So they're becoming an Isp? - Great! Maybe that will give them some exposure to the legal/privacy problems arising from all those nutty anti-privacy and drm bills pushed through in Washington..
Think of the posibilities. Take a trip there, load up Slashdot and click on any link in the comments (goatse) and sue them for broadcasting indecent material.
-- How small a thought it takes to fill a whole life
The system uses the 802.11a and 802.11b protocols, commonly refered to as WiFi.
What about 802.11g? If they're supporting 802.11a, they might as well support 802.11g, too.
Maybe they figure that the 802.11b users will just slow down the network for everyone, so they won't even bother. Why not have 2 separate APs, then? One for 802.11b and one for 802.11g?
Spammers
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
It seems pretty ironic that the FCC, while on the one hand leading a battle against spam, would choose to offer Wi-Fi, potentially catering to wannabe spammers. But of course this won't be a problem, since in true US gov't fashion they'll obviously protect the network against this type of misuse.
Not.
Gotta love the FCC
by
commodoresloat
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
At present, the FCC will not request personal identifying information prior to allowing access to the wireless network.An open network. At the FCC. They want as few people as possible on the public airwaves but they'll let anyone on their private network.
Re:Gotta love the FCC
by
commodoresloat
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
Yeah. And nobody will listen to it except other amateur radio enthusiasts. Meanwhile, thanks to the FCC, anyone who owns a newspaper in one town can now own a television station as well. The FCC's current leadership is making decisions which will lead to further media consolidation and stifle competition. I'm glad they're giving out wifi access, but I don't think it's consistent with the current administration's direction, and I certainly don't expect it to last. (Especially after some hacker uses the anonymous wifi entrance to alter the fcc.gov webpage...)
I've always subscribed to the theory that WiFi won't be profitable as a service itself, but will be provided for free as a "loss leader".
I always assumed however that it would be coffee shops and bookstores that used it to their competative advantage.
Next time I'm in DC, however, I'm going to patronize the FCC instead of any of the other federal agencies!
Seriously, Mike Powell seems to be on the forward edge, especially for a government official. It is good to have people in powerful places that understand technology and its transforming role, who can think independantly of lobbyists or position papers generated by their staff.
Re:Loss Leader
by
afidel
·
· Score: 4, Informative
It doesn't have to be free. McDonalds for instance has a WiFi system where you can order 15 minutes of access for a small fee with your meal. The register just prints a unique number that you put into the web frontend for the NAT system and it gives you a new DHCP lease which is good for 15 minutes. Works well for simply grabbing email from the office or checking out slashdot on your meal break. My friend used it for a couple weeks when he moved into his new place and the DSL transfer took forever.
-- There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
Re:Loss Leader
by
ubrgeek
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
"Seriously, Mike Powell seems to be on the forward edge... It is good to have people... who can think independantly of lobbyists or position papers generated by their staff."
Are you kidding? This guy has nothing right since starting at the FCC. This is a press-release, grip-and-grin victory. This guy is in the lobbyists pockets with all of the media consolidation. Jesus, it took _CONGRESS_ to set him straight and overturn his decision.
-- Bark less. Wag more.
Lousy PDF. here's the text.
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 5, Informative
NEWS
News media Information 202 / 418-0500
Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830
TTY 202/418-2555
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
ftp.fcc.gov
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order
constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News Media Contact:
August 4, 2003 David Fiske (202) 418-0513
Richard Diamond (202) 418-0506
FCC Goes WiFi
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced today that it would
provide free wireless Internet access to visitors at its Washington, D.C. office.
"When you come to the FCC, leave the cords at home," said FCC Chairman Michael K.
Powell. "We're embracing the power of WiFi and the freedom and convenience of wireless
Internet access it gives to consumers."
Last year, Powell directed his staff to take the steps needed to make the FCC one of
the first federal agencies to provide public WiFi access. Visitors bringing their own hardware
and software can use the service on the Twelfth Street, Courtyard, and Eighth Floor levels of
the headquarters located at 445 12th Street, SW in Washington, D.C.
