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Licensing Computer Techs As TV Repairmen
An anonymous reader writes "According to a story in yesterday's New Orleans paper, the Louisiana Radio and Television Technicians Board has sent letters to computer techs demanding fees to license them as radio and TV repairmen. Apparently, as computers drive more home theater applications, the board is trying to classify them as 'playback and recording device equipment,' which the law gives the board power to regulate. It looks more like a money grab, though, since no test is required, just $55 and an affidavit." It seems to me the better question is not whether computers can be defined in many circumstances as playback and recording equipment (hard to get around), but whether this kind of forced classification makes sense in the first place. Disingenuous quote of the day: "We're not trying to swing our arm around a whole bunch of people to get new revenue."
Y'all send in them checks, ya hear?
Yours Truly,
The Fatty McTax.
"Awright, it's out there on the grass, yew juss fixit and then back away from it, slow like."
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Louisiana is also attempting to force lawyers to license themselves as garbage collectors. Surprisingly, the Louisiana Bar Association, when asked for comment, indicated that they agreed with the decision.
Whats next automechanics having to get licenses as ferriers to change tires?
It would make one stand out amongst competition.
That seems like a good deal to me.
In that case, send me $75, and you can be a preferred licenced computer repairperson
i didnt pay $28,000 for 4 years of school to be registered as a tv repair man
You have a four year degree in repairing computers?
i think it's a great idea, given proper expansion. for instance, i'd be willing to pay $100 if i could call myself a doctor and get paid like one. or for $75 you could call yourself a pilot and get to fly around. of course, becoming a lawyer would be free, just as encouragement.
The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.
-Oscar Wilde
Jesus, you paid that much to fix PCs?
You might as well be able to fix TVs too for that price.
I gouge customers for much more than that on a daily basis.
Send me $65 and I'll provide a document which let's you say you're better licensed than a Lousiana-licensed TV repairman to work on computers. It'll be about as valid and the money will be about as well spent.
The tv repair man producing his tools and getting it from the lady of the house and 2 of her most intimate friends was a fantasy but a geek connecting his laptop to the tv and getting the same treatment is just so not going to happen.
Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
What truth?
There is no dupe
would you care to elaborate on what type of "improper" wiring will cause a CRT to emit X-rays
*scribbles notes furiously*
*looks for old CRT*
Snowden and Manning are heroes.
So American girls can go around and say: I'm a licensed bride? Would a hooker be an 'unlicensed bride?'
Oh well, what the hell...
Actually it is enforced, just not uniformly. I run a small consulting firm on the side doing low lost technology assistance for home based businesses (mostly custom software, but I do a bit of HW as well), and I've had my BEAR license for a while. Apparently I stole a contract from someone with a license, they turned me in, and I received a warning letter from the state advising me that I faced fines and prosecution for operating an electronics repair business without the proper permits.
;-)
Today I pay $165 a year to the great state of California for the "right" to fix peoples computers. One advantage though...I get to charge more! When somebody points out that company X is cheaper, I get to say "Are you sure they're a properly licensed facility?" The answer is invariably no, which often lands me the job
There is nothing so pathetic as seeing a beautiful young theory roughed up by a tough gang of facts.
Perhaps computer technicians should join the janitors' union, instead of TV repairmen!
" Let us not forget that an improperly wired CRT will emit X Rays."
According to this link:
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/TVRad.html
There's never been a case where this has happened. Is this because its not possible to do, or because all TV repairmen are licensed and all exercise extreme caution when wiring CRTs?
Incidentally, do you know anyone who has ever rewired a CRT? When is a re-wiring advisable? Is it an annual thing, or just when the wires get old?
You were mistaken. Which is odd, since memory shouldn't be a problem for you
You've got a person who spends all day at a keyboard, versus a person who's adept at wielding a tire iron and can use a pneumatic wrench to remove all your (car's) nuts in five seconds flat. Now...which one would you chose as an extortion target? :-)
A marriage is always made up of two people who are prepared to swear that only the other one snores.
Do you think we can apply for a TV repairman licence even though we live in Australia? Sounds like a good deal if you ask me!
Even the old ones did. It's all a matter of how LONG it takes to discharge. ;)
Convincing someone to lick the caps causes them to discharge VERY quickly and most spectacularly.*
[*] Very bad idea. Do not try this at home. May be harmful or fatal. If you do this and die, the world will be better off. Poster disclaims all liability for your own stupidity.
So, if you work for the state or local government and do computer support, go into work tomorrow and announce you've applied for the license, but haven't received it yet. Sorry, Senator/Judge/Mayor/Officical who decided you need a license, but I can't reset your password because I don't have a license. You'll just have to wait a few weeks until I receive it.