now we have smartphones, laptops, tablets, netbooks and different ways of accessing information. less than 8% of the people rely on free over the air television. this is the way people get it. it's the new world of technology. >> reporter: public airways, new world of technology? >> yes, it's a cover argument, unfortunately the argument congress precluded in 1976, they bro the copyright law to cover any device or process that exists or is deemed to exist in the future that retransmits the broadcast signal. that was a fundamental balance congress engaged in at that time. they said we need to incentivize the creation of content, going all the way back to founders in the 1787 constitution and said the way we'll do that, yes, broadcasters, you have public duty and spectrum and the right, be uh if someone grabs your signals from over the air be it a cable company or anyone else and tries to make imlon, you have to pay for the underlying content, that's the american kay. an interlocher can't just come along and steal the signals and make money off of it. >it. >> brown: explain it to th