Alex Fitzpatrick

Strongbox was perhaps the last contribution of the late Aaron Swartz, who was commisisoned to work on the project by Wired News Editor Kevin Poulson nearly two years ago (New Yorker and Wired are both Condé Nast publications). Swartz, a programmer and freedom of information advocate, took his own life in January while facing charges under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). Swartz’s Strongbox code, writes Poulsen, was stable just a month before his death.

That’s where McCain’s Aereo provision fits in. The Fox broadcast network operates on a license granted by the government. In exchange, Fox and other networks are expected to provide local news, weather and emergency alerts to consumers. McCain’s bill is essentially a response to Carey’s threat: stop providing your public service, and you’ll lose your license to air your content on the broadcast airwaves.

A new bill making it legal to unlock your cellphone or other mobile device has arrived in the House of Representatives.

The Unlocking Technology Act of 2013 would also make it legal to circumvent digital rights management (DRM) locks to use protected content in a way that doesn’t violate copyright law and to develop and sell cellphone unlocking software.