Declan McCulloch on transcript of Commerce Dept hearing disrupted by "geektivists":
- Photos from the event here.
Comments from audience members who spoke are not, for the most part,
reflected in the transcript since they didn't have microphones.
-Declan
Mr. VALENTI: Number three, I am convinced, and I could be wrong, that
the only way we're going to come to an acceptable conclusion; acceptable,
meaning everybody agreeing, though not wholly, but maybe in part, is for
the highest station executives of the information technology community,
consumer electronic community, content community, and anybody else
that's sitting around this table to find a consensus.
PARTICIPANT:
What about the public?
MR. VALENTI: Well, I'm the public, and you're the public. You see, I
don't believe anybody around this table represents the public.
PARTICIPANT:
You're representing industry, not the public.
MR. VALENTI: Well, we're all consumers, and by the way, I'm going to
accord you the utmost respect. I will listen to you, and I will try to
believe you, but let me speak. That's all I ask, and I'll accord you
that same respect. You're due that.
PARTICIPANT:
Well, give me the respect to --
MR. BOND: Please. Thank you. [PHILLIP J. BOND Chief of Staff & Under
Secretary Of Commerce for Technology]
MR. VALENTI: See, that's the problem.
(Off mike comment.)
MR. VALENTI: Of course, I'll allow him to reply, but first allow me to
finish.
PARTICIPANT:
Absolutely. Absolutely.
MR. BOND: No, time out. Time out. Time out. I think we have a
structure here that ?-
MR. VALENTI: I think the first thing we ought to exhibit is good
manners.
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