FCC Rules on FOSS and Software-Defined Radio

Abridged executive summary:
- FCC recognizes and encourages the benefits of FOSS for many parts of
a wireless product.

- FCC is still biased against full open SDR  (see "security elements"
to prevent function on certain bands / power levels.)

- Open HAL's are not likely from manufacturers, though maybe some will
push the issue and expose the FCC fallacy of security through
obscurity.

- Dedicated enthusiasts / groups will open the proprietary layers anyway...


'FCC Rules on FOSS and Software-Defined Radio'
  http://www.softwarefreedom.org/resources/2007/fcc-sdr-whitepaper.html
"""
The Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) has examined the Federal
Communication Commission's (FCC) rules, which go into effect today,
governing Software Defined Radio (SDR) devices and concluded that the
rules do not restrict the activities of independent developers and
distributors of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) designed for use
with SDR devices. While the FCC's position on FOSS is more
conservative than is necessary, the FCC has given a qualified
endorsement to the use of FOSS by SDR manufacturers by recognizing the
benefits of using FOSS in wireless products.
...
The FCC's Memorandum Opinion and Order clarifying its SDR
certification rules acknowledges the use of "open source software" by
SDR device manufacturers and notes the advantages FOSS provides to the
industry. It declines to forbid or restrict the use of FOSS on SDR
devices. However, it discourages use of FOSS in the "hardware and
software security elements" of SDR devices by stating that systems
"wholly dependent on open source elements" would have a "high burden"
to demonstrate their security during the certification process.
"""

-- 
The Personal Telco Project - http://www.personaltelco.net/
Donate to PTP: http://www.personaltelco.net/donate
Un/Subscribe:  http://lists.personaltelco.net/mailman/listinfo/general/
Archives:  http://news.gmane.org/gmane.network.wireless.portland.general/
Etiquette: http://www.personaltelco.net/index.cgi/MailingListEtiquette