S2 - Episode 4: The Divided Dial

The podcast explores the ideological battle over shortwave radio frequencies in the U.S., focusing on the tension between hobbyist "pirates" and the Shortwave Modernization Coalition, a group of Wall Street firms seeking to use shortwaves for high-speed financial trading. It highlights how shortwave technology, despite its age, can transmit data faster than the internet for international trading, sparking a debate over privatizing a public resource for private gain. The discussion includes the potential consequences of prioritizing private profit over public interest in the allocation of electromagnetic spectrum, drawing parallels to the privatization of other public resources. The episode also considers a counter-proposal to lower the barrier to entry for legal shortwave broadcasting, potentially fostering greater diversity and innovation on the airwaves.