Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Domains

Domain: tndf.net

Stories and comments across the archive that link to tndf.net.

Comments · 9

  1. Re:Easy fix. by anachattak · · Score: 2, Interesting · on Comcast Plans Cable Boxes with Integrated Wi-Fi and Snooping
    The "SDMCA" (retitled by the MPAA and Cable Cos. as the "Cable Theft Prevention Act" or somesuch) is making the rounds in several states. Until recently, my home state of Tennessee was a battleground state, but the lobbyists finally got their way and pushed a version through the state legislature. Right now, it's sitting on Gov. Bredesen's desk, waiting for his signature.

    I encourage everyone to monitor your own state legislatures and make sure this kind of thing isn't happening behind your back. If it is, several groups have formed in opposition to this type of legislation [TNDF]. While your cable company may not be able to force their particular brand of device down your throat, they can ban devices that don't use their "let me snoop" technology and criminally prosecute you if you use a device to filter their snoops. Check out the TNDF site and see what the Tennessee version will do to violators.

  2. Re: Evil Government Intrusion by anachattak · · Score: 3, Insightful · on Congress To Force Cable a la Carte Plans
    And that monopoly is not afraid of legislation. I wouldn't be suprised if the cable industry (with a little MPAA backing) attempt their own counter-offensive in Congress, arguing that forcing them to unbundle channels will run them out of business.

    We already know how willing they are to lie and fabricate numbers to get the legislation they want. In Tennessee, they've fabricated ridiculous statistics they claim are "losses from theft of service" in order to push through the MPAA's SDMCA bill. It's in the legislative committees right now and Tennessee Digital Freedom is working hard to stop them.

    There's an e-mail campaign going on right now at Tennessee Digital Freedom to try to let legislators know that the SDMCA is wrong for Tennessee and that monopolies like the cable companies do not need additional protection from government. If anything, CONSUMERS need protection from the monopolists (and their lobbyists).

    I encourage everyone to visit the TNDF website, check out the e-mail campaign and let politicians know what you think!!!

  3. Re: Evil Government Intrusion by anachattak · · Score: 3, Insightful · on Congress To Force Cable a la Carte Plans
    And that monopoly is not afraid of legislation. I wouldn't be suprised if the cable industry (with a little MPAA backing) attempt their own counter-offensive in Congress, arguing that forcing them to unbundle channels will run them out of business.

    We already know how willing they are to lie and fabricate numbers to get the legislation they want. In Tennessee, they've fabricated ridiculous statistics they claim are "losses from theft of service" in order to push through the MPAA's SDMCA bill. It's in the legislative committees right now and Tennessee Digital Freedom is working hard to stop them.

    There's an e-mail campaign going on right now at Tennessee Digital Freedom to try to let legislators know that the SDMCA is wrong for Tennessee and that monopolies like the cable companies do not need additional protection from government. If anything, CONSUMERS need protection from the monopolists (and their lobbyists).

    I encourage everyone to visit the TNDF website, check out the e-mail campaign and let politicians know what you think!!!

  4. Re: Evil Government Intrusion by anachattak · · Score: 3, Insightful · on Congress To Force Cable a la Carte Plans
    And that monopoly is not afraid of legislation. I wouldn't be suprised if the cable industry (with a little MPAA backing) attempt their own counter-offensive in Congress, arguing that forcing them to unbundle channels will run them out of business.

    We already know how willing they are to lie and fabricate numbers to get the legislation they want. In Tennessee, they've fabricated ridiculous statistics they claim are "losses from theft of service" in order to push through the MPAA's SDMCA bill. It's in the legislative committees right now and Tennessee Digital Freedom is working hard to stop them.

    There's an e-mail campaign going on right now at Tennessee Digital Freedom to try to let legislators know that the SDMCA is wrong for Tennessee and that monopolies like the cable companies do not need additional protection from government. If anything, CONSUMERS need protection from the monopolists (and their lobbyists).

    I encourage everyone to visit the TNDF website, check out the e-mail campaign and let politicians know what you think!!!

