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I have been putting up with television lately for a number of reasons, but I was wondering why the Fox News channel is louder than any other channel on cable. Even their commercials are noticeably louder than any of the other channel’s commercials. The sound is set higher.

This cable system has a diagnostic channel up with an oscilloscope display so that I can tell they aren’t “pushing” that channel, the problem is internal to the channel.

It’s really annoying. If there were ever anything on the channel that you might actually want to watch, you would have to reset the sound.

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Bobby has a nice post up, The “I’s” Have It, about the Senate judiciary committee sending Harriet Mier’s questionnaire back to her marked “Incomplete”. She apparently thought it was “true/false” while they are looking for essays.

I can honestly say that this is the first time I have ever heard of something like this happening. If you don’t answer questions on the employment application, you must not want the job.

Following on the heels of the charades being played to send messages to the Religious Reich, this is so … middle school!

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Steve Gilliard also noticed this BBC article Wi-Fi cities spark hotspot debate concerning local government moving ahead to provide wideband access. Several Philly bloggers have mentioned the tension between the city and Verizon over this issue.

This whole mess highlights a couple of points: the private companies are not rushing to expand broadband availability, preferring to make as much as they can from what already exists; and private business doesn’t think it can compete with government.

The first point is endemic in the corporate world: no new facilities or investments, just milk your cash cow until it dies. That’s why there are so few manufacturing jobs left in the US, corporations didn’t modernize.

We have heard for years the mantra that privatizing public services would save money and reduce taxes. I’ve never seen it work, and apparently neither have the telecommunications companies, as they claim they can’t compete with local governments in providing wideband service.

As a capitalist and end-user I think they should compete in the market, and may the best provider win. I will say it is a bit absurd that government recognizes an unfulfilled opportunity before business.

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From Ron Franscell at Under the News You know you live on the Gulf Coast when …

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