Broadcast Flag Returns From The Dead, Demands Brains

I picked this up on BoingBoing.net last night, but only lodged my utter disapproval with my senator today, as Illinois was not on the original list, but was added by this morning. Anyway, the Broadcast Flag is back, folks. Hollywood and the MPAA keep trying to push this bill through, and it looks like they're trying to sneak it in under the radar this time. If you need more info, you can check out this; I also have details in my DMCA paper.

Forty-Eight Hours To Stop The Broadcast Flag

The Broadcast Flag was Hollywood's plan to point its remote control at your digital TV. It was a set of bits in the DTV standard that let broadcasters meddle with what could be done with publicly available broadcast video - even if those restrictions stomped on your fair use rights.

The courts struck down the original FCC proposal. Now, the lobbyists have turned to Congress. Rumor has it that a senator will introduce an amendment on Tuesday in the Senate Commerce, Justice, and Science sub-committee to reintroduce the flag. On Thursday, it goes to a full committee vote.

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.

Contact your Senator using the EFF's easy form

Seriously. How many times do we have to rise up and fight this thing before the lawmakers get the point and understand that Broadcast Flag = Bad? C'mon now. Get out there and write your senator. There isn't a lot of time left.