FCC Adopts Broadcast Flag Scheme

sbrown writes "Today, the FCC adopted the MPAA's "broadcast flag" scheme, requiring that digital broadcast receivers and anything that connects to them is now required to check for the presence of the flag and apply DRM restrictions to its outputs. Currently, no such restrictions are required by law. EFF Staff Technologist Seth Schoen comments: 'The FCC has decided that the way to get Americans to adopt digital TV is to make it cost more and do less.' The unusual aspect of the FCC's ruling is that the restrictions are applied even though the input signals are completely unencrypted. Thus, this technology regulation goes beyond even the scope of the DMCA. "Instead of a scheme that actually protects content, the Flag forces manufacturers to go back to the drawing board and make all their devices monitor for Flagged content," said Public Knowledge Senior Technology Counsel Mike Godwin."

sbrown continues: "However, the FCC isn't changing the format of DTV broadcasts at all. As a result, DTV equipment bought right now will continue to work forever, even though future-generation equipment will have fewer features. (For example, a current-generation DTV tuner card like this one can save any DTV broadcast as an MPEG-2 file on your hard drive. But that feature would become illegal in DTV cards after 2005.)"

And The Importance of notes "Note that the facts of the release include 'The broadcast flag protects consumers' use and enjoyment of broadcast video programming. The flag does not restrict copying in any way.'" CBS/Viacom says 'Today's decision by the FCC is an historic step forward for consumers.' The decision was unanimous, with detailed statements by the commissioners here, in PDF:

• Powell Press Statement
• Abernathy Statement
• Copps Statement
• Adelstein Statement."

Comments

I don't knoiw what is scarier...

[segment]

is now required to check for the presence of the flag and apply DRM restrictions to its outputs. Currently, no such restrictions are required by law.

Not trolling but serious. When I first saw this, I thought wtf? A flag as in American, French or flag, flag. Seriously folks, stay away from the Jolt + Redbull + Oxy combo. That shit'll fsck with you

The FCC has decided that the way to get Americans to adopt digital TV is to make it cost more and do less.

Sort of disagree with this statement. Being an American, I've become tired of the 'follow the Jones'" culture of materialism. The people who are spending outrageous bucks on these things are the ones driving up the price. Take a look at the entire DVD+RW/-RW/W/R/r/w formats or whatever is in nowadays.

If the people are dumb enough to keep dishing out money for it, you can't blame a company for going after that money. Now now now, before you troll this down, let me really type the meaning of that comment down. (On the Google post I used 1Billion figuratively because I was too lazy to look up the actual amount being offered...) I know in theory the FCC is not a company in the Microsoft sense, but somewhere down the narrow road of government and business there exists a thing called (kickbacks!) favoritism for corporations that coincidentally have contributed to, wow another coincidence, the FCC buyer/purchaser/spokespersons political party/bank account/etc.