TATE ASKS VOIP INDUSTRY FOR CHILDREN扴 VIDEO HELP

摘要

FCC Comr. Deborah Tate made a surprise Mon. visit to the VON conference in Boston, asking VoIP industry help in guarding kids from inappropriate video programming. Tate told the group she was at the conference 搃n a listening and learning mode.?But since VoIP providers?entry into video is a conference theme, maybe the industry?could help us provide tools for parents as you get into video,?she said. Tate knows the issue hadn抰 been raised with the industry, but it抯 important to keep in mind in considering provision of video content, she said. An audience member wondered privately if Tate was issuing a veiled order. Of that notion, VON founder Jeff Pulver said only that he thought it would be 揳 mistake to ignore?Tate抯 comments. Earlier in the day, he warned participants 搕here抯 always going to be a slippery slope?as VoIP providers enter the regulated video market. State and local officials will consider franchising requirements, and the FCC will begin talking about indecency rules, he said: 揧ou need to be careful.?nnTate, a big hit at VON as the only FCC commissioner to attend, called organizers about 10 days ago, asking to make a last- minute appearance. She told us Pulver was very helpful 4 years ago when she organized a VoIP conference in Tenn., where she was a state regulator. In her comments, Tate departed from prepared text on the importance of communications in protecting the country. This was underlined by the conference抯 opening 5 years to the day after terror attacks on N.Y.C. and Washington, she said. 揥e must learn from our experience?by making sure communications services react better in emergencies, Tate said. For example, the FCC is getting better prepared by creating the Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau, which she said will be 搖nveiled soon.?/font>