Standards

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After a week, and not a word in reply from any of the FCC commissioners, I took it to the next level: I picked up the phone and called the FCC. When I asked to speak to their media relations people, the operator asked what my call was about. When I said it was about functionality on the FCC Web site, they directed my call not to public relations, but to David Kitzmiller, the FCC Webmaster.

Kitzmiller knew which corner of the bureaucracy to look in for answers, even though it didn't fall directly under his purview. He copied me on a portion of the e-mail he sent to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), who evidently is responsible for relations with the contractor providing the ULS services.

His e-mail appeared to be aimed at the right people, asking that they do the right things to fix the problem. In addition, he asked that they update the site's help and support pages to explain the situation. He concluded it by saying "let me know what happens with this, since we get quite a few e-mails to webmaster@fcc.gov on this subject." That was January 15, 2002.

For several weeks afterwards, I would query Kitzmiller for the latest status on the fix. Finally, I exhausted his patience. He told me on February 22 that he had been told by someone or something called "TPTB" at the WTB that the problem was bigger than they first thought. However, he went on to say that it would still be fixed. He quoted TPTB saying, "The FCC is in the process of revising the software and the revised software will work with Linux. The first application to be revised will be License Search later this month. Other ULS applications will follow."

Here we are a month beyond the promised date for implementing the first fix, and it still isn't in place. Neither have the help/support pages been updated as Kitzmiller requested.

Some active Ham friends of mine have suggested that the FCC site is in violation of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, §1194.22, which defines access requirements for government Web sites among other things. I've asked the GSA this question directly, but have yet to receive a reply.

Time for the soapbox

I can almost understand the buffoonery of the FCC commissioners. Colin Powell's son Michael and the others have other things to do than be concerned about ordinary citizens trying to avail themselves of ordinary services on their Web site. They certainly can't be held accountable if the FCC's Web site is "accidentally" helping Microsoft maintain its malignant monopoly. In fact, they can't even be counted on to answer their mail: paper or electronic. They are busy with other things. They have bigger fish to fry.

Bigger fish like making sure the cable companies are unfettered by the regulations that bind their broadband competition at the Baby Bells. And defending themselves from the rash of lawsuits that action has spawned.

Some of their bigger fish don't live in the corporate pond, but in the pond of public morality. Like the integrity (or lack thereof) of individual amateur radio operators. Like Kevin Mitnick, for example. Mitnick has held and used his Ham license for 25 years. The FCC blocked his recent application for renewal, and not on the basis of any misuse of the license, but because he was convicted of computer crime.

Sagging as they must be under the weight of those awesome responsibilities, it's easy to see why I was pointed away from them and towards Kitzmiller. Speaking of Kitzmiller, I just received an update from him this morning. (Ed. Barr wrote this Friday, March 28, 2002.) Kitzmiller wrote that the License Search application is now "available." When I raced to the Web site to try it, the new "Linux friendly" version had yet to appear. It does sound as if it is on the way, however. Maybe folks who don't do Windows won't have to ride in the back of this bus for too much longer.

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