Hello guys,
I was noticed about the FCC proposal of restricting wireless devices
modifications, and I decides to help stop this threat. I started a petition
in Avaaz to try to stop this bill. I also contacted the US Pirate Party for
support.
But the Chairman of the Pirates replied saying that the lock down is an
extreme fantasy, it is ignoring some of the facts, and that "The (FCC's)
position is that versions of this open source software can be used as long as
they do not add the functionality to modify the underlying operating
characteristics of the RF parameters."
I'm attaching the conversation we had, in order that you can see if our
attempts of stopping this proposal are really needed.
Sincerely,
Manuel
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(Here starts the Chairman's mail)
Hi. I understand your concerns. However I've been in contact with the
FCC (back from when I started the Net Neutrality thing) as have others
I've talked to, and the basic answer is that NO, they're not trying to
lock down devices.
A lot of what you've been told is extreme fantasy and is not based int
he realities - I'll bet you've not even been told that this whole thing
is just a proposal right now, and that the FCC is taking public comments
for the next few weeks (until october 8)
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?name=15-170
And of course, the FCC's own statement is "The (FCC's) position is that
versions of this open source software can be used as long as they do not
add the functionality to modify the underlying operating characteristics
of the RF parameters."
Basically, they admit their statements are badly worded.
Mike Masnick at Techdirt has a better writeup than I could,
https://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20150831/07164532118/no-fcc-is-not-intentionally-trying-to-kill-third-party-wi-fi-router-firmware.shtml
The bottom line though is that the 'fears' are overblown hysteria, that
is as likely to make things worse as improve them, because no matter how
well intentioned they may be, they're deliberately ignoring some of the
facts.
Andrew Norton
(Here starts my mail)
> Dear Mr. Norton:
>
> I'm a Chilean Pirate sympathizer, interested to preserve and improve the
> citizen power over the malicious corporations. I write to you to tell
> you(if you don't know already) that the Federal Communications
> Commission of the US(the FCC) is considering a proposal to lock down any
> electronic device with wireless capability, in order to prevent their
> modification. This proposal(according to SaveWiFi), if is applied, would:
>
> - Restrict installation of alternative operating systems on your
> PC, like GNU/Linux, OpenBSD, FreeBSD, etc.
> - Prevent research into advanced wireless technologies, like mesh
> networking and bufferbloat fixes
> - Ban installation of custom firmware on your Android phone
> Discourage the development of alternative free and open source WiFi
> firmware, like OpenWrt
> - Infringe upon the ability of amateur radio operators to create
> high powered mesh networks to assist emergency personnel in a disaster.
> - Prevent resellers from installing firmware on routers, such as for
> retail WiFi hotspots or VPNs, without agreeing to any condition a
> manufacturer so chooses.
>
> We need to stop this proposal to become law. That's why I ask you and
> the US Pirate Party to help preserve freedom, for the US and(because
> many free software and hardware developers are based in the US) the rest
> of the planet.
>
> I've started a petition at Avaaz to ask the FCC to keep our freedom, you
> can help by signing it and sharing it:
>
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/The_Federal_Communications_Commission_the_US_Congress_Keep_our_wireless_devices_free/?copy
>
> You also can find other ways to help at
> https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Save_WiFi
>
> I hope you can help us,
>
> Manuel Caicedo
