[mythtv-users] Senator seeks kill FCC's broadcast flag authority

Paul Bender pebender at san.rr.com
Fri Jan 12 01:32:00 UTC 2007


David Brodbeck wrote:
> Dewey Smolka wrote:
>> Arstechnica is running a story on how US Sen John Sununu (R-NH) is
>> preparing legislation that would rein in the FCC, specifically
>> preventing them from imposing technology mandates on electronics
>> manufacturers.
>>   
> 
> Hmm.  While I certainly would like to see Broadcast Flag go away, this
> might throw the baby out with the bathwater.  Without FCC mandates,
> broadcasters would have never standardized on NTSC, for example. 
> Cable-ready TVs and VCRs that work on all analog cable systems and
> standardized HDTV broadcasts are other examples of stuff we have because
> of FCC  mandates.

There is a difference between mandating a standard for broadcasters and 
mandating an implementation for electronics manufacturers. The FCC has 
the right to do the former but does not have the right to do the latter. 
  The law should just make this fact clear to the FCC and others.


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