one does one's bit if one wishes?
@Meh
Well, I see that UK politicians are trying to talk the bankers to death if BBC Parliament is anything to go buy.
At least they are giving them a jolly good taking to so the whole problem must have been sorted by now.
Copy of email sent to Ofcom
Hello
I'd like to take issue with the present model used to auction things to the highest bidder.
As a policy I believe that auctioning to the highest bidder in capital bid makes for:
(a) an elitist provisioning of services contrary to the public good
(b) in effect causes an inflationary tax served by proxy (the proxy in this case is the third party auction winner that will ultimately have to pass costs on to the consumer hence increased cost to consumer hence elitist use of a public asset as such cost puts it out of the reach of the many hence contrary to public good)
(c) induces higher costs with slower uptake and/or evolution of those services to the public while simultaneously maintaining elitist use of a public asset
I could go on but for brevity the above three points neatly summarise main faults with the auction model as it presently stands, is used and is put into effect and consequences arising thereof.
I'd also like Ofcom to consider a different model. One based on licencing public assets that, on the face of it, seems readily extensible.
The model I propose to replace the outdated and heavily flawed auction process is summarised below:
For a public asset being released or about to be released interested third parties will need to apply for either a Public licence or a Commercial licence in order to access that public asset.
Maybe a UK PSPL (UK Public Service Provider Licence) or UK CSPL (UK Commercial Service Provider Licence). This model is readily extended to national levels eg S PSPL and S CSPL; W PSPL and W CSPL for Scotland and Wales respectively.
Also in evolutionary terms an EU PSPL and EU CSPL for European wide use seems reasonable.
The model with minor adjustments could cater for pilot projects (eg licenced use over a short term), with government or its appointed bodies having power to invoke levies should a third party fail to meet its business plan as proposed or fail to adapt service to emerging or evolving technologies in a way that runs contrary to national or regional polices.
This proposed model is aimed to allow public service providers an opportunity to make use of a public asset in a way that benefits the public. For example - a much reduced cost for UKPSPL whereas UKCSPL can tap in to an auction model in some amended form.
Note that the UKPSPL could also cater for present public service providers such as the BBC or ITV ... to provide a service to the public based on their longstanding service in public service provisioning. And at the same time without having to compete directly with more aggressive commercial organisations based solely on costs.
Such a proposed model also allows for intervention with penalties. For example energy providers with a UKPSPL yet not meeting good practice regarding costs or cost reductions to pre-payment customers could be levied sufficiently well as to be motivating or face a suspension of UKPSPL.
This email is already far too long and I hope the gist of a better way of doing things is hinted sufficiently well as to be motivating
Kind regards
****
ps - I wonder if it would be helpful to circulate this message to Ofcom offices in Wales and England?
Biting the hand that feeds IT
