The FCC is asking for comments on a proposal to require manufacturers to lock down computing devices

[red_pope]

Just saying - our congress critters - they work for our vote - and a smartly written letter means a lot... better than feedback over the internet..

As an example - I had serious objections to the TSA's X-Ray Backscatter body scanners, and raised up safety issues for citizens and the TSA folks combined - and we've seen results - my letter was based on sound science and economic factors in a concise format - not more than a page.

The FCC, like every other US Govt Federal Agency, they really dread having to deal with a congressman/senator (or their aides) asking about what they're doing, because they must respond, and in in my experience, those responses are relayed back - again, with a written letter...

Civics and Science for the Win!

In reality TSA x-ray backscatter scanners, their testing and certification was never completed. It was just a panic drive, right away, during the 9-11 cluster by corporate helping the Government. They try to implement that in the USPS, but back fired, we already had in place other solid security measures and our union listen carefully. All was about enhancing physical security previously.

 

[red_pope]

Didn't use to be... First Class Radiotelephone License with Broadcast and Radar endorsements - needed to have those for work stuff back in the day - lot of those requirements have been sunsetted as FCC make things more specific to the station rather than the operator - but I still have my callsign.. I'm not a HAM per-se, but I do keep in touch with the local ARRL chapter, and believe it or not, one should reach out to them as well...

It is funny that you mention it, back in my days my whole group use to own some kind of license from the FCC.
Even do my certificate has expired and it is obsolete, I still own the old Third Class Radiotelephone Operator Permit that I got in 1985.

 

[sfx2000]

It is funny that you mention it, back in my days my whole group use to own some kind of license from the FCC.
Even do my certificate has expired and it is obsolete, I still own the old Third Class Radiotelephone Operator Permit that I got in 1985.

Yep, they completely revised all that stuff some time back...

 

[red_pope]

Yep, they completely revised all that stuff some time back...

I like to add an additional comment in reference, the FCC radio licensing.

A friend of mines, who lives a couple of counties south from my location, Always dream of working inside a TV/RADIO broadcast studio.

I don't know specifically what kind of FCC licenses, he is holding, meaning 2 of them.

According to my friend, the local TV station on his home town was able to hired him right away, very close by with a good salary. Knowing the competition was brutal. Just because he is holding those 2 valid FCC licenses.

For what I understood from him, was: He is responsible for the RF equipment and some other stuff, still getting paid as an RF Eng.

I know for fact, he is an electronic associate degree holder not Engineer degree.
For me that is a very personal victory!

 

[stevech]

The $BBB cost of the spectrum auctions in the US... going back 20 years I guess....
Who pays for the $BBB? Of course! We cell phone users do. It's a BIG component of the operating costs for Verizon, AT&T, T-mobile.

Since the US Gov. gets the auction $BBB, this is all just another farce-tax.

 

[remixedcat]

On e thing you can blame is the hippies that have been paid off by astroturfing by carriers that don't want people using wifi on thier phones or tablets but rather using more 3 or 4g. The carriers prey on the hippie populace and want less people using wifi so they play upon the output power being disruptive to people's bodies. They want MRFs to lock down routers to cater to this demographic that doesn't make sense.

 

[RMerlin]

Link of interest: the SaveWifi movement, which includes various organizations, including Qualcomm:

https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Save_WiFi

 

[sfx2000]

Link of interest: the SaveWifi movement, which includes various organizations, including Qualcomm:

https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Save_WiFi

They're pretty much hitting all the same discussion points that we have in this thread (at least the ones that are on topic, lol)....

Which speaks highly of the really great community that we have here in the SNB forums - we may quarrel from time to time, but I have the greatest respect for every member here.

 

[red_pope]

Should we Close the forum?

 

[Ronv42]

Comment period was extended to Oct.9th, but guess what the FCC site for comments is down for maintenance until Sep. 8th. But it's a government run upgrade, it may or may not be functional in the time frame they stated on this blog post:

https://www.fcc.gov/blog/modernizing-fcc-s-it

 

[sfx2000]

Should we Close the forum?

I would keep the thread open for now...

 

[red_pope]

I would keep the thread open for now...

roger that!

 

[red_pope]

Honestly, I would like to hear more opinions and ideas from everyone. Yet, this thread still is about voicing opinions from both parties.

 

[red_pope]

Comment period was extended to Oct.9th, but guess what the FCC site for comments is down for maintenance until Sep. 8th. But it's a government run upgrade, it may or may not be functional in the time frame they stated on this blog post:

https://www.fcc.gov/blog/modernizing-fcc-s-it

Oh boy! I read the information on your link, Then it hit me! and realized, I never missed working overtime in any federal holiday, darn check was a real green fat boy on payday. It did help a lot with my family. Specially, with the darn college tuition bills of my kids.