  5. Hear is anoteher arictal by SirJaxalot · · Score: 1 · on More E-Voting Software Leaks Surface

    on this subjeckt

  6. Re:Someone clue me in... by Motherfucking+Shit · · Score: 4, Insightful · on Tennessee's Super-DMCA Rises From The Grave
    How about this, right at the top of the bill:
    (a) It is an offense for any person knowingly to:

    (1) Possess, use, make, develop, assemble, sell, distribute, lease, license, transfer, import into this state or offer, promote, or advertise any unlawful communication device:

    (A) For the unauthorized acquisition or theft of any communication service or to receive, intercept, disrupt, transmit, re-transmit, decrypt, acquire, or facilitate the receipt, interception, disruption, transmission, re-transmission, decryption, or acquisition of any communication service without the express consent or express authorization of the communication service provider; or

    (B) To conceal, or to assist another to conceal, from any communication service provider or from any lawful authority the existence or place of origin or destination of any communication.
    As written, it sounds to me like (A) would make it illegal for me to set up a wireless access point (which "facilitates the .. re-transmission" of a communication service) without getting permission from Time Warner. [The lobbyists also played the kiddie porn and terrorism cards with regards to open wireless APs.] Previously, doing this would have only been a violation of the AUP, and they could have cut off my service. If this bill goes through, they'll be able to prosecute me.

    (B) sounds an awful lot like it would be illegal for me to spoof an email header, browse the web through a proxy server, or perhaps even use Freenet.

    Note that the language of this bill specifies a "device," but does not require that the device must be hardware. "Device" is defined later in the bill as "any type of electronic mechanism, transmission lines or connections and appurtenances thereto, instrument, drive, machine, equipment, technology, or software." Freenet is, by its very nature, a "device" which attempts to "conceal the place of origin or destination of [a] communication."

    The major problem with this bill is that the language is too broad - apparently by design:
    When one senator asked if the law would have to be constantly updated to allow for new technology, he said "No, the statute is broad. We won't be back." (From here)
    The bill allows for felony charges for violations, and allows for $1,500 - $10,000 fines per device. The bill stipulates that counts and fines shall be imposed per day, that is, if you use 2 unauthorized "communications devices" for a week, you're guilty of 14 violations of this bill (well beyond the qualification for a felony charge) and you're liable for anywhere from $21,000 to $140,000 in fines.

    This bill needs to die, or to have its language strictly clarified. If neither of these things happen, don't be surprised when you see "TN Resident Gets 15 Year Sentence for Open WAP" in the YRO section.
  7. Re:So... by loosifer · · Score: 4, Informative · on Update on State "Communications Services" Laws
    Speaking as one of the main motivators behind the Tennessee Digital Freedom Network, the group that helped stop the bill in TN, no, the EFF wasn't terribly useful here. The didn't have effective legal analyses (we had to do our own), they didn't have good technical analyses (again, we did our own), and they also didn't have good alternative legislation (um, again, our own).

    All of this can be found at our web site, so hopefully others won't start so quite from scratch.

    In this case, save your money and spend some time; create your own tech-friendly lobby in your state, and begin monitoring this kind of stuff. It sucks to watch sausage get made, but if you don't get involved, you've got no one but yourself to blame. We're planning on starting a formal non-profit to continue fighting for the right to innovate with technology, and I recommend that other states do the same.

  8. Re:So... by loosifer · · Score: 4, Informative · on Update on State "Communications Services" Laws
    Speaking as one of the main motivators behind the Tennessee Digital Freedom Network, the group that helped stop the bill in TN, no, the EFF wasn't terribly useful here. The didn't have effective legal analyses (we had to do our own), they didn't have good technical analyses (again, we did our own), and they also didn't have good alternative legislation (um, again, our own).

    All of this can be found at our web site, so hopefully others won't start so quite from scratch.

    In this case, save your money and spend some time; create your own tech-friendly lobby in your state, and begin monitoring this kind of stuff. It sucks to watch sausage get made, but if you don't get involved, you've got no one but yourself to blame. We're planning on starting a formal non-profit to continue fighting for the right to innovate with technology, and I recommend that other states do the same.

  9. Why didn't this make the front page? by Dubber · · Score: 1 · on TN DMCA: Calling All Nerds

    Yo, Editors, why didn't this make the front page?
    One measly post (which ignited our fires down here and got us to the hearing (barely) in time) about an S-DMCA hearing in Massachusetts made the front page. Everything about the Tennessee action and the response from TNDF.net and other Tennesseans has been relegated to YRO. Sure it belongs in YRO, but the parent post is a call to action.
    Shoulda been on the front page, since not everyone follows the sidebars and action (if driving to Nashville & sitting in a hot humid uncomfortable room for probably a couple hours is "action") is needed in Tennessee Tuesday & Wednesday next week.