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A legislative proposal to revive a controversial anticopying system known as the broadcast flag cleared a U.S. Senate panel on Tuesday, despite misgivings from some senators. During a day of debate on a wide-ranging communications bill, members of the Senate Commerce Committee endorsed the idea of requiring digital TV receivers to restrict redistribution--particularly over the Internet--of over-the-air broadcasts. The measure would also allow for similar rules, or an "audio flag," for digital radio receivers. Also at the committee meeting, chairman Ted Stevens, an Alaska Republican, postponed discussion on what has proved to be one of the thorniest provisions of the bill: Net neutrality. Senators plan to begin debate on that topic on Wednesday at 7 a.m. PDT, with votes on a number of amendments expected. The flag provisions may have sailed through the Senate committee without changes for now, but New Hampshire Republican John Sununu said he was strongly considering offering an amendment when the bill moves to the floor. (No recorded vote took place in the committee.) "I have concerns about the flag language because it is a technology mandate and because the technology mandate may actually discourage innovation and discourage different products from coming into the market," he said.
