Does FCC want control over everything?
Real AudioIn a widely-linked and discussed Weblog posting this week, Cardozo School of Law professor Susan Crawford wrote that the Federal Communications Commission appears to be asserting a stunning range of authority over all electronic communications.
Her alarm arises from a legal brief that the FCC filed this month in an ongoing challenge to its authority to limit how consumers will be able to use digital television signals. The so-called "broadcast flag" is meant to head off copying and Internet distribution of digital programs, which the government believes would kill digital TV before it really takes off. The government wants consumers to convert to digital so it can sell the analog frequencies being used by tv broadcasters now.
Crawford says the FCC appears to be using the broadcast flag issue to expand its powers over the 'Net.
Jon's daily tech news links:
Wired: FCC crackdown could spread
AP: 30 million newspaper pages to go on 'Net
BBC: Pandas benefit from wireless net
Industry Standard: New Google search tool aimed at scholars
AP: AOL packaging new security features
Wired: Wilco's Jeff Tweedy talks file-sharing
USA Today: Ads to pop up when Tivo users skip commercials
