Broadcast Flag sneaks into telecom bill

Those MPAA types are sure a bunch of kidders. After having their Broadcast Flag thoroughly trounced in court, and die many deaths in Congress, they've managed to hide it in a 151 page telecommunications bill. They've even gone with a particularly egregious version, since they were hoping nobody would notice. Not only is it paired with the Audio Flag, but it makes no real exceptions for fair use, and while we're sure The Little Engine That Could would be proud of the perseverance on display here, we have to say these attempts are getting a bit old. The good news is that grassroots efforts are already underway to help you contact your Senator and give him or her a good talking to, Senator Sununu will be offering an amendment to strike the Flag portions from the bill, and the kind folks at Public Knowledge have thrown together a nice list of talking points to fuel consumer side of the debate. We're sure this isn't the last effort we'll see of the Broadcast Flag, but the attempts are sure seeming a bit more desperate.

[R @ Jun 22nd 2006 11:00AM]

EVERYONE! GET INVOLVED!

The Internet has made it so easy to contact your congresspeople/senators, there's no reason not to go to congress.org and gripe about this RIGHT NOW!

Let's go, folks! The squeaky wheel gets the grease in this country.

[Nathan Snitko @ Jun 22nd 2006 11:01AM]

Bully for Sununu. I don't agree with him on a lot (he's one of the senators from my state, though my actual senatorial representative is Gregg) but I agree on removing the broadcast flag. Leaving aside how bad the broadcast flag is on its own, adding it as a last-minute amendment buried in a multi-hundred-page bill is just low.

[David F @ Jun 22nd 2006 11:13AM]

Each Senator represents the entire state, Congressmen represent districts within the state.

Residents of the District of Columbia (population greater than Wyoming) have no Senators, and only one non-voting delegate in congress.

[John Sununu @ Jun 22nd 2006 11:59AM]

I thought the Senate was part of Congress, which means that a Senator IS a Congressman.

[Aaron Cali @ Jun 22nd 2006 12:16PM]

The Senate is part of Congress, however a Senator's title is Senator, not Congressman. And David F is correct, the Senator is a statewide representative where as your congressman only represents the district in which you live.

[Scott @ Jun 22nd 2006 12:20PM]

I don't know exactly what you consider to be last minute. I wrote about this several days ago (http://www.uselessforum.com/showthread.php?t=5792) and tried to repost that article to every website that would have it and every person I could think to email. No one seemed to care that the COPE Act was basically one big cover for all forms of DRM in just about every medium. I was told to stop spamming. Oh well, so much for trying to be proactive. Hopefully it can still be stopped.

[Moto Oda @ Jun 22nd 2006 12:35PM]

"I thought the Senate was part of Congress, which means that a Senator IS a Congressman."

True, but by convention representatives are reffered to as congressman and senators as senators. Watch CSPAN or any national cable news for examples.

[John Sununu @ Jun 22nd 2006 1:37PM]

What do CSPAN know about that? Obviously nothing.
There are senators and representatives. Both are congressmen.

Thanks for listening,
Johnny

[Bruce Barber @ Jun 22nd 2006 1:51PM]

Do you know how large companies are now allowed to own hundreds of radio stations?

That one was attached to ANOTHER telecommunications bill in the 1990's.

[Ben @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:00PM]

Do you know how large companies are now allowed to own hundreds of radio stations?

Yep thanks Clear channel for crap country wide.

[Jeff Foster @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:00PM]

MPAA pigdogs.

it'll eventaully get in: with that much money, there will eventually be like 50 of these Broadcast Flag laws slipped in with Pro Boxing bills and rural development bills.

I think after a certain amount of failed attempts, they should start getting some sort of penalties. Heavy fines or something. Otherwise the shit will eventually make it in somewhere.

ugly bastards.

[Jeff Foster @ Jun 22nd 2006 2:02PM]

why no link to publicknowledge, engadget?

that's odd. :

[AnonCow @ Jun 22nd 2006 3:42PM]

I haven't read much on this but is it always the same person or person(s) adding this to every bill that comes along? Are we keeping tabs on that person(s)?

[Me @ Jun 22nd 2006 4:07PM]

You know what would be cool? It would be cool if they removed the flag that keeps me from sucking the cash out of all of your checking accounts.

Money wants to be free!

[joelfinkle @ Jun 22nd 2006 6:15PM]

I got a very nice message from one of my senators, Dick Durbin:
Any proposal must include appropriate limitations and safeguards regarding
the fair use of copyrighted material. The flag concept has far-reaching
implications for technology innovation, legitimate consumer uses of
digital broadcasting, and the use of the Internet. These issues require
further consideration before Congress will be ready to decide whether or
how to authorize a flag regime.
Sounds like he's in favor of rational legislation, but not willing to outright rule out the broadcast flag.