alt Hacker News> That has been the model since day one, since you are using spectrum that, because the end users are not licensed, requires it. Radios in 100% of commercially available phones are locked to prevent user tampering.
Why, then, can users be root on PCs that have wifi cards, SDRs or cellular radios?
Replies
MarsIronPI • last Friday at 6:59 PM
SDRs are (IIRC) low-power enough that they don't fall under FCC regulations.
Wifi? Because it is part 15. That spectrum is less strict.
SDRs? Because they are not certified transmitters. They are test RF gear, or a component of a transmitter, not an end-user product.
Cellular radios in a PC? You don't get root on those. Same situation as they are in a cell phone: They are licensed-band transmitters, and they are required to be tamper proof to protect the licensee.