Georgia Institute of TechnologyCenter for Advanced Communications Policy
Atlanta SkylineTechnology Square at night

Telecom/IT Policy Highlights


May 2002

Microsoft Word version / May, 2002 TiPH (103kB)

Adobe PDF version / May, 2002 TiPH (96kB)

Contents:
Overview
Legislative Activities
Policy / Regulatory Activities
Legal Activities
Other Activities and Items of Interest
Newsletter Info
  • Overview

    May saw the U.S. House of Representatives approve the controversial “Auction Reform Act of 2002” (HR 4560), legislation to delay the FCC’s auctioning off a block of spectrum licenses in the 700 MHz range. As confirmation of this struggle over the June 19th auction, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) introduced a bill (S 2481) this month that would require the FCC to proceed with the 700 MHz spectrum auction scheduled for June 19. Such proponents of conducting the auction on the as-scheduled date are concerned that delaying the auction would harm rural wireless carriers who need spectrum to expand and improve their services.

    An innovative piece of legislation was enacted this month as Governor Jesse Ventura of Minnesota signed legislation that makes Minnesota the first state to enable Internet users to decide how their ISPs handle personal data. The bill requires Internet service providers to inform subscribers that they can control the degree of disclosure and utilization of the data that has been collected.

    In light of the recent events concerning the proliferation of crimes against children facilitated through the Internet, several pieces of legislation were enacted this month that are designed to protect children when they access the Net. The first piece of legislation, “The Child Sex Crimes Wiretapping Act of 2002” (HR 1877), would expand wiretap authority to target suspected sexual predators in the hopes of stopping meetings between children and molesters. Wiretaps could also be authorized for people suspected in child pornography or enticing children to have sex for money. The second Bill is know as the “Dot Kids Implementation and Efficiency Act of 2002” (HR 3833). This piece of legislation will create a “.kids.us” domain maintained under the auspices of the federal government for use by children under 13. Participation in the domain would be voluntary and parents would be able to limit children's access to only those sites with urls ending in “.kids.us”

    Of local significance this month was the approval by the FCC of BellSouth Corporation’s entrance into the long-distance phone market in both Georgia and Louisiana. This opportunity was a result of the condition in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that mandates that the local markets of the regional Bells must be open to competition before they can sell long distance to local-phone customers. Separately, a motion was filed in Federal Court for a preliminary injunction against MARTA for failures to accommodate disabled passengers with appropriate and available technologies.


    BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
  • Legislative Activities

    Amateur Radio
    Amateur Radio Emergency Proposed Legislation 5/14 - Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) introduced HR 4720, the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act of 2002. This brief bill would provide for purposes of the Federal Communications Commission's regulation relating to station antenna structures in the amateur radio services (47 CFR 97.15), in that any private land use rules applicable to such structures shall be treated as a State or local regulation and shall be subject to the same requirements and limitations as a State or local regulation. It was referred to the House Commerce Committee. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgibin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.04720:)

    Auction Prevention
    Auction Prevention Legislation Approval 5/8 - U.S. House of Representatives today approved the “Auction Reform Act of 2002” to prevent the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from auctioning off a block of airwave licenses in the 700 MHz band that could be attractive properties for many wireless companies. That portion of the spectrum is currently occupied by broadcasters, who are required to return it as they make the transition to digital television. There is concerned that a sale would be premature, since there is no solid estimate as to when the current occupants of those airwaves will vacate them. Opponents of the auction also say that the FCC should not parcel out the licenses until the agency develops a comprehensive plan for managing the airwave spectrum under its control. [Source: Washington Post]

    Auction Encouragement
    Auction Encouragement Legislation Introduced 5/9 - Sen. Stevens Introduces Bill Calling for June Spectrum Auction to Proceed - Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) introduced a bill (S 2481) that would require the Federal Communications Commission to proceed with the 700 MHz spectrum auction scheduled for June 19. Sen. Stevens is said to be concerned that delaying the auction would harm rural wireless carriers who need spectrum to expand and improve their services. [Source: Reuters]

