The future of the Internet, independent journalism, and solving the rural broadband problem -- all hinge on spectrum reform, the new "Battle of the Public Airwaves.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071220/OPINION03/71219052/1006/OPINION

Wally Bowen is founder and executive director of the Mountain Area Information Network (MAIN) in Asheville, N.C., one of the nation's oldest nonprofit Internet service providers. MAIN currently offers broadband Internet access using 900 MHz and Meraki mesh technologies.

MAIN also provides nationwide webhosting and dial-up Internet access via its IndyLink.org service.

MAIN operates on a simple principle: give citizens, nonprofits, and independent businesses the option of spending their Internet dollars to support independent journalism and communty voices. MAIN's ISP revenue supports its low-power FM radio station, WPVM-LP 103.5 FM, and its regional news portal, http://www.main.nc.us.

MAIN also led the decade-long effort to creae the first public access TV channel in the mountains of North Carolina.

MAIN's "vision" for a new business model for citizen journalism can be found at: http://www.main.nc.us/savethenet