Unlike most other nations, the U.S. has no stated policy governing international communications; it has been content to let anyone set up a radio, telephone or cable company, let free competition determine the outcome. Last week, Navy Secretary James V. Forrestal told Congress that this way of doing things was sadly out of date.
In place of competition Jimmie Forrestal advocated a monopolistic chosen instrument. Congress, said he, should require all U.S. companies engaged in international communications to merge into one big government-backed corporation.
Before the Senate's Interstate Commerce Subcommittee, now busily mulling over monopoly v. free competition, Secretary Forrestal unfolded...
