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From National Journal’s Technology Daily | August 12

Telecom

FCC Adds Questions To The ‘Broadcast Flag’ Debate

by Drew Clark

The FCC issued a series of written questions late Friday about a controversial proposal to regulate digital television receivers as a means of preventing piracy — without ever officially endorsing the “broadcast-flag” proposal.

The agency, which voted 4-0 to issue the “notice of proposed rulemaking” on Thursday, had been asked to take action on the Hollywood-sought broadcast flag by the heads of the Senate Commerce and House Energy and Commerce committees. The broadcast flag would require all digital television receivers to include copyright-control technology.

But the notice of rulemaking fails to suggest any regulation. By issuing a proposed rule instead of “notice of inquiry” — a more preliminary stage of FCC operations — the agency was taking a step that “makes it look like [they] are further along in the process” than they really are, said FCC observer Gigi Sohn, president of Public Knowledge.

The FCC notice seeks comments on several elements of a June proposal endorsed by the Broadcast Protection Discussion Group (BPDG), although the FCC’s offering is almost entirely composed of questions.

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http://nationaljournal.com/pubs/techdaily/pmedition/tp020812.htm#1

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From National Journal’s Technology Daily | August 12

Business

SEC Chief Reprimands Accounting Industry For Failings

by Drew Clark

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Harvey Pitt said Monday that the recent accounting scandals had demonstrated that the profession had failed to satisfy its responsibilities to the public.

Addressing the American Bar Association convention in Washington, Pitt said that attorneys should learn from these failures.

“Lawyers for public companies represent the company as a whole and its shareholder-owners, not the managers who hire and fire them,” Pitt said. “Being ever mindful of this answer can help protect lawyers from the fate visited upon the accounting profession.”

Referring to provisions of the recently passed accounting reform legislation spearheaded by Sen. Paul Sarbanes, D-Md., and Rep. Michael Oxley, R-Ohio, that requires the SEC to set minimum standards for corporate lawyers, Pitt said, “This is uncharted territory for us.”

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http://nationaljournal.com/pubs/techdaily/pmedition/tp020812.htm#2

(subscription required; also available on Lexis-Nexis)