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."

Comments

In other news . . .

[dgrgich]

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.

Re:In other news . . .

[serutan]

In other news: "Louisiana state government needs more money, thinks up new way to get it."

I can visualize the meeting. "Hey, there's lots of people fixin' computers in Looziana and we aint making a dime off'em. Say we charge $55 a pop. I'll get started mailing out the threat letters!"

I can't fix most TVs

[Lord Kano]

and most TV repairmen can't fix computers.

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

LK

Re:I can't fix most TVs

[Waffle Iron]

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 doubt that most computer repair techs have ever opened a monitor (or even a power supply). The entire thing is treated as a disposable unit. Most servicable computer components are relatively idiot-proof, only fit into the appropriate sockets, and operate at no more than 12V.

If they weren't just going for a money grab, they'd exempt all computer techs who don't open up monitors or power supplies.

Re:I can't fix most TVs

[Entropius]

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.

Re:I can't fix most TVs

[Lord Kano]

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

Re:I can't fix most TVs

[pla]

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!"

Re:I can't fix most TVs

[Lehk228]

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*

Re:I can't fix most TVs

[xiando]

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

Re:I can't fix most TVs

[DarkOx]

Well, let me tell you that a real computer repair shop will have a service depot with people who do work at the electronics level. I work in my companies IT department but sometimes I help the service guys when they are under the gun with a back log. I know only enough electronics to be helpful with basic stuff like testing caps and de-soldering and replacing identical parts based on a sheet of most common failuers until something works. Some of those guys are really smart though and know their stuff. Its incrdible some of the stuff I would have labeled as lost causes that they can have fixed in no-time flat. There service everything from IBM Iserise equipment doing fine detail work on tape drives all the way down to label printers, which most often you just hit with something.

The point of my comment is this though. The people doing that work for us are EEs, they have credited degrees in Electrical Engineering and many are licensed as EEs. Considering the people who are doing this kinda repair work are already well licensed and covered. It seems insulting to license them again as "repair men"/.

Re:I can't fix most TVs

[Lord Kano]

would you care to elaborate on what type of "improper" wiring will cause a CRT to emit X-rays

Just because YOU never heard of it, doesn't mean that it's not true.

Have a look at this.

When the electrons strike the phosphor, shadow mask and other screen components, x-rays are produced. The amount and energy of the x-rays depends on the accelerating voltage. The relatively low voltages in CRT's (compared to commercial x-ray machines) means that relatively low quantities of low energy x-rays are produced and modern monitors are so well shielded, that there is no concern of being irradiated over time.

This only applies when things are operating to spec, if some inept repairman steps up the accelerating voltage you will be exposed to X-Rays.

LK

Already required in CA

[BrynM]

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.

What about car mechanics?

[bravehamster]

Since the radio is just a component of the car, the car as a whole could be considered a playback device. Are they sending this extortion attempt to car mechanics? No? Funny that...

Looks like a money grab to me

[ElForesto]

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!

Re:Looks like a money grab to me

[LostCluster]

They all have a purpose...

Driving -- for the safety of the road. Those drivers who prove themselves unsafe are removed.
Marriage -- the license isn't as much a permission as a document proving it happened on the public record.
Fishing/hunting -- to count limit the number of people who do so. If requests outnumber the number of animals that are meant to be taken, they won't approve them all and/or stop issuing.

Whats next?

[DBA_01123]

Whats next automechanics having to get licenses as ferriers to change tires?

Don't license

[pholower]

In the end, Brohn acknowledged, the licensing system as it is now envisioned will not fulfill its stated purpose of ensuring consumers that a licensed worker will have the skills that Brohn said are needed to set up the new computer-based media systems. By requiring little more than a fee and a letter from a boss or client, Brohn admitted, the board is doing little to control the quality of licensees.

"That is the problem with a grandfather clause," he said. "There is nothing that we can do about that."

Sure there is, don't license computer technicians!

Re:I don't see it as such a bad thing.

[cmallinson]

For $55, you get to say that you are a licensed computer repairperson.
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

Louisiana = Alabama

[Zaranne]

This is same sort of stupid stuff that Alabama pulls. They charge a licensing fee to sell calculators in the state. This is from a law made in the 1800's when cash registers were introduced. I think politicians thought "if it takes money, we should get some of it." They threw "them thar' cal-u-lating machines" in since they can be used to calculate money.

isn't that against the law?

