Telco Bill Won't Move Forward Without Audio Flag?

from the favors-for-everyone... dept

Thu, Jul 13th 2006 10:59am — Mike Masnick

While most of the attention paid to Ted Stevens' telco reform bill concerns network neutrality, when it was first announced the thing that stood out even more was the bizarre inclusion of the "audio flag" that the entertainment industry has been pushing for years. It serves no purpose in a telco bill, other than to reward the entertainment industry in their business negotiations with companies like XM, who are trying to provide perfectly legal tools to allow people to record the satellite radio they pay for. Now comes the news that Senator Bill Frist finds this particular issue so important that he won't let the telco reform bill move forward unless it contains the audio flag language. Apparently, Senator Frist doesn't think you should be able to record the satellite radio you paid for. Once again, this has nothing to do with telecom reform, but is simply a way to get technology and consumer electronics firms to first ask permission from the entertainment industry before they can innovate. And, since the entertainment industry is afraid of any innovation that doesn't keep their business model as is, there would be a lot less innovation. This might be a good time to re-read Gary Shapiro's history lesson about all of the technology innovations the entertainment industry tried to stop -- only to later discover (kicking and screaming the whole way), how they helped the industry grow tremendously.

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17 Comments

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Robert, 13 Jul 2006 @ 11:18am

Wow
I know that I read a story awhile back about how politicains brains make them think they are always right, without ever looking at the issue from a different standpoint, but this takes the cake... being so stubborn that you'd destroy an entire bill over something so small as this.

Maybe it's the RIAA mafia holding his family hostage unless he gets the audio flag measure to pass? Other than that or lots of money for him, I can't see why anyone would do something so stupid.
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shawn, 13 Jul 2006 @ 11:19am

ughhhhh
Why not just keep one article on the front page titled "Ways the Government and Telecom/Entetainment Industries Are Screwing You" and then add each one of these stories to the bottom as they come in.
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Robert, 13 Jul 2006 @ 11:24am

Re: ughhhhh
Yeah, well... nobody wants to read a list that's longer than the Bible, so I don't think that would work
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onfused, 13 Jul 2006 @ 11:39am

whats the point
So worse case scenario here- the bill pass with the "audio flag". It could just be my lack of understanding, but how do they plan on enforcing the audio flag amendment? Can XM prevent its users from recording audio?
Seem to me that the RIAA doesn't want ANY ONE, ANY WHERE to record ANYTHING... without their permission- which they wont give. They are having enough trouble enforcing the internet violations- will they be adding a millitary branch to the corporate HQ?
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Sanguine Dream, 13 Jul 2006 @ 11:46am

Ithink...
The Umbrella (RE) started out this way. In a few years the RIAA will have its own tactical special ops unit to hunt down copyright violators.

But seriously I don't understand how politicians are allowed to just tack some unrelated bill onto another in order to get it passed.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2006 @ 11:54am

"how do they plan on enforcing the audio flag amendment? "

By forcing device manufacturers to include it. How? By making it illegal to sell devices that don't include it.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2006 @ 12:01pm

Re:
Enforcement is easy for high tech devices. They take money to produce and distribute. It's not like software.
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Robert, 13 Jul 2006 @ 12:09pm

Re: Re:
Nice slick comment... now you just need to slip that comment offhand into some pending RIAA/MPAA case, and make it stick.
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Wolfger, 13 Jul 2006 @ 12:16pm

Re:
By forcing device manufacturers to include it. How? By making it illegal to sell devices that don't include it.

So the price of audio equipment goes up to cover the costs of adding the broadcast flag recognition circuit, and we the consumers bend over and take it again... Mr. Frist needs to be taught how to survive in a different career. Unfortunately, I don't live in his jurisdiction.
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Anonymous of Course, 13 Jul 2006 @ 12:39pm

Re: Wow
A stirling example of how we have the best politicians
that money can buy.

I'd like to see the senate say fine... then the telco
bill is stalled and if anyone wants to know why we'll
refer them to you dishonerable mister Frist.

Fat chance that would happen.
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Tarky7, 13 Jul 2006 @ 1:22pm

Again and Again and Again
Well, once more to corrupt fools we call our elected officials make another bonehead choice as they lick the boots of their corporate handlers.

What gets me is not that these guys are corrupt, but due to the 'laws' regarding campaign contibutions they get 'bought' for so little money. Pobably just the price of a quick hummer from a anorexic Hollywood fellatio artist is all it took to get Frist to make a stink.

Yikes !
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Q, 13 Jul 2006 @ 1:28pm

Re: Again and Again and Again
I'm not a huge Dilbert fan, but I thought this fit perfectly:
http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/archive/images/dilbert2006261730713.gif
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Joe Snuffy, 13 Jul 2006 @ 1:29pm

YOUR FIRED
first post, oh wait

So how do we get Frist fired from his position. Somebody handed a retard a loaded gun and he's pointing it at us all.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2006 @ 2:01pm

MMMM Telco Bill is my favorite! I especially like the chalupas!
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SimonTek (profile), 13 Jul 2006 @ 2:46pm

Why?
http://www.honoraryunsubscribe.com/jay_hammond.html I am really getting sick of this, I want to run for politics cause of this stuff. I may be wrong, but isn't that a politian is supposed to represent the people, in the best intrest of the People, not Corp america?
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2006 @ 3:05pm

Now I'm hungry too
Roger that, I'm good to go.
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claire rand, 14 Jul 2006 @ 12:01am

Re:
nice market for 'grey imports' from the rest of the world there then.

ah and since you will basically *have* the same device as the rest of the world this will be implemented in software or as a switch somewhere, so 're-enabling' will be possible.

waste of time passing rules like this
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