Comment FCC? Perfect! Farber's a big control freak anyway! (Score 1) 29
I certainly give the man his due respect. He absolutely belongs in the Technologist Pantheon. But I must disagree with those lamenting his having taken a government job.
Unfortunately, Farber is NOT ill-suited for the job. He's a perfect fit, for all the wrong reasons. Specifically his testimony in the MS trial presents a puritanical visage that is probably a prerequisite for working in a bureaucracy as gargantuan and entrenched as the FCC.
A quote from the testimony:
"But only the availability of an unbundled version of Windows 98 will cure the difficulties which arise for many OEMs, application developers and retail end users who may find too burdensome the problems arising from their inability to substitute different functions and applications (such as the Web browser) for use with only parts of what is now sold as Windows 98."
Clearly Farber is implying that the government should be allowed to design (or impose design requirements on) Microsoft's software products. Of course some will argue that Farber is only providing a rebuttal to Micrsoft's contention that the browser is an integral (and necessary) part of the evolution of the PC operating system. In fact, he presents an effective counterpoint on this subject. But the additional facts that he 1. worked on the side of the government's obviously specious and authoritarian "case" and 2. concluded his testimony with the above statement clearly indicate that his is yet another in the endless parade of narrow, bureaucratic minds produced by late 20th century academia.
To paraphrase some bimbo: Don't hate me because I'm honest!
Unfortunately, Farber is NOT ill-suited for the job. He's a perfect fit, for all the wrong reasons. Specifically his testimony in the MS trial presents a puritanical visage that is probably a prerequisite for working in a bureaucracy as gargantuan and entrenched as the FCC.
A quote from the testimony:
"But only the availability of an unbundled version of Windows 98 will cure the difficulties which arise for many OEMs, application developers and retail end users who may find too burdensome the problems arising from their inability to substitute different functions and applications (such as the Web browser) for use with only parts of what is now sold as Windows 98."
Clearly Farber is implying that the government should be allowed to design (or impose design requirements on) Microsoft's software products. Of course some will argue that Farber is only providing a rebuttal to Micrsoft's contention that the browser is an integral (and necessary) part of the evolution of the PC operating system. In fact, he presents an effective counterpoint on this subject. But the additional facts that he 1. worked on the side of the government's obviously specious and authoritarian "case" and 2. concluded his testimony with the above statement clearly indicate that his is yet another in the endless parade of narrow, bureaucratic minds produced by late 20th century academia.
To paraphrase some bimbo: Don't hate me because I'm honest!
