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Russia Limits Operations of Foreign Communications Satellite Operators (zdnet.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the approval-required dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from ZDNet: This week, the Russian government has published a document outlining new rules that limit foreign communications satellite operators inside the country. The Russian government will require all foreign communications satellite companies to pass all incoming traffic through a ground gateway station. This means satellite operators won't be able to beam communications directly to customers without going through a ground station first. The Russian government cited an espionage threat of allowing foreign satellite companies to transmit data directly within the country's border, but critics of the Kremlin regime say the new requirement will enable Russian government agencies to intercept any incoming traffic. The new rules, set to enter into effect in six months, will also force all foreign communications satellite companies to obtain a permit from Russian authorities even before operating in the country. The Russian Defense Ministry, the Federal Security Service (FSB), and Federal Protective Service (FSO) will be in charge of reviewing applicants.

3 of 130 comments (clear)

  1. The new smuggling by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The new smuggling will bring not drugs, liquor, or other banned physical things, but ungoverned data. There is already lots of this going on in the form of USB sticks with media from the West traded by people in countries with repressive governments, and use of internet proxies to receive data that is restricted by region where intellectual property is a tool of corporate totalitarianism (that means here in the US, folks). The new smuggling will be satellite ground stations providing direct, un-gatewayed access to global communications. Free speech is the crime here.

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  2. How will that work with devices like InReach, GPS? by OnceWas · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Much of the reason for satellite communications is to provide communications to locations that are out of reach of ground stations. The InReach devices communicate directly with satellites to trigger a rescue - and communicate - in remote areas. Espionnage 140 characters at a time?

    Bizarre.

    --
    Laugh while you can, monkey-boy.
  3. Re:Small d ivans by Freischutz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Nothing new here, Russia has always being trying to legislate itself back into 17th century. Let's see how their economy follows it.

    *YAWN* ... call me when their economy out grows Italy's in size.