    Auction Delay
    Auction Delay Legislation Introduced 5/3 - U.S. Senate Introduces Legislation on 700 MHz Delay Senators John Ensign (R-Nev.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.), both members of the Senate Commerce Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to delay the auction of the 700 MHz spectrum occupied by UHF channels 52-69. The bill closely mirrors HR 4560 proposed by Representative Tauzin in the House of Representatives, which was reported out of the House Commerce Committee on 5/2. [Source: internet.com]

    Auction Reform
    Auction Reform Legislation Passes House 5/7 - The House passed HR 4560, the Auction Reform Act of 2002, by a voice vote. The bill stipulates that the FCC shall not commence or conduct auctions 31 and 44 on June 19, 2002, as specified in the public notices of March 19, 2002, and March 20, 2002 (DA 02-659 and DA 02-563). (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:H.R.4560:) [Source: FCC]

    Broadband Deployment
    Broadband Deployment Legislation Proposed 5/8 - Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-SC) and others introduced S 2448, the Broadband Telecommunications Deployment Act of 2002, a bill pertaining to the taxation of communications services, and the funding of loan and grant programs intended to promote the deployment of broadband services in rural and under served areas. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:s.02448:) [Source: CTIA]

    Broadband Regulation
    Broadband Regulatory Proposed Legislation 5/1 - U.S. Senators John Breaux (D.-La.) and Don Nickles (R.-Okla.) introduced legislation (S 2430) Tuesday afternoon that would ensure regulatory parity among all providers of high-speed Internet access and services. Called the "Broadband Regulatory Parity Act of 2002," the bill would subject providers of broadband services and broadband access services to the same regulatory requirements as all other players in the broadband market. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:s.02430:) [Source: internetnews.com]

    Consumer Privacy
    Consumer Privacy Legislation Introduced 5/9 - A privacy bill, HR 4678, the Consumer Privacy Protection Act of 2002, was introduced by Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-FL that would allow U.S. businesses to freely share customer information unless explicitly forbidden by customers. Sponsors of the bill seek to minimize the impact of basic privacy protections on businesses. Stearns said sharing consumer data has been extremely important in growing the U.S. economy and the "underlying principle that anchors the bill is 'do no harm'." The bill would not allow consumers to sue if their privacy was violated and the Federal Trade Commission would handle enforcement. A competing bill is currently under review in the Senate that would require businesses to obtain explicit permission from consumers before sharing sensitive information. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.04678: ) [Source: USA Today]

    Child Pornography
    Child Pornography Proposed Legislation 5/14 - Sen. Jean Carnahan (D-MO) and Sen. Kay Hutchison (R-TX) introduced S 2511. This is a bill to prevent trafficking in child pornography and obscenity. It is a response to the Supreme Court's opinion in Ashcroft v. FSC, in which the Court held that the ban on child pornography in the form of computer generated images violates the First Amendment. This is the Senate companion bill to HR 4623, which has already been approved by the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:s.02511:)

    Domain Identification
    Domain Identification Proposed Legislation 5/2 - Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) and Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) introduced HR 4640, an untitled bill to criminalize providing false information in registering a domain name. The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Reps. Coble and Berman are the Chairman and ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.04640:) [Source: TLJ]

    Driver’s License Modernization
    Driver’s License Modernization Proposed Legislation 5/2 - Representatives Introduce Drivers License Modernization Act - Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) and Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) introduced HR 4633, the Driver's License Modernization Act of 2002. This bill would establish standards for state programs for the issuance of drivers' licenses and identification cards. It was referred to the House Transportation Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, and the House Science Committee. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.04633:) [Source: TLJ]

    Identity Theft
    Identity Theft Proposed Legislation 5/22 - Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) introduced S 2541, a bill to amend the criminal code to establish penalties for aggravated identity theft. It was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:s.02541:)

