The role of the FCC

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is obviously too busy determining what I can watch on pay cable and satellite TV , and more specifically what my children can watch:

If (cable and satellite) providers don't find a way to police smut on television, (Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin) Martin said, federal decency standards should be considered.

Rather then making sure all VOIP telephony solutions have 911 access.

Another deadline has come and gone with the FCC taking no action against VOIP service providers that fail to provide 911 emergency calling to their customers.

Monday was the deadline for service providers to file letters that explain what 911 systems they are using, how many of their customers can actually get 911 service, to what areas they provide 911 service and how they plan to extend the service to all their coverage area.

Here is another doozy from the FCC via Bruce Schneier's blog, FBI to get veto power over PC software, which is even scarier than the 911 access:

The Federal Communications Commission thinks you have the right to use software on your computer only if the FBI approves.

No, really. In an obscure "policy" document released around 9 p.m. ET last Friday, the FCC announced this remarkable decision.

According to the three-page document, to preserve the openness that characterizes today's Internet, "consumers are entitled to run applications and use services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement." Read the last seven words again.

Quite frankly, the FCC should be focused on forcing VOIP provider to ensure that their consumers have access to 911. This service is a basic right, which all people should have accessed to in an emergency, and new technology should not be excluded. This is where the FCC should be levying fines and focusing their efforts but there is not much press here, until there is an emergency in Washington DC and the person gets routed to 911 in Cedar Rapids, then it will become an issue. They should not be passing legislation in the dark of the night, about verifying that software is approved by the FBI.

The TV decency rant below seems mild compared to the other two, but here it is:

Why does it seem to make sense to allow a parent's to determine what their children watch on TV? Why does the government feel the need to take this right away from me? The government can provide guidelines, and recommend parental controls, a children friendly or family friendly content and even force cable and satellite to provide these tiers, but don't take away and/or regulate the quality programming with content not appropriate for children. Let me decide what my children will or will not watch, not the feds.

If I am paying for television, which any satellite or cable subscriber currently does, then the consumer can determine what they want to watch, not the FCC. If they want to further "purify" the broadcasts networks then so be it, all they are doing is driving another nail into their coffin, since they are already losing audience and advertisers to other networks.