Re: FCC wants to tap into wireless

[Jeremy George <>]

  Not very long ago a senior partner in a law firm specializing in
telecommunications law commented to me in re the FCC that there is an old
adage: "what the DoD wants, the DoD gets."  That might be ammended today
to read: "what Homeland Security/DoJ want, Homeland Security/DoJ get."

  Can it happen?  How can we not be certain that it _is_ happening?
Our choice is to engage or lament.  So far, there doesn't seem to have
been much interest in stepping up.

  BTW, he also noted that making rules contrary to technical reality
has the effect of criminalizing entirely innocent behavior.  For example,
if CALEA is required where it is technically impossible to implement
(e.g. a multihomed environment), the law enforcement technicians who
_can't_ comply with a court order become felons.

- Jeremy


On Tue, 16 Aug 2005, Candace Holman wrote:

> Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2005 17:33:26 -0400
> From: Candace Holman 
> <>
> To: 
> ,
>  
>
> Subject: FCC wants to tap into wireless
>
> Many of us have been following the regulatory issues involved with new 
> technologies, especially concerning broadband and real-time communications 
> technologies such as VoIP.  The FCC has been concerned with regulating VoIP 
> for E911 and lawful eavesdropping access, but until recently has been mostly 
> hands-off in its approach.   With the changing of the FCC guard, from Michael 
> Powell to Kevin Martin, there has been a shift that is beginning to shake 
> things up.
>
> This article touches on a range of topics and some reasons why the FCC 
> interference is not welcome.  Technical groups such as the IETF (e.g. the 
> ECRIT working group) are addressing the issue of E911 for new technologies, 
> but it may be a while before the outdated public telephone infrastructure is 
> upgraded to support this.  It seems unbelievable that the FCC would rush to 
> support a half-baked solution in the interim. Could it really happen?  As 
> mentioned in the article, there's still time to let the FCC know what you 
> think.  It's an interesting topic, both technically and socially.
>
> http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-5833406.html?tag=zdnn.alert
>
> Candace Holman