airwaves for that same sort of digital broadcasting, plus stock quote services and, yes, pagers.

While Washington cannot reverse its $70-billion freebie, some of the damage can be undone. The FCC should hold public hearings to demand something in return for this one-sided deal. Previous efforts to hold hearings collapsed under arm-twisting by broadcasters. The lobbyists also persuaded Congress to let stations keep the airwaves beyond the original deadline for their return, 2006, unless 85% of homes in their markets had devices that could receive HDTV. Fat chance. But Congress could still impose hefty taxes on airwaves kept after 2006.

If the spectrum space had been sold for the commercial uses that some broadcasters now plan, the public treasury would be $70 billion richer and no one would have been led to expect high-definition television, including the manufacturers trying to develop the new generation of TV sets. What does Mr. Fritts have to say now?