[Vandil X]

According the the RIAA, MPAA, the NFL, and several other entertainment groups, playing broadcasted or distributed entertainment on a computer is against the law....

...So how can a local government body issue people a license to repair lawbreaking equipment?

Re:isn't that against the law?

[Esion Modnar]

So how can a local government body issue people a license to repair lawbreaking equipment?

Same way they can demand you pay a tax on all the marijuana you (not you personally) sell. You can actually buy marijuana tax stamps, which you are required to place on all bags of the stuff.

Weird. "Put these stamps on all the bags of the stuff we'll send you to jail for if we catch you."

Re:I don't see it as such a bad thing.

[geek]

"It would make one stand out amongst competition."

No it wouldn't because all the competition will also have to have paid $55. It does nothing but gouge people for $55.

Stop complaining!

[2nd Post!]

Go run for office and fix it already!

Anyway, I *like* that there is a driving license. I wish it were *more* difficult.

Marriage... that one is less useful now than it might have been 100 years ago. And with common law marriages, quite useless, though lots of states don't recognize common law marriage.

Fishing and hunting I'll agree too as I don't think we should have unlicensed folk with guns shooting at things. At the least, it limits them.

Essentially licensing is a force to limit, and in certain things I think that's good.

Recording+Playback

[StormReaver]

During either the DeCSS suit, the DMCA hearings, or a RIAA/MPAA suit (I can't remember which), the court specifically ruled that computers were not playback and recording devices and thus did not fall into the realm of protected devices for fair use copying.

Either computers are not such devices as the court ruling indicated, and thus this money grab is illegal, or computers are such devices and thus protected by fair use copying exemptions to the chagrin of the RIAA/MPAA.

Not a first for Louisiana

[DrLudicrous]

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

Re:sign me up!

[rewt66]

Problem is, paying $75 to call yourself a pilot may let you fly around, but it doesn't mean you can land...

This is great.!!!!!!!!!

[YankeeInExile]

I have always heard rumors of Marijuana Tax Stamps and the like, so I did a little googling. Here's a random sample from Kansas:

Drug dealers, as defined above, are required by law to purchase tax stamps from the Department of Revenue's Business Tax Bureau (K.S.A. 79-5204). In order to protect against any possible violation of the self-incrimination constitutional protection, a dealer is not required to give his/her name or address when purchasing stamps and the Business Tax Bureau is prohibited from sharing any information relating to the purchase of drug tax stamps with law enforcement or anyone else

There is other text http://www.ksrevenue.org/faqs-abcdrugtax.htm for your amusement.

What's a "repair"?

[YouHaveSnail]

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.

This is great

[Deanasc]

For the low LOW price of 55 bucks I can pad my resume with "Radio and TV Repairman".

Re:Actually...

[Minna Kirai]

Driver's licenses do not do anything to ensure safe driving.

You're wrong. (So is this weirdo).

How does paying a couple of dollars every few years (with no testing) ensure that I drive safer?

You're incorrectly focusing on license-renewal, which is actually less important than the initial issuance, which is what really improves safety. Or do you think that I'd really be fine to allow 14-year olds to get in cars and do 65 on the highway without at least first convincing a backseat cop that he's fundamentally competent?

You're obviously not from Louisiana...

[mrbrown1602]

Louisiana is a different place than the rest of the country. First off, the state uses Napoleanic Code (which is derived from Roman Law) while the rest of the nation is using English Common Law. Every governmental position in the state is elected, NONE are appointed.

Secondly, the state has continously put political machines into office. Fmr. Gov. Edwin Edwards (3-term governor) is currently serving a prison sentence in Dallas because of a variety of charges, basically stemming from taking bribes from casinos. Then back in the day, we had Huey Long, followed by his brother Earl Long. Huey even had a box where he kept all the kickbacks from state businesses and employees.

Hell, to become a notary public in Louisiana, you've got to get approval from the Governor!

The state has some of the most corrupt, crooked, and just plain old screwed up politics in the nation. Every profession you can think of has to be licensed - and especially now, because the state is running low on cash (thank you Kathleen Blanco), taxes are extremely high.

Most businesses just stay out of Louisiana since the cost of doing business there, unless you know somebody, is extreme. Its good-ole-boy politics at its finest.

Sort of ...

[gstoddart]

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