Telco Bill Won't Move Forward Without Audio Flag?
from the favors-for-everyone... dept
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.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Wow
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.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Wow
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.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
ughhhhh
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: ughhhhh
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
whats the point
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?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Ithink...
But seriously I don't understand how politicians are allowed to just tack some unrelated bill onto another in order to get it passed.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
By forcing device manufacturers to include it. How? By making it illegal to sell devices that don't include it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
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.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
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
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Again and Again and Again
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 !
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Again and Again and Again
http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/archive/images/dilbert2006261730713.gif
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
YOUR FIRED
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.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Now I'm hungry too
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Why?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]