New FCC commish pushes DRM

While the FCC's integral role in the telecom space is spectrum allocation and oversight, new FCC Commissioner Deborah Tate has established that she will do everything she can to advocate digital rights management (DRM). While Tate has announced she knows its outside the commission's authority, she said she'll use her new position as a "bully pulpit" to sway the debate. DRM opponents say that the technology shrinks the overall market and creates less opportunity for musicians. Proponents of the technology say protecting the artist's (and publisher's) rights are most important.

For more on the new FCC commissioner:
- check out this blog entry at Techdirt