The word on the streets is that the new FCC chairman is one Henry Rivera. He is a former FCC commissioner, who has been a telco lobbyist since 2001.
The grist mill says he was chosen so he can push the FCC back into enforcing "the fairness doctrine", which is federal control over broadcast political content. I can't say for sure abuot the rumor, however, he was at the FCC when that particular rule was thrown out, and opposed it going away. I have no idea what this means for us, except that he's definitely an activist type of person - the kind who believes in centralized governmental control of business. He is said to subcribe to "telecommunications policy is a civil rights issue", which means that the FCC should be active in controlling content and ownership of the media to meet specific political goals of minority ownership, among other things, and considers an array of subjects to be a matter of a legal right of groups to have media ownership. For instance, if a racial minority group says that stations don't play the music they want to hear, they should be given ownership of a broadcast license by revoking the license of those they complain against and transferring it. This particular type of action did occur, and lawsuits eventually led to the FCC abandoning that idea in the 80's. Exactly what or how that impacts ISP's... Well, it's hard to say with certainty, but he's definitely a believer in big brother directing what what business is doing. In fact, he resigned from the FCC in the mid 80's when his fellow commisioners abandoned the activist approach to media content control. Since his resignation Rivera has not been noted for anything except lobbying about broadcasting and legal work for telecoms. I could find no information about his actions or views concerning internet - however many now consider it a broadcast medium - no idea if that's his thoughts. There has been no announcement of what you know who has for goals as far as media and communication are concerned, but it is possible that your service could be redefined as a "right" or be subject to arm-twisting for "public goals". The operative thinking behind those who consider Rivera an ally is that free enteprise will not serve the needs of the nation. I haven't found much from him to know if that's his thoughts or not. As to how it changes the faces at the FCC, Robert McDowell's term ends in 2009 and is likely the first face to change of the commissioners. Welcome to the world of "big business". ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ <insert witty tagline here> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sam Tetherow" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 10:18 PM Subject: Re: [WISPA] OT election results >I will bring this back on topic by bringing up the FCC seats that will > change with the new administration. Does anyone have any thoughts on > who will get appointed to the FCC and what effect it will have on us? > > Sam Tetherow > Sandhills Wireless > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
