From the offices of Orrin G Hatch

I recently contacted my senators & congressmen concerning the EFF, net neutrality & related. I got, as expected, a few canned email responses from some and today recieved a physical letter from the offices of Orrin Hatch. I wanted to share this and get some reaction. Remember, this is the same Orrin Hatch who believes any copyright infringer should have their computer remotely destroyed.

Dear Mr. Edwards

Thank you for contacting me to express your concern about the broadcast flag proposals contained in S. 2686, the Communications, Consumer's Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

As you are aware, S. 2686 was introduced by Senator Ted Stevens on May 1, 2006 and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where the bill is currently being debated. The bill would authorize the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to promulgate regulations governing the indiscriminate redistribution of audio content with respect to digital and satellite radio broadcasts.

I believe that individual consumers should have the ability to record content that is transmitted over broadcast radio for personal, non-commercial use. In my view, recent technological advances such as broadcast flag technology must be administered in a limited, non-intrusive way in order to ensure consumers are not hurt by the content provider's need to protect their content from violations of current law.

I have played an active role in the important debate between copyright protection and consumer freedom. I have long sought a reasonable balance between the rights of creators and innovators and the needs of consumers. After all, without creators there is nothing to convey, and without consumers, there is no one to whom it can be conveyed. While striking a balance between copyright protection and consumer freedom is never an easy task, I believe we are growing closer to an effective solution to the problem. Rest assured that in examining these copyright issues, I will be mindful of your views.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to continue to contact me with your views regarding issues before the Senate. Your comments are very helpful to me as I evaluate legislation of interest of Utahns.

Sincerely,

Orrin G. Hatch

United States Senator