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Licensing Computer Techs As TV Repairmen

Posted by timothy on from the mendacity-mendacity-mendacity dept.

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."

10 of 408 comments (clear)

  1. I can't fix most TVs by Lord+Kano · · Score: 5, Interesting

    and most TV repairmen can't fix computers.

    It's obviously a way to try to grap money.

    LK

    --
    "Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
    1. Re:I can't fix most TVs by Entropius · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Which is all of them.

      I've been fixing computers for people for a long while, and have never had to open a CRT or power supply. They're just not the sorts of things that break, especially since 90% of repair requests involve cleaning up after Microsoft and are software-only.

    2. Re:I can't fix most TVs by Lord+Kano · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Which is all of them.

      I disagree.

      I've been fixing computers for people for a long while, and have never had to open a CRT or power supply. They're just not the sorts of things that break, especially since 90% of repair requests involve cleaning up after Microsoft and are software-only.

      I don't know about the work you do, but I've had to open a few monitors. Especially when I was doing repair work for Apple. I couldn't tell you how many analog/power boards I replaced in Summer 2000 iMacs. I have a Gateway monitor on my desk right now that was declared junk. I opened it up, fixed it and have been using it for nearly 5 years. Not a bad lifespan for a free piece of hardware.

      I open every dead power supply that I come across to grab the fans. You never know when a 12V fan will come in handy.

      LK

      --
      "Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
    3. Re:I can't fix most TVs by pla · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I would imagine that TV repairmen were originally regulated because they had to know how to safely work on open TV cabinets containing dangerous high voltages, operate test equipment on those high voltage circuits, and install suitable replacement parts that wouldn't catch on fire.

      I worry about this particular money grab for exactly that reason...

      Everyone so far has complained that PC techs have very little in common with TV repairmen, and should not need licensure under the same rules.

      I would point out the flip side to that - Under this wonderful scheme, Lousiana would suddenly have a lot of "licensed" TV repairmen who had no clue how to safely (or successfully, for that matter) repair an actual TV.

      My suggestion for all the geeks annoyed by getting such a letter? Send in your $55, add "TV Repair" to your shingle, and assuming you survive your first electrocution, sue the hell out of the state for making you think you had the skills needed to safely do that job... "Well, they said I could, and in fact, they even said I had to!"

    4. Re:I can't fix most TVs by xiando · · Score: 4, Interesting

      As another comment said, get that lisence if you actually do open up CRT monitors and power supplies.

      I do fix other peoples computers from time to time. Home computers. I never opened a CRT monitor. Because I do not know "electronics", I know computers. If the PSU breaks, I get a new PSU. The PC is "repaired", the PSU is broken.

      So I don't get why you would need a paper saying you can do "high volate" (I belive that's why "not just anyone" was supposed to open av TV 50 years ago..). I don't. I do computers. If repairing PSUs is your thing, then do get that lisence. But wait, a PSU doesn't do playback and ANYONE can repair that, apparently, fixing a computer by replaceing a broken PSU, a square box you, as already stressed, DON'T open.. lol

      --
      9/11: Never forget it was a false-flag operation
  2. Already required in CA by BrynM · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Technically, in California you have to be a licensed appliance and electronics repair person already. It's just not enforced (that wouldn't go over well in San Jose). I wish I had time to find a better link to source, but here's a link.

    --
    US Democracy:The best person for the job (among These pre-selected choices...)
  3. Looks like a money grab to me by ElForesto · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It follows a disturbing pattern of "licensing for no purpose" that has been firmly established as standard operating procedure in this country for decades. We license driving, marriage, fishing, hunting, and now WORKING? What's next? An oxygen license? I hope plenty of IT workers stand up and say "hell no" in a massive act of civil disobedience. For that matter, let the TV and radio guys do it too!

    --
    There is a difference between "insightful" and "inciteful" other than spelling.
  4. Not a first for Louisiana by DrLudicrous · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Apparently, Louisiana is well-known for this kind of crap. In order to be a florist in Louisiana, you have to be licensed. Achieving this requires taking a $150 exam before a committee. Of course, the committee is composed of other local florists, to whom you represent competition. For a quick blurb on this, and the effort to eradicate (which has already failed), check out:

    http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/071504/opi_edi 2001.shtml

  5. What's a "repair"? by YouHaveSnail · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What specific actions constitute a "repair"?

    Backing up a hard drive?
    Swapping one hard drive for another?
    Swapping one hard drive for another because the first had failed?
    Re-installing Windows?
    Replacing Windows with Linux?
    Modifying the Windows registry?
    Unplugging one mouse and plugging in another?
    Brushing dirt from the lens of a (optical) mouse?
    Moving files around?

    There are so many ways that a computer can "break" that don't require getting out your soldering iron... I'd think it'd be difficult to differentiate between someone who "repairs" computers and someone who "supports" computers.

  6. Sort of ... by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Interesting
    You can actually buy marijuana tax stamps, which you are required to place on all bags of the stuff.


    While it is true they require you to have the tax stamps, they haven't actually sold the tax stamps in a whole lot of years.

    Since they never actually issue the stamps, nobody can ever be in compliance with the law. Therefore, they effectively make it illegal since they don't give you a (real) route to make it legal.

    Go ahead, try and get yourself some of those stamps. :-P

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.