During The Golden Age of Television (1940 - 1961) most consumers had three programming choices (there were a few independent stations in major markets like New York). Three networks decided what we could see and hear... No walls there! Regards Craig ====== Then there's the BBC... I venture into this "debate" cautiously, as there are "facts" on all sides of the argument that can be highlighted to make a point. Let's forget I mentioned the BBC. That's not the point. I'm sure you know that frequency allocations in the US were not made to limit programming options. You only need to go back a few more years to see what an earlier mass media outlet -- radio -- had become to see what some think is an "un-walled garden." More like a free-for-all. Shared frequencies, even, but not always successfully. Regulations in broadcasting often seem to be more reactive than proactive Clever operators always try to find ways to game the system for their own benefit. Without naming names, *none* of the companies often mentioned in this forum are above such games. Ken ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.