Licensing Computer Techs As TV Repairmen

An anonymous reader writes "According to a story in yesterday's New Orleans paper, the Louisiana Radio and Television Technicians Board has sent letters to computer techs demanding fees to license them as radio and TV repairmen. Apparently, as computers drive more home theater applications, the board is trying to classify them as 'playback and recording device equipment,' which the law gives the board power to regulate. It looks more like a money grab, though, since no test is required, just $55 and an affidavit." It seems to me the better question is not whether computers can be defined in many circumstances as playback and recording equipment (hard to get around), but whether this kind of forced classification makes sense in the first place. Disingenuous quote of the day: "We're not trying to swing our arm around a whole bunch of people to get new revenue."

End of the letter

[Anonymous Coward]

Y'all send in them checks, ya hear?

Yours Truly,
The Fatty McTax.

In Home Service?

[ackthpt]

How will paranoids get in home service?

"Awright, it's out there on the grass, yew juss fixit and then back away from it, slow like."

In other news . . .

[dgrgich]

Louisiana is also attempting to force lawyers to license themselves as garbage collectors. Surprisingly, the Louisiana Bar Association, when asked for comment, indicated that they agreed with the decision.

Whats next?

[DBA_01123]

Whats next automechanics having to get licenses as ferriers to change tires?

No Worries

[illuminata]

This won't go too far. There's bound to be one computer technician who knows a bit of voodoo down there.

You just don't fuck with people who know voodoo.

Re:I don't see it as such a bad thing.

[cmallinson]

For $55, you get to say that you are a licensed computer repairperson.
It would make one stand out amongst competition.
That seems like a good deal to me.

In that case, send me $75, and you can be a preferred licenced computer repairperson

Re:Oh cool

[Anonymous Coward]

i didnt pay $28,000 for 4 years of school to be registered as a tv repair man

You have a four year degree in repairing computers?

sign me up!

[to_kallon]

i think it's a great idea, given proper expansion. for instance, i'd be willing to pay $100 if i could call myself a doctor and get paid like one. or for $75 you could call yourself a pilot and get to fly around. of course, becoming a lawyer would be free, just as encouragement.

Re:Oh cool

[Anonymous Coward]

Jesus, you paid that much to fix PCs?

You might as well be able to fix TVs too for that price.

$55 is nothing.

[Anonymous Coward]

I gouge customers for much more than that on a daily basis.

Re:I don't see it as such a bad thing.

[antiMStroll]

Send me $65 and I'll provide a document which let's you say you're better licensed than a Lousiana-licensed TV repairman to work on computers. It'll be about as valid and the money will be about as well spent.

And so dies a whole genre of pr0n movies

[Timesprout]

The tv repair man producing his tools and getting it from the lady of the house and 2 of her most intimate friends was a fantasy but a geek connecting his laptop to the tv and getting the same treatment is just so not going to happen.

Re:In other news . . .

[serutan]

In other news: "Louisiana state government needs more money, thinks up new way to get it."

I can visualize the meeting. "Hey, there's lots of people fixin' computers in Looziana and we aint making a dime off'em. Say we charge $55 a pop. I'll get started mailing out the threat letters!"

Re:sign me up!

[rewt66]

Problem is, paying $75 to call yourself a pilot may let you fly around, but it doesn't mean you can land...

Re:Whats next?

[B747SP]

not that spelling is considered a skill, or anything.

What's next, a license to spell?

Re:I can't fix most TVs

[Lehk228]

would you care to elaborate on what type of "improper" wiring will cause a CRT to emit X-rays

*scribbles notes furiously*
*looks for old CRT*

Re:IAAL

[HermanAB]

So what test does Americans have to pass to get a Marriage license?

So American girls can go around and say: I'm a licensed bride? Would a hooker be an 'unlicensed bride?'

Re:In other news . . .

[new account for mod]

I can visualize the meeting. "Hey, there's lots of people fixin' computers in Looziana and we aint making a dime off'em. Say we charge $55 a pop. I'll get started mailing out the threat letters!"

Darl McBride's first decision at his new job as a consultant for the Louisiana Radio and Television Technicians Board?

Re:Already required in CA

[BrianH]

Actually it is enforced, just not uniformly. I run a small consulting firm on the side doing low lost technology assistance for home based businesses (mostly custom software, but I do a bit of HW as well), and I've had my BEAR license for a while. Apparently I stole a contract from someone with a license, they turned me in, and I received a warning letter from the state advising me that I faced fines and prosecution for operating an electronics repair business without the proper permits.

Today I pay $165 a year to the great state of California for the "right" to fix peoples computers. One advantage though...I get to charge more! When somebody points out that company X is cheaper, I get to say "Are you sure they're a properly licensed facility?" The answer is invariably no, which often lands me the job ;-)

Re:I can't fix most TVs

[DrCash]

especially since 90% of repair requests involve cleaning up after Microsoft and are software-only.

Perhaps computer technicians should join the janitors' union, instead of TV repairmen!

:-)

I looked, but couldn't find it

[tkrotchko]

" Let us not forget that an improperly wired CRT will emit X Rays."

According to this link:
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/TVRad.html

There's never been a case where this has happened. Is this because its not possible to do, or because all TV repairmen are licensed and all exercise extreme caution when wiring CRTs?

Incidentally, do you know anyone who has ever rewired a CRT? When is a re-wiring advisable? Is it an annual thing, or just when the wires get old?

Re:What about car mechanics?

[Odin's Raven]

Are they sending this extortion attempt to car mechanics? No? Funny that...

You've got a person who spends all day at a keyboard, versus a person who's adept at wielding a tire iron and can use a pneumatic wrench to remove all your (car's) nuts in five seconds flat. Now...which one would you chose as an extortion target? :-)

Re:I can't fix most TVs

[ZhuLien]

Do you think we can apply for a TV repairman licence even though we live in Australia? Sounds like a good deal if you ask me!

Re:I can't fix most TVs

[geminidomino]

Even the old ones did. It's all a matter of how LONG it takes to discharge. ;)

Convincing someone to lick the caps causes them to discharge VERY quickly and most spectacularly.*

[*] Very bad idea. Do not try this at home. May be harmful or fatal. If you do this and die, the world will be better off. Poster disclaims all liability for your own stupidity.

Work Stoppage

[NightMgr]

So, if you work for the state or local government and do computer support, go into work tomorrow and announce you've applied for the license, but haven't received it yet. Sorry, Senator/Judge/Mayor/Officical who decided you need a license, but I can't reset your password because I don't have a license. You'll just have to wait a few weeks until I receive it.