    Internet Domain
    Internet Domain Proposed Legislation 5/23 - Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) introduced S 2537, a bill to facilitate the creation of a new, second level Internet domain within the U.S. country code domain that provides access only to material that is suitable for minors and not harmful to minors. The bill was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee, of which both Sen. Dorgan and Sen. Ensign are members. The House passed its version of this bill, HR 3833, the Dot Kids Implementation and Efficiency Act of 2002, on May 21 by a vote of 406-2. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgibin/bdquery/z?d107:s.02537:)

    Minnesota + Privacy
    Minnesota Privacy Legislation 5/23 - Governor Jesse Ventura on Wednesday signed legislation that makes Minnesota the first state to enable Internet users to decide how ISPs handle personal data. The bill, which was overwhelmingly approved by state lawmakers, requires Internet service providers to notify subscribers that they can control whether their data is disclosed and how it is to be used. Internet giants like America Online and Yahoo remain strongly against the legislation as it imposes new liabilities on companies that are victims of online fraud or hacking. [Source: Newsbytes]

    Nextwave Refund
    NextWave Refund Proposed Legislation 5/17 - House Lawmakers Propose Bill to Force Return of NextWave Deposits - Legislation (HR 4738) introduced Wednesday by a bipartisan group of lawmakers would require the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to return, in full, deposits paid by wireless companies who bid for and won spectrum licenses in a controversial January 2001 auction. The licenses had previously been issued to NextWave Personal Communications Inc., NextWave Power Partners Inc., and Urban Comm-North Carolina, Inc. Co-sponsors of the legislation include U.S. Reps. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla), Rick Boucher (D-Va.), Lee Terry (R-Neb.), Chip Pickering (R-Miss.), Ed Towns (D-N.Y.) and Bobby Rush (D-Ill.). (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.04738:) [Source: Reuters]

    NSF Authorization
    NSF Authorization Proposed Legislation 5/8 - Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and others introduced HR 4664, the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002. The bill would authorize 15% increases in appropriations for each of fiscal years 2003, 2004 and 2005 for NSF. The bill includes increases in funding for networking and information technology research, nanoscale science and engineering, mathematical sciences, and major research instrumentation. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.04664:)

    Online Protection of Children
    Online Children Protection Legislation Approved 5/22 – House Votes to Make Net Safer for Kids - Two bills were approved this week that focus on creating safer online environments for children. The first bill (HR 1877) would expand wiretap authority to target suspected sexual predators in the hopes of stopping meetings between children and molesters. Wiretaps could also be authorized for people suspected in child pornography or enticing children to have sex for money. A similar wiretapping bill was killed in the Senate last year. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.01877:)

    The second Bill (HR 3833, the Dot Kids Implementation and Efficiency Act of 2002) approved on a 406-2 vote will create a .kids.us domain overseen by the federal government for children under 13. Participation in the domain would be voluntary and parents would be able to limit children's access to urls ending in .kids.us. Supporters feel it will protect children from exposure to pornography and chat rooms. Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union have called the bill an attempt at censorship. ACLU attorney Marv Johnson said, "It essentially gives them carte blanche to kick out whatever they want." (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.03833:) [Source: USA Today]

    Undergraduate Education Improvement
    Undergraduate Improvement Approved Legislation 5/22 - The House Science Committee amended and approved HR 3130, the Undergraduate Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology Improvement Act, which is also known as the Technology Talent Act. (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.03130:)

