Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] own a smart card programmer go to jail?

[Rick Parrish]

Stephen Nichols wrote:

> Wonder how long it will be before something like this is directed at 
> programmable radios ?

[ there already is - in the USA, the FCC has gone so far as to require 
mfgs of scanning receivers to make their radios difficult to modify. An 
SDR type radio would likely require a digital certificate for the 
radio's firmware to accept an update. Otherwise the FCC would refuse to 
issue a type acceptance for the unit. Without a type acceptance, the 
radio can't be sold to US consumers. ]

Boycotting DirectTV sounds reasonable to me (in additional to any 
personal lobbying).

Of course, if this project *really* gets going, we won't need common 
carriers to communicate.  Say good bye to DirectTV, ComCast, Cable & 
Wireless, AT&T, MCI, Sprint ...

-rick