Both require that their presenters be present in the studio and that recipients tune in at a particular moment. Both thereby require passivity on the part of those recipients. This explains why community radio is enjoyed by commuters. The metaphor was repeated recently by John Donoghue of MCI, 'This isn't a strip mall we're putting on the Internet. The telecommunications industry believes the 'killer app', a much-desired application that will pay for broadband communications capabilities is video dialtone, or video downloadable upon demand.
Industry also avoids any committment to public infrastructure.
A large industry lobbying effort was brought to bear against Senate Bill 1822 in 1993, which mandated public access but was hazy on details of implementation. House Speaker Newt Gingrich's think-tanks have advised him to use the term 'cyberspace' rather than metaphors of the 'information highway', too evocative of public works. Meanwhile the White House, moderate Republicans of the curiously-named Democratic Party, gives lip service to the idea of universal access, much as their predecessor Richard Nixon did to guaranteed annual wage and universal health coverage. It remains to be seen if their words will turn into action. This work must be done continually, to make cyberspace our space.