rabbit ears

Last month, the Federal Communications Commission ruled that a prototype Internet device Microsoft is developing could interfere with broadcast television signals. Microsoft, Google and others are trying to put together gadgets that use a band of the airwaves known as white space. In several cities, this portion of the spectrum goes unused, so the companies were hoping to capitalize on that empty air. Unfortunately for the Seattle-based empire, the FCC decided that Microsoft's device didn't reliably pick out that empty spectrum. Microsoft has challenged the ruling, arguing that a damaged component effected the result. Which is interesting and all, but why didn't they just ask the FCC this much simpler question: Who cares? Are there really people out there who still have to get up from the couch to adjust the rabbit ears? Apparently so. They must be the same folks who are wondering about this crazy Internet thing all the kids are talking about.—Gregory Mone