Crushing Innovation: The Case of FM Radio

08/12/2006Stephen Carson

Those who continue to tout the positive role of the state in technological innovation ("the gov't made the Internet!") should read this chilling tale of what happened to the inventor of FM radio, Edwin Armstrong. In short, the FCC and established big businessmen (naming names: David Sarnoff of RCA) kept FM buried for decades and devastated its inventor. Monstrous!

An excellent article (pdf) by B.K. Marcus in the current JLS contains a thorough account of the origins of radio regulation in the U.S. and how Rothbardian property theory solves the problems of allocating spectrum... With no need for the fascist FCC.

[Thanks Digg]

Author:

Stephen Carson

Do you want to write on this topic?

Check out our submission Guidelines

August Price Inflation Accelerated, and the Fed Fears More Is in Store

Ryan McMaken

Fed policymaking is all about political expedience. When we see Fed policy, we must keep in mind that "managing the economy" is secondary to managing public debt service and public expectations.

The Oil-Price Shock Is a Direct Consequence of Interventionism.

Daniel Lacalle

This is the first time in human history that the energy transition has been decided by politicians without allowing technology, competition, or human ingenuity to come up with a better, more flexible, and more economical alternative.

"Social Justice" Is Neither Social nor Just

David Gordon

The great Thomas Sowell takes on the social justice industry. As usual, he makes excellent points even if, as David Gordon notes, logic deems we go even further.

Striking Autoworkers Will Only Harm Their Own Livelihoods

Connor O'Keeffe

Autoworkers are angry at their working situation and are striking for higher wages and a shorter work week. Their anger is misdirected.

Armed Neutrality Is the Only Moral Foreign Policy

Ryan McMaken

The interventionist impulse is to alienate, divide, vilify, bomb, kill, and endlessly sow international discord. Yet it is the proponents of peace and trade, we are told, who are the "isolationists."

Meet the Writer

Mises Wire