I believe it's narrowly defined as telephone service and VOIP doesn't count. According to AT&T spokeperson, Google even agree's they don't fit the requirement as a telecom.

So like I posted below, update the regulation to include any form of communication, or if you want to keep it narrow add ISP's. I don't think even if the fed's don't change it, that AT&T has a leg to stand on. The city owns the right of ways and can change what's allowed within their borders IMO. But IANAL.

It seems to me AT&T's complaint is that Google isn't a telecom or cable provider as defined by federal law. Well back when it was probably defined, dedicated internet companies probably didn't exist or were in their infancy.

All the city is doing is saying yes you have to lease your polls to a ISP also. I don't see the problem.

AT&T is just trying to block competition, which I understand being greedy and they want their monopoly like every other cable co, but they are going to loose.

I wish Fed's would just add ISP's to that list. But if you read the article, the city is right. They don't want a ton of poles in 1 spot just because some douche company won't lease to another company and also construction. The poles are there, let em lease em.

Wish I had mod points. I can't tell you how many times I've heard a song on the radio at a friends or just out and about or blaring from the radio across the street (rarely listen to actual radio in my car or home) and searched the web by lyrics to find artist/song. Then I went and bought it on itunes.

Basically they want to reduce sales. I don't understand these people.

No they aren't. As of Aug 20th 2013 they no longer are covering anything.

Read the front page of Groklaw. That's an old story you linked to. Nothing to do with the current story that the slashdot summary is linking to.

Unfortunately, now you only have the MS paid shrills covering the story. Groklaw was my goto place for stuff like this. It's truly a travesty that it's not going to keep going on.

I got: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-PC-TV-Box-AV-Android-4-2-AML8726-MX-1G-8G-HDMI-SPDIF-Remote-Control-/221275964220?pt=US_Cable_TV_Boxes&hash=item338513433c

Under $70 shipped. I believe it can also run linux, but I want android for XBMC Full HW accel (thanks to PIOS team) and full Netflix HW accel in 1 box. Also that 70 has enclosure. Yes only dual core, but it has played everything I've thrown at it in XBMC and streamed from multiple sources fine, plays netflix great.

I'm really satisfied with it for the price so far. Just need netflix to make a remote friendly app for android (have one for googletv, shouldn't be that hard.).

I bought one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/400435109432?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

XBMC full HW playback (I use the DroidTV firmware which is a firmware from the Midnight Gx2 or something, supposedly the boxes that aren't midnight brand had an Audio sync issue, i put that firmware on it first minute I received, no issues) based on the PIOS XBMC port. Netflix full HW playback. With XBMC play right from SMB or anything else for that matter.

The only content that it seems to have issues with, is the 60 FPS certain codecs. 20% of the time the audio will go out of sync on the 60 fps content. But 99.9% of my content is 23-30 fps. I only discovered it by accident, I was recording Disney HD for my kids and automatically reencoding the content with Handbrake batch script. And it was reencoding at 60fps by mistake instead of 23.97. Fixed my batch script and no more issues.

Cost me what $15 more then a Roku. My only problem is Netflix has not released a remote friendly android App. Sure I have one of thsoe mini wireless keyboard/trackpad's for netflix or any other non remote friendly app. My wife has picked it up very easily.

Why didn't you call then if it didn't work?

Also, according to the FAQ:

How can I use my refund debit card free of charge?

You can use the card anywhere MasterCard is accepted. At the gas station, grocery store, department store, on-line store and many more. You can also take the card and PIN number to any bank or credit union that accepts MasterCard and ask the teller for the full amount of the card balance in cash or deposit it into your checking or savings account. You can also withdraw funds from the card free of charge from any MoneyPass ATM location in Oklahoma.

I worked in banking for 7 years, in NYS. NYS issues these type of cards for disability/workers comp/taxes, etc. Same terms it seems as OK. People would come in with cards and withdraw the entire balance without a fee all the time.

I'm not saying I'm for or against the card. But blaiming the state when you had options of getting the cash off free of charge. The cards are cheaper for the state then the paper checks. Now that I work for NYS tax, I've seen the numbers. It's massively cheaper for the state when you add up the check fee's compared to the debit card when you're talking 10's of millions and 10's millions of checks per year.

In fact I think it was either this year or last, you could no longer get a physical check. Direct deposit or the card only. And they are pushing everyone to e-file.

Sorry meant to put this about the OK tax thing, the question was:

How can I use my refund debit card free of charge?

then taht's the answer. Every card like this issued has some form of means of getting the cash for free.

Um I worked in banking all though College part time for 7 years (day off for half saturday work to get all my homework done). Every Bank i worked at had free checking with 0 min balance.

Maybe it's a state thing, but NY i'm pretty sure every bank has to offer a free checking account, no min balance (maybe $100 to open but you can go to $0.01 without penalty/closing it).

Also, why do people still use banks, use a credit union. Better terms/fee's/interest rates/etc. Don't know why people are still using banks.

Next, most of those cards have free use. Free wherever mastercard/visa is. If you want the cash, you can go to banks that do credit card advances, and get the cash most times.

Someone posted about OK's tax refund from their website:

You can use the card anywhere MasterCard is accepted. At the gas station, grocery store, department store, on-line store and many more. You can also take the card and PIN number to any bank or credit union that accepts MasterCard and ask the teller for the full amount of the card balance in cash or deposit it into your checking or savings account. You can also withdraw funds from the card free of charge from any MoneyPass ATM location in Oklahoma.

I know in NY NY issues benefits for Workers Comp/Disability on Master Card state cards. They would come in and withdraw the full amount without fee's.

I work with law enforcement. When they have a warrant, the subject is not required to give keys/combos. Cops can break in because of the warrant. Sure most people give the keys/combo because they dont' want their door/safe broken, but a few haven't, and out come the breaking equipment from the truck.

So it applies and you're wrong.

Shouldn't that be determined in a court of law?

Sure take him to court on the drive you have as evidence. However, I personally feel we don't' have the whole story about that 1 decrypted drive.

Srsly go write a blog or some crap elsewhere.

There are something like 50,000 laws on the books. You probably break 1 of those laws every day without knowing it. Yet if you admit to something while talking to police even if innocent of what they are asking you about, and you admit to 1 of those things, then all F'ing hell is brought down on your head.

I will always preach and tell my family/kids. Never talk to Police without a lawyer present. Just don't do it.

The supreme court has recognized the importance of the 5th amendment for innocent people, and I would say they probably are all smarter then you, esp in the area of Law.

And your: "But since it would "help" all other criminal defendants, too, most people would consider it a silly idea."

WTF? I don't consider that a silly idea. Let more guilty go to protect 1 innocent. Sorry your whole thing just fails. Please go somewhere else to spew your civil liberties restrictions and taking away our rights. That are already shrinking every year.

First one did RROD 5.5years after buying. Even after the extended warranty.

But i liked having 1 in bedroom and at sisters when i visited.

3. Bought 1 first came out. Lasted me 5.5 years before RRoD, then new paste/tighten screws got me another 6 months. The other 2 I bought BEFORE it RROD'd. I bought 1 for bedroom, and 1 for my sis house when I visit.

So it wasn't like oh my console died I NEED to buy another 1. I liked it, it lasted me 4 years so I bought 1 for bedroom. The 1 for sis I forget when i bought.

3. Bought 1 first came out. Lasted me 5.5 years before RRoD, then new paste/tighten screws got me another 6 months. The other 2 I bought before RROD. I bought 1 for bedroom, and 1 for my sis house when I visit.