4 ms·

> This includes the FCC which license their devices The FCC licenses devices to the extent that devices can cause spurious transmissions in the radio spectrum.

by rayiner 8mo ago

> This includes the FCC which license their devices The FCC licenses devices to the extent that devices can cause spurious transmissions in the radio spectrum. It’s not a general consumer protection agency. Computer security also is outside the mandate of the FTC, which exists to protect consumers from anticompetitive conduct and unfair business practices, not crappy products.

rstat1 8mo ago
So if a company uses as part of its marketing for a product the phrase "advanced security, privacy, and connectivity for homes of every shape and size" and then is later found to have lied about the "advanced security" and "privacy" part of their marketing by shipping firmware with security bugs, does that not now fall under the "deceptive" category of the "unfair, deceptive and fraudulent business practices" part of the FTC's mission? Sounds like it does to me. Also you're forgetting the part where the FTC under a prior administration either banned DLINK from selling in the US or heavily fined them for selling routers in the US that they knew were running insecure, buggy firmware. (both quotes were taken verbatim from first, Netgear's US website, and secondly the Bureau of Consumer Protections' section of the FTC's website)
dlcarrier 8mo ago
I could see why someone might be confused in the Mayer of what the FCC can regulate, considering that it regulates the content of television and radio broadcasts and somehow regulates cable TV providers, despite the use of wired connections to customers, instead of radio transmissions.
- kelnos 8mo ago
  Where in the Federal Communications Commission's governing legislation does it say that they're only allowed to regulate things sent through the airwaves?
  - rayiner 8mo ago
    It applies to communications over radio or wire: “The provisions of this act shall apply to all interstate and foreign communication by wire or radio and all interstate and foreign transmission of energy by radio, which originates and/or is received within the United States, and to all persons engaged within the United States in such communication or such transmission of energy by radio, and to the licensing and regulating of all radio stations as hereinafter provided…”
    - kelnos 8mo ago
      That's from the 1934 Communications Act. You're sure nothing has changed legislatively about the FCC in 92 years?
- kevin_thibedeau 8mo ago
  > somehow regulates cable TV providers, despite the use of wired connections They regulate broadcast TV. Those rules leak into cable TV because the originators generally want content that can be sold for broadcast in the future and is advertiser friendly. Cable operators are also often beholden to community standards imposed by municipalities they serve. The FCC isn't responsible for content restrictions on cable.
- vel0city 8mo ago
  > despite the use of wired connections to customers, instead of radio transmissions. The FCC also regulates interstate wire transmissions. But ultimately, you're not quite getting it right. It's all RF, it's just that we sometimes choose a really shitty wire called "the atmosphere".

by rayiner 8mo ago

rstat1 8mo ago

So if a company uses as part of its marketing for a product the phrase "advanced security, privacy, and connectivity for homes of every shape and size" and then is later found to have lied about the "advanced security" and "privacy" part of their marketing by shipping firmware with security bugs, does that not now fall under the "deceptive" category of the "unfair, deceptive and fraudulent business practices" part of the FTC's mission? Sounds like it does to me. Also you're forgetting the part where the FTC under a prior administration either banned DLINK from selling in the US or heavily fined them for selling routers in the US that they knew were running insecure, buggy firmware. (both quotes were taken verbatim from first, Netgear's US website, and secondly the Bureau of Consumer Protections' section of the FTC's website)

dlcarrier 8mo ago

I could see why someone might be confused in the Mayer of what the FCC can regulate, considering that it regulates the content of television and radio broadcasts and somehow regulates cable TV providers, despite the use of wired connections to customers, instead of radio transmissions.

kelnos 8mo ago
Where in the Federal Communications Commission's governing legislation does it say that they're only allowed to regulate things sent through the airwaves?
- rayiner 8mo ago
  It applies to communications over radio or wire: “The provisions of this act shall apply to all interstate and foreign communication by wire or radio and all interstate and foreign transmission of energy by radio, which originates and/or is received within the United States, and to all persons engaged within the United States in such communication or such transmission of energy by radio, and to the licensing and regulating of all radio stations as hereinafter provided…”
  - kelnos 8mo ago
    That's from the 1934 Communications Act. You're sure nothing has changed legislatively about the FCC in 92 years?
kevin_thibedeau 8mo ago
> somehow regulates cable TV providers, despite the use of wired connections They regulate broadcast TV. Those rules leak into cable TV because the originators generally want content that can be sold for broadcast in the future and is advertiser friendly. Cable operators are also often beholden to community standards imposed by municipalities they serve. The FCC isn't responsible for content restrictions on cable.
vel0city 8mo ago
> despite the use of wired connections to customers, instead of radio transmissions. The FCC also regulates interstate wire transmissions. But ultimately, you're not quite getting it right. It's all RF, it's just that we sometimes choose a really shitty wire called "the atmosphere".