Idiot Politicians in my neighborhood

I just wrote my first cranky citizen letter in response to This story about proposed legislation by politicians in (my current home of) Westchester County, NY on the eve of election day. Bottom line, these idiots think the solution for unsecured linksys routers is to require you to put up a sign, and for those unable to secure their out-of-the-box routers to solve the problem by installing and configuring a firewall.

Since i'm also a cyber-cranky-citizen, I'm posting what I emailed Andy Spano, Westchester County Executive:

UPDATE! I received a response from the Pol's office.

I wrote:

I am a Westchester resident and registered voter living in Hastings on Hudson.

I read with interest the news about Westchester’s proposed ban on unsecured wireless internet access.

I studied Electrical and Computer engineering in college, and am an IT professional with 15 years experience in radio, computer, and Internet technologies. I believe you and Norman Jacknis are either seizing on an opportunity to sensationalize a mysterious-sounding high-tech topic for political attention, or are acting on bad advice from uninformed and shortsighted advisors.

Westchester and the world don't need laws requiring users to register their wireless access points. Unlocked postal mailboxes containing paychecks, credit card bills and tax returns are a far greater risk to identity theft, but a law requiring citizens to secure them with low-cost padlocks, to configure them in non-default ways, and to register their installation with the county would be considered ridiculous.

Likewise, any law requiring business and home office users to register their wireless access points with the county, and to install protections on those access points will only be adhered to by those knowledgeable enough to be aware of the law and how to comply. Presumably, more knowledgeable users will have already secured their networks -- or, more importantly, made an informed choice NOT TO.

It is my right to offer free, unlimited internet access from my wireless device to anyone near my home, subject to FCC spectrum regulations, and I should not be required to register with the county whenever I decide to enable or disable that feature on my wireless router.

Based on the recent press releases from Westchester government about this proposed legislation, I am unconvinced that the law could be enforced anyway, or that your technology squads could locate and disable a wireless access point that was in violation. To do so would certainly take technical expertise and time at a cost certainly greater than the $250-500 fine proposed.

Uneducated wireless users will be the only ones continuing to place themselves and their data at risk, making your law essentially one banning stupidity. Additionally, it does so while disregarding civil liberties and chilling advancement and use of technology in Westchester's businesses, schools, and homes.

Mr. Spano, I am a registered Democrat in Westchester County. Due solely to this issue and the press surrounding it, I have researched the platforms of you and your Republican opponent, and based on your uninformed politicking on this and other issues, I will strongly consider voting for Mr. Astorino on Tuesday.

Sincerely,

Ryan Nelson
Hastings on Hudson