The system uses the 802.11a and 802.11b protocols, commonly referred to as WiFi.
The Commission will be unable to provide technical support, and all transactions using this
service are the responsibility of the visitor. At present, the FCC will not request personal
identifying information prior to allowing access to the wireless network. If requested by
outside authorities, however, the FCC will provide data from system audit logs to support
external investigations of improper Internet use.
If there appears to be a system outage, please call (202) 418-WIFI.
- FCC -
Re:pdf press release
by
afidel
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
Why do you care, the software is free, heck there are even Free alternatives. You can publish pdf's with Free and free software too since Adobe made the standard open. I don't know why anyone would have a problem with pdf. It's a perfect way to do device independant publishing.
-- There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
excellent
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 5, Funny
Now I know where to go when I want to download mp3s. I bet the RIAA will have fun when they figure out who's IP address they tracked down.
Slashdot Mirror
So they're becoming an Isp? - Great! Maybe that will give them some exposure to the legal/privacy problems arising from all those nutty anti-privacy and drm bills pushed through in Washington..
Now I can read my RFC's via WIFI at the FCC!
The system uses the 802.11a and 802.11b protocols, commonly refered to as WiFi.
What about 802.11g? If they're supporting 802.11a, they might as well support 802.11g, too.
Maybe they figure that the 802.11b users will just slow down the network for everyone, so they won't even bother. Why not have 2 separate APs, then? One for 802.11b and one for 802.11g?
It seems pretty ironic that the FCC, while on the one hand leading a battle against spam, would choose to offer Wi-Fi, potentially catering to wannabe spammers. But of course this won't be a problem, since in true US gov't fashion they'll obviously protect the network against this type of misuse.
Not.
At present, the FCC will not request personal identifying information prior to allowing access to the wireless network.An open network. At the FCC. They want as few people as possible on the public airwaves but they'll let anyone on their private network.
I always assumed however that it would be coffee shops and bookstores that used it to their competative advantage.
Next time I'm in DC, however, I'm going to patronize the FCC instead of any of the other federal agencies!
Seriously, Mike Powell seems to be on the forward edge, especially for a government official. It is good to have people in powerful places that understand technology and its transforming role, who can think independantly of lobbyists or position papers generated by their staff.
NEWS
News media Information 202 / 418-0500
Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830
TTY 202/418-2555
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
ftp.fcc.gov
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order
constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE News Media Contact:
August 4, 2003 David Fiske (202) 418-0513
Richard Diamond (202) 418-0506
FCC Goes WiFi
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced today that it would provide free wireless Internet access to visitors at its Washington, D.C. office. "When you come to the FCC, leave the cords at home," said FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell. "We're embracing the power of WiFi and the freedom and convenience of wireless Internet access it gives to consumers."
Last year, Powell directed his staff to take the steps needed to make the FCC one of the first federal agencies to provide public WiFi access. Visitors bringing their own hardware and software can use the service on the Twelfth Street, Courtyard, and Eighth Floor levels of the headquarters located at 445 12th Street, SW in Washington, D.C.
The system uses the 802.11a and 802.11b protocols, commonly referred to as WiFi. The Commission will be unable to provide technical support, and all transactions using this service are the responsibility of the visitor. At present, the FCC will not request personal identifying information prior to allowing access to the wireless network. If requested by outside authorities, however, the FCC will provide data from system audit logs to support external investigations of improper Internet use.
If there appears to be a system outage, please call (202) 418-WIFI.
- FCC -
Why do you care, the software is free, heck there are even Free alternatives. You can publish pdf's with Free and free software too since Adobe made the standard open. I don't know why anyone would have a problem with pdf. It's a perfect way to do device independant publishing.
There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
Now I know where to go when I want to download mp3s. I bet the RIAA will have fun when they figure out who's IP address they tracked down.
Honeypot?
You've obviously never been to Washington, D.C. The Internet access is free, the parking is not.