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Sununu Sets Aim on Broadcast Flag Again

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the fcc-be-damned dept.

Flag waver writes "Senator John Sununu (R-NH) will introduce legislation that will prevent the FCC from creating technology mandates for the consumer electronics industry. As a result, the FCC would be hamstrung in its efforts to revive the broadcast flag. '"The FCC seems to be under the belief that it should occasionally impose technology mandates," Sununu said in a statement. "These misguided requirements distort the marketplace by forcing industry to adopt agency-blessed solutions rather than allow innovative and competitive approaches to develop."' Sen. Sununu previously tried without success to remove the broadcast flag provisions from the massive telecommunications bill that died before reaching the Senate floor during the last Congress."

4 of 138 comments (clear)

  1. Nobody imposed standards on the PC industry by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    And free and open markets took care of that "problem".

  2. Re:Legislating the market by moeinvt · · Score: 3, Informative

    "prevent the ability from another government agency introducing laws in the area it was set up to oversee"

    Big difference between "introducing laws" and "oversight" and calling the U.S. Senate "another government agency" in comparing it to the bloody FCC is ridiculous.

    When you talk about "introducing laws"(laws ==legislation) I presume that you mean implementation as opposed to some sort of suggestive effort. THAT is a power reserved for the LEGISLATIVE branch of government. Congress may pass legislation granting some power to the FCC, but "introducing laws" is not one of those powers. The FCC deserves to be whipped if it thinks it can implememnt some sort of mandate on every single hardware manufacturer in this sector.

  3. Re:Good and Bad by rollingcalf · · Score: 2, Informative

    Dictating what is transmitted is not the same as dictating what features manufacturers must put in their devices. It is not entirely unrelated, but it isn't the same thing.

    It's fine for them to require or allow the broadcast flag to be transmitted, but not to dictate that the flag must be interpreted by end-user devices in the way the content makers want.

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    There is inferior bacteria on the interior of your posterior.
  4. Re:I wish he was my representative by Zabu · · Score: 1, Informative

    Living in NH, I am represented by Sununu.
    He also voted against accepting the Patriot as is after it expired. He is the only congressman I have ever written concerning his actions. I think he is a genuinely great politician.
    btw I am an independent.

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    It's all good.