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FCC's Chairman Powell Starts Blog

Posted by michael on from the everyone's-doing-it dept.

The Importance of writes "And he wants to hear from the tech community. 'I am looking forward to an open, transparent and meritocracy-based communication -- attributes that bloggers are famous for!' Powell said on his blog. But does he really get blogging? He says he 'need[s] to hear from the tech community as we transition to digital television.' Perhaps we could discuss the broadcast flag? If you want to leave some comments on his blog, I suggest you do it before Howard Stern mentions it on his radio show."

7 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. Thats a new one... by chrispyman · · Score: 5, Funny

    Who'd have thought the day would come when the government asks for a slashdotting!

  2. Better hurry. by Temporal · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you want to leave some comments on his blog, I suggest you do it before Howard Stern mentions it on his radio show.

    It would also probably be a good idea to do it before this gets mentioned on Slashdot.

    Oh, wait...

    1. Re:Better hurry. by XemonerdX · · Score: 5, Funny

      A stern /.ing ofcourse.

  3. Eric Idle on the FCC by node+3 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Eric's got a song on his site about the FCC: The FCC Song

  4. Don't we already have a Powell? by caryw · · Score: 5, Informative

    His "blog" is pretty interesting but right now talks more about digital TV than anything pertinent to the internet. Still a nice outreach, we'll see how often it gets updated...
    In related FCC news, they just passed an order lessening the restrictions on the unlicensed 2.4Ghz and 5.8Ghz frequency bands.
    The news release (pdf) says that this order removes roadblocks keeping deployment of next generation (longer range) Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices.
    There is also a statement from Chairman Powell himself (more pdf)

    -Cary
    Fairfax Underground : Where Fairfax County comes out to play

  5. Sigh, he doesn't have a clue does he? by An+dochasac · · Score: 5, Interesting
    So my way of influencing a public servant whose salary is paid by my tax dollars is by signing onto a private website? No, thank you. I'll take my chances that I might influence someone here to write their congressperson, or vote him/her out! The FCC has lost sight of some core principles:
    1. The airwaves belong to the people.
    2. Content belongs to the creator. If my first steps were recorded in analog video, the government should not impose a law which would make such content impossible to view. When I create a DVD of my baby's first steps, I should have the right to control and sign that content. I should have the right to make it available to others and transcode that content to whatever the format of the day is in 2021.
    3. Government belongs to the people. All content created at taxpayer expense should be in an open format, not subject to proprietary licensing.
    4. Government should not play favorites. If Howard Stern profits from our airwaves with junior high mentaility, then everyone capable of expressing a junior high mentality should also have this right. If World Harvest Radio uses our airwaves to convince the world that Americans are all right-wing extremists and cultists, than other kooks should have that right.
    5. Consumers should have the right to not see Howard Stern or listen to World Harvest radio. They should have the right to not expose their children.
    6. Consumers should be able to select from the thousands of public programs available at the Library of Congress and produced by other governments (BBC, RTE, NHK...) without running into a region code "iron curtain".
    7. A broadcast flag is a stupid simpleminded idea. It won't work and it will violate many of the above principles.
  6. Monday's Blog Entry... by frankie · · Score: 5, Funny
    From the Desktop of Michael Powell:
    Ever get the feeling you're running in circles? I do all the time. I opened this week's commission meeting, and once again Pinky had forgotten his notes. As usual, he asked "Hey boss, what are we doing today?" And as usual, I replied "The same thing we do every day, Pinky: try to screw over the consumers."