EFF: 48 Hours to Stop the Broadcast Flag

[oakleeman]

"Think the Broadcast Flag is dead? EFF is warning that Hollywood is trying to sneak the broadcast flag into law as an amendment to a massive appropriations bill. 'If what we hear is true, the provision will be introduced before a subcommittee tomorrow and before the full appropriations committee on Thursday. That gives us 48 hours to stop it.' Action Alert here. List of Senator's phone numbers here."

What is the Broadcast Flag you ask?

"The United States is in the midst of a transition from analog to digital television (DTV) broadcasting. By switching from analog to digital broadcast technologies, Congress hopes to repossess a bunch of spectrum from TV broadcasters, which will then be auctioned off for other uses. Viola—more money without raising taxes; Congress loves this idea!

Unfortunately, Hollywood pulled a hold-up. It threatened to derail the DTV transition by withholding "high-value content" from over-the-air DTV, unless the FCC imposed "content protection" (aka DRM) on all future televisions and related devices. The idea was that content owners would implant a "broadcast flag" into DTV programming. When devices detect the flag, they have to "protect" (i.e., lock up in DRM jail) the programming." - EFF.ORG

Why do I care about this?

"Today, you can use any device you like with your television: VCR, TiVo, DVD recorder, home theater receiver, or a PC combining these functions and more." - EFF.ORG

"Responding to pressure from Hollywood, the FCC had adopted a rule requiring future digital television (DTV) tuners to include "content protection" (aka DRM) technologies. All makers of HDTV receivers would have been required build their devices to watch for a broadcast "flag" embedded in programs by copyright holders. When it comes to digital recording, it would be Hollywood's DRM way or the highway. Want to burn that recording digitally to a DVD to save hard drive space? Sorry, the DRM lock-box won't allow it. How about sending it over your home network to another TV? Not unless you rip out your existing network and replace it with DRMd routers. Kind of defeats the purpose of getting a high definition digital signal, doesn't it?" - EFF.ORG

If the broadcast flag is enacted into law and digital broadcasts are the new standard, this will essentially make VCR's, Tivo's and other recording devices useless as you will only be able to watch it on the device that recorded it.

What can I do to stop it?
If your state is listed below, then your senator is on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and you can help stop the Flag - but there isn't much time. Please write now.

For Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin constituents.

[Mistergq]

Thanks, I sent my comments, for what it is worth.

[noodleNT]

Mines sent! It's even going to the guy I voted for.

[Edgarmoon]

The appropriations bill passed with no ammendments offered. EFF claims this is a response to a massive campaign to the senators, however there was no proof that an ammendment was ever going to be proposed.

On the one hand, it's like saying we averted an asteroid collision that we never detected, on the other it is a sign that anti-flag mobilization is ready to respond within a short period of time, sending a clear message. Call us minutement.

[rpemb]

The Sky Is Falling.