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Rewriting Rules on Delivery of the Internet

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the no-longer-escaping-notice dept.

mathin writes "A recent NYTimes (free reg required) article states that, 'The Federal Communications Commission began writing new rules today that officials and industry experts said would profoundly alter both the way the Internet is delivered and used in homes and businesses.' Things under consideration: broad band over electrical wires and VoIP. A little thin on details, but interesting none the less."

4 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. thank you google by tedtimmons · · Score: 5, Informative
    Here's the no-registration version, thanks to Google.

    And don't forget Marc Majcher's nytview page. It works well if you RTFM.

    -ted, waiting for the inevitable replies about "who cares if they require you to register!" and "big companies are evil!" and "who cares if it isn't goatse!"

  2. Re:For those who RTFA and still don't get it... by OverlordQ · · Score: 5, Informative

    The FCC's talking about powerline broadband. Yeah, we're nowhere close to a commercial rollout yet, but at least the regulators are certifying that the plans won't cause massive harm to any other communications tech, so they're about to sign off on it.

    Have we just completely forgotten the problem of BPL totally killing HAM radio?

    Just some background information for you to read.

    --
    Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
  3. FEMA isn't a fan, and neither are HAM operators by Back+in+Brown · · Score: 5, Informative

    As previously covered at Slashdot here... The Federal Emergency Management Agency submitted comments to the FCC stating their desire to not see BPL go into widespread implementation. Apparently it interferes with high frequency radio transmissions which are used by FEMA and others (think HAM radio operators). You can see FEMA's comments and a FAQ on the objections (slanted towards the HAM radio operators) here Forgot to add that in these post-9/11 times, it will be interesting to see who wins, Dept. of Homeland Security and their paranoia over infrastructure or the free-market wheelers and dealers at the FCC who think regulation is for the birds.

  4. Re:For those who RTFA and still don't get it... by jim_deane · · Score: 5, Informative

    Who do you think responds to FEMA when they need communications assistance?

    RACES and ARES groups.

    Who supports the Salvation Army with communications for shelters and medical assistance?

    SATERN and ARES.

    Amateur radio is not some antiquated spark-gap device. Providing live, on-scene video feeds of disaster areas; establishing ad-hoc RF computer networks over tens to hundreds (to thousands, if need be) miles to transfer data and images; communicating damage reports to take load off of the public service frequencies; providing primary site-to-site links between emergency operations centers and site command posts (often with agencies that do not use compatible communications equipment)...

    The list goes on indefinitely. If you think amateur radio is something antiquated...you are way, way behind the times.

    Jim kc0lpv