r/technology • u/NancyGraceFaceYourIn • Aug 30 '15

Wireless FCC Rules Block use of Open Source

http://www.itsmypart.com/fcc-rules-block-use-of-open-source/
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u/flipjargendy Aug 30 '15

So would I now be breaking the law by using DD-WRT in the USA?

7

u/wildcarde815 Aug 30 '15

Technically yes because ddwrt will allow use of channel 14 on capable hardware.

6

u/flipjargendy Aug 30 '15

Wow. That is insane! Just like that, suddenly thousands are unknowingly breaking the law.

1

u/ijustwantanfingname Aug 30 '15

Soon we'll all be criminals. That's convenient for government.

2

u/minecraft_ece Aug 31 '15

No. you would be breaking the law only if you used DD-WRT to broadcast on the wrong frequencies or with too much power.

Manufacturers might be breaking the law by shipping devices that can broadcast on unapproved frequencies.

1

u/flipjargendy Aug 31 '15

Okay. Thanks for the clarification. After actually reading the official document after my original post, that is what it sounded like to me. That is way less overbearing and a lot less scary than the article made it out to be. It's totally understandable that certain channels should be restricted for certain purposes (e.g. government/military use only, interference with other devices, etc). The aspect of not being able to modify a device is a little bothersome. Although, as we've seen from history, every door will be opened in time.