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Cartoon Guide to Federal Spectrum Policy

Posted by timothy on from the appropriate-medium dept.

js7a writes "The New America Foundation has published The Cartoon Guide to Federal Spectrum Policy (pdf). An excellent 14 page guide that everyone should print a few copies of to have handy in the backpack or car. Learn what would happen if the government regulated speech the same way they regulate airwaves. Learn the truth about microbroadcasting, smart radio, and so-called intererence (all previously covered on Slashdot.) Learn more creative ways to tell Congress to stop giving away public resources to private corporations. Make the most of your rights to use unlicensed wireless, before it's too late."

9 of 237 comments (clear)

  1. They need to regulate. by domodude · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The FCC needs to regulate the air waves. Given, they do go a bit far in some cases. What if they did not? Personally, I would not like to be driving down the road listening to some nice music on the radio only to have it interrupted by death metal or the sounds of porn. That 802.11a/b/g connection you are using would be a whole hell of a lot less secure and reliable if they did not regulate.

  2. Is it just me or... by Roland+Piquepaille · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...this pdf looks like a japanese VCR user's manual?

    1. Re:Is it just me or... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I don't know, but my VCRs never contain anti-govermental/pro-anarchistic propaganda. Would be fun though.

      "This VCR uses the Betamax system. Rebel against VHS! Dispose of the false standards corporationalism has forced upon us! Revolt! FREE YOURSELF! Not for children under the age of 6."

  3. Cartoon rights guides == great by jb.hl.com · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This sort of thing is the best way to get something through to the public. What's more likely to get people interested: pages of plain text or a comic strip?

    Norml have some excellent comics which do exactly the same thing: put across an issue in an interesting way.

    --
    By summer it was all gone...now shesmovedon. --
    1. Re:Cartoon rights guides == great by Roland+Piquepaille · · Score: 5, Funny

      This sort of thing is the best way to get something through to the public. What's more likely to get people interested: pages of plain text or a comic strip?

      Thank you. I'll remember your post next time I try to explain to someone why the education system isn't doing its job...

  4. Free Propaganda by space+oddity · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Not sure what a few copies of this in the back of your car would do? Maybe you can hand it out with candy at your local school. It doesn't add to any debate, it provides no support for its assertations and propagates myths.

    Not helpful

  5. Ok well by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What happens when I decide to be an asshole about it? Say you are happily using your WiFi connection at home, along with others in the neighbourhood. You are happier still since there is no power restriction, so you've cranked it a bit and it reaches all corners of your house.

    Then I come along and decide that I don't like you all, for whatever reason. So I build a transmitter that operates on the WiFi band, but spews noise with 2000 watts of power through a massive antenna. Suddenly your WiFi is worthless. However there's nothing you can do, since there's no regulation. What I'm doing is legal, though assinie.

    We have to share the airwaves just like we have to share roads. As we've found out all through history, you need rules when people have to share something or some assholes will abuse it. Hence, regulations on the airwaves.

    I'm not saying they are perfect and need to changes, but they ARE necessary.

    1. Re:Ok well by nick0909 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Actually it is quite rare for people to go to jail for intentionall jamming. There have been two cases this year that I recall, and the involved multiple (30+) cases of jamming local law enforcement frequencies before they took action. One guy in LA is notorious for doing it, has even been to jail for it once, and continues.

      In my jurisdictional area we have a guy that jams amateur frequencies any time they are being used to assist in emergencies. The amateurs working these situations are Disaster Service Workers under CA Office of Emergency Services and are either ARES or RACES affiliated, and he jams the nets. Our local law enforcement wanted to act, but it is a federal issue, so we gave it to Riley Hollingsworth at the FCC. After months of proof being sent in for review, swore statements by multiple officers that witnessed the crime, Riley sent a letter and told him to stop. Nothing ever came of it, it was a waste of time for everyone.

      I wish people would actually go to jail for these things, but they normally don't. So go ahead, jam anyone you want, apparently the FCC only cares about getting money for the bands they can and never spending it on enforcement.

      Nick
      Butte County Sheriff Communications
      [not presumed to be a statement of my employing agency]

  6. Umm, the Military is Losing Out Too... by airider · · Score: 5, Informative

    Last I heard the military is losing out to commercial interests as well. They're losing out on new freqs for expanded comms and radar to commercial interests. Main reason...government agencies are forbidden to lobby other government agencies. In the end the military is fighting for the scraps as well since they can't "contribute" (cough, cough) to the FCC's decision making process the way corporations can.