[TriLUG] FYI - FCC seeks comments regarding prevention of users flashing the firmware of devices containing radio transmitters

[John Vaughters via TriLUG]

Perfect Gov. response..... kill a knat with a sledge hammer. And worse it will be all for nothing. Stopping hackers from loading software on a chip??? Are they serious??? Sure...... and they can stop a high tide too, right??? The absolute only thing that can be done is hard chip the settings. Meaning the chip is what it is and that is it. No fusable settings even. This would be a HUGE problem for router manufacturers. The settings are there to allow them to optimize their specific design to not exceed FCC requirements. The result will be crappy routers from poor design and it will be more important than ever to choose the best designed routers. 
Furthermore, leave it to the Gov. to create more laws when they fail to enforce the current laws. You cannot stop anyone from building illegal RF equipment. PERIOD! Of course it is a Federal crime if you do it, and so is it a Federal crime when you modify a product beyond it's intended use. You just have to wonder how many on this list are Federal Criminals `,~>. So if you jack up the output setting on your router's radio, you have commited a Federal Crime if you modiified that signal strength beyond the FCC approved limits for that product, ie You are a Federal Criminal. 
The absolute only solution to this problem is education. I doubt most that load the router software and jack up the signal have a clue they may be breaking federal laws. The Open Source Router entities would need to highly stress this in their websites and software with warnings, explaining the issue and to be careful on the use. This would solve the majority of the issues. After that, send the RF police around important areas like Airports and start handing out reasonable fines, but give public anouncements about it first. Then publicize the fined incidents as well. People will back down once they understand. 
All I have said does not change a thing and this will go as it will go. But, don't think for a minute it will stop routers from being hacked, unless you make it illegal to buy the chips, and even then you could have a black market. Exactly how far do we take this? and for what purpose at what cost? Should we stop all electonic sales?, because that is the only way to stop someone from not making an illegal RF device.
Thanks for the notice on this, my rant is done
John Vaughters