Manitoba chiefs want cellphone revenue [charge for airspace use]

CBC News ^ | 5/30/07 | Staff

[TChris]

Manitoba First Nations are seeking compensation from Manitoba Telecom Services for every cellphone signal that passes through First Nations land, saying the airspace should be considered a resource like land and water.

At a recent economic development summit, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs resolved to negotiate revenue sharing with MTS for transmissions signals that cross the land, water and air space of their reserves and traditional territories.

"[The request is] based on the understanding that we do have some fundamental rights as indigenous people to land, water and airspace," said Chief Ovide Mercredi of the Grand Rapids First Nation.

"When it comes to using airspace, it's like using our water and simply because there's no precedent doesn't mean that it's not the right thing to do," he said.

[TChris]

Can I charge a fee for people to look at me, since the photons originate from my personal space?

[Lurker]

the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs resolved to negotiate revenue sharing with MTS for transmissions signals that cross the land, water and air space of their reserves and traditional territories.

Sure Chiefs, just submit an itemized bill for each transmission you can document crossed your borders.

L

[2banana]

How many of these indigenous people use cell phones? Cut them off, along with all other “pale face” technologies...

[RightWhale]

Radiation from each and every of the 10⁸⁰ baryons in the visible universe passes right through this scientist/lawyer's brain. He should charge the universe for knowledge storage.

[Minn]

Satellite TV companies should send them a bill for all the signals being delivered to their airspace.

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

And if you are within my eyesight, I will have to charge you a fee since your photons are bouncing off me violating my personal space.

[TChris]

And if you are within my eyesight, I will have to charge you a fee since your photons are bouncing off me violating my personal space.

Maybe we should negotiate a comprehensive photon immigration reform bill. My photons are only doing the work your photons won't do. Can some of the photons get temporary visas to enter your corneas?

[Shots]

OK I want some of that wacky tabackee this chief is smoking,

I also have a question First Nations (in Canada) as I understand it never signed any treaty with The British or French so what gives them the right to claim the airspace is theirs?

[Badeye]

‘Sure Chiefs, just submit an itemized bill for each transmission you can document crossed your borders.’

(chuckle)

[Old Professer]

It all comes down to extortion in the end.

[Lx]

I live by a GA airport and I want compensation every time a plane goes over my house which is 10’s of times a day.

[Shots]

OPS I stand corrected I did a search using first nation rather then native and found some treaties

[Shots]

OPS I stand corrected I did a search using first nation rather then native and found some treaties

[fanfan]

Canada ping.

Please send me a FReepmail to get on or off this Canada ping list.

[Procyon]

Every radio transmitter on the planet: AM, FM, TV, ham radio, shortwave, etc. are emitting electromagnetic waves that leak onto native lands. These too should pay for trepassing over native space.

Slow news day in Canada, eh?

[canuck_conservative]

Not to mention the carbon dioxide I expel is helping all those plants to grow, so obviously farmers and forest companies must give me a portion of their income.

Pay up you deadbeats!

[Teacher317]

airspace should be considered a resource like land and water.

What, only one person can use it at a time or something?

[TChris]

> airspace should be considered a resource like land and water.

What, only one person can use it at a time or something?

Yeah, in their limited technical understanding, airspace in relation to RF energy is a limited resource which will eventually expire if not carefully managed. Those electrons flying around can get mighty crowded, don'cha know.

*ROFLOL*

[styky]

If they get away with billing for transmission of electronic signals through airspace then who’s to stop them from billing for airplanes traveling through as well.

[TChris]

If they get away with billing for transmission of electronic signals through airspace then who’s to stop them from billing for airplanes traveling through as well.

And, while they're at it, why not bill the USA for clouds that cross their airspace, then drop water on US soil instead of theirs. After all, we should have equal rights to the output of those clouds, shouldn't we?