 

[Rich Brown]

As you may know, the FCC has issued a Proposed Rule that affects us all. Although it started out as a good idea, the current proposal would (in part) make it impossible to install third-party firmware such as OpenWrt on a home router.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Learn more about the problem. The Save Wifi page at LibrePlanet has lots of good information.
   
   
2. Submit a comment to the FCC. Click the green SUBMIT A FORMAL COMMENT button on this pagehttps://www.federalregister.gov/article … ss-devices
   
   
3. Spread the word to your friends, and other forums/blogs. (The millions of the responses about Net Neutrality spawned by John Oliver changed FCC Policy. We can, too.)
   
   
4. Finally, come back here and post your comment in the forum so that others know what you've said!

Tips for effective comments:

• Tell how this rule would affect you. What would it prevent you from doing? Why is that important?
  
  
• Anyone can comment, but US citizen's opinions have the most weight with the FCC
  
  
• Use facts, not invective. No cussin'

The deadline for comments is short - Tuesday, 8 September 2015. Post comments now - this weekend - before you get too busy.

PS: I submitted my comment and also posted it to http://richb-hanover.com/comment-to-the-fcc-re-consumer-router-firmware/

 

[jegesq]

As you may know, the FCC has issued a Proposed Rule that affects us all. Although it started out as a good idea, the current proposal would (in part) make it impossible to install third-party firmware such as OpenWrt on a home router.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Learn more about the problem. The Save Wifi page at LibrePlanet has lots of good information.
   
   
2. Submit a comment to the FCC. Click the green SUBMIT A FORMAL COMMENT button on this pagehttps://www.federalregister.gov/article … ss-devices
   
   
3. Spread the word to your friends, and other forums/blogs. (The millions of the responses about Net Neutrality spawned by John Oliver changed FCC Policy. We can, too.)
   
   
4. Finally, come back here and post your comment in the forum so that others know what you've said!

Tips for effective comments:

• Tell how this rule would affect you. What would it prevent you from doing? Why is that important?
  
  
• Anyone can comment, but US citizen's opinions have the most weight with the FCC
  
  
• Use facts, not invective. No cussin'

The deadline for comments is short - Tuesday, 8 September 2015. Post comments now - this weekend - before you get too busy.

PS: I submitted my comment and also posted it to http://richb-hanover.com/comment-to-the-fcc-re-consumer-router-firmware/

Rich:

1. The proposed rule will likely not make it impossible to install third party firmware; it will, on the other hand, make it certain that manufacturers will lock down those portions of the SOC or firmware that make it possible for an end-user to adjust power beyond allowable limits, and/or use channels that are not permitted in their regulatory region (e.g.,, channels 12, 13 or 14 in the U.S.).

2. The deadline for comments was extended to October 9 for public comments (and to Nov. 9 for all replies to staff from lobbying organizations whose petitions were granted to extend their time to comment). It's therefore more important for people to read the rules, think carefully about what they have to say, and send responsible, sensible commentary. No need to rush. Please read through the rest of the thread, where this same info was previously posted.

Otherwise agree that it's important we all make our views known to the FCC to insure that they don't take precipitous action that would be contrary to the best interests of users. That said, there has been lots of recent press about this, and many of the early reports which claimed the sky was falling have been largely debunked (including the position that the FCC wants to prevent third party firmware such as DDWRT). Much of the confusion has stemmed from poorly written text from committee staffers, and even the FCC has responded that it is not the intent of the agency to prevent use of third party firmware.

 

[RMerlin]

and even the FCC has responded that it is not the intent of the agency to prevent use of third party firmware.

Do you have an official quote stating this?

 

[Chrysalis]

The FCC has completely lost it, they also have made manufacturers limit outside of the USA as well.

Solution is simple, stop selling in america until they go sane again.

Or just lock down only in america.

For the end user dont buy any new locked device, keep your old product.

 

[sfx2000]

Take a deep breath everyone - the FCC's site has been down over the weekend for system upgrades, but feedback I've seen is pretty much against the proposed rules...

My guess is that they might back off a bit, but still, we need community engagement with reasoned and thoughtful comments...

They're really trying to address the 5GHz issue in the DFS bands, along with devices that can allow users to change regulatory domains to be something other than US...

 

[Chrysalis]

whats so bad about 5ghz that they are trying to address?

if its just radars then its really a minor problem, all sorts of things can be done.

1 - move radars away from homes
2 - change the frequency used on radars
3 - integrate anti crosstalk technologies.

Also why would americans use another region, as far as I can see on my devices the US is the best region to pick for 5ghz, all the other regions have much more restrictions.