    Wireless Technology + Investment
    Wireless Technology Investment Legislation Introduced 5/3 - Representative Ed Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the Wireless Technology Investment and Digital Dividends Act (HR 4641). The bill advances three important goals in the public interest. First, Markey's bill calls for the creation of a permanent Digital Dividends Trust Fund that, with proceeds from spectrum auctions, would support both "human capital telecommunications investments" and "broadband infrastructure investments for public access and rural development." A second goal is the establishment of a Spectrum Commons where two bands of frequencies would be set aside for unlicensed public use as an open wireless platform for communications. Thirdly, Markey stresses that his bill will ensure that specific policy objectives and goals would be set before spectrum auctions are scheduled. According to the Center for Digital emocracy, the bill is an "important first step in realizing the full democratic potential of the broadband revolution." (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.04641:) [Source: Center for Digital Democracy]


    BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
  • Policy / Regulatory Activities

    Auction Postponement
    Auction Postponement 5/28 - The FCC postponed Auction No.. 31, which consists of spectrum licenses in the 747-762 MHz and 777-792 MHz bands (upper 700 MHz band) until January 14, 2003. The spectrum is used for TV channels 60-69. The FCC said it delayed the auction in order to provide additional time for Congress to consider legislation affecting the timing of that auction and, accordingly, bidder preparation and planning. The FCC will proceed with the auction of spectrum in the 698-746 (lower 700 MHz band) scheduled for June 19, 2002. That spectrum is used for TV channels 52-59. [Source: WOW-COM]

    Bellsouth + Long Distance
    Bellsouth’s Bids for Long Distance are Cleared in Georgia and Louisiana 5/16 - The FCC has given BellSouth Corp. approval to start selling long-distance phone service to local phone customers in Georgia and Louisiana. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 mandates that the local markets of the regional Bells must be open to competition before they can sell long distance to local-phone customers. After pulling two applications back in December for fear of FCC rejection, the new ruling has given BellSouth Corp renewed vigor. BellSouth officials hope to sell long-distance throughout their entire territory and plan on filing for long-distance applications in seven more states. [Source: The Wall Street Journal]

    E911
    E911 Petition 5/1 - The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the FCC asking that it eliminate unnecessary regulations pertaining to Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI), E-911, local number portability, tower citing, and other topics. (http://www.wow-com.com/filing/pdf/biennial1.pdf) & (http://www.wow-com.com/filing/pdf/biennial2.pdf) [Source: FCC]

    FCC Extensions
    FCC Extensions 5/17 - The FCC granted six month extensions for nine big-city television stations to air their full broadcast signal digitally. The agency also proposed sanctions it may impose on another 1,300 stations that cannot show that digital broadcast was not possible due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control. Approximately 580 stations have already been granted six-month extensions to begin broadcasting fully in digital. The FCC is seeking more information from another 300 stations seeking extensions. [Source: CNET]

    interLATA
    interLATA NPRM 5/16 – The FCC announced that it has adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding its separate affiliate and related requirements for Bell Operating Companies (BOCs) that provide in-region interLATA services, pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 272. The FCC also announced that it seeks comment on whether the statutory separate affiliate and related requirements of BOCs should sunset, be extended. (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-222568A1.pdf) [Source: FCC]

    Spectrum Rules
    Spectrum Rules Amended 5/17 - The FCC approved changes to the rules governing how fixed-wireless companies use spread spectrum technologies. The changes mean that Bluetooth and 802.11 technologies could be used on a single device. Specifically, the commission modified Part 15 of its rules to permit new digital transmission technologies to operate in the 902-928 MHz (915 MHz), 2400-2483.5 MHz (2.4 GHz), and 5725-5850 MHz (5.7 GHz) bands under the current rules for spread spectrum systems. The commission also provided flexibility in the design and operation of frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) systems in the 2.4 GHz band and eliminated the processing gain requirement for direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) systems. The agency also permitted the use of as few as 15 hopping channels for FHSS in the 2.4 GHz band. These systems will be able to use channel bandwidth up to 5 MHz wide, but they must re duce their output power to 125mW if fewer by 75 hopping channels are used. This action, the commission said, will allow new FHSS systems to better avoid interference than today's systems by enabling them to avoid occupied channels. The commission also eliminated the processing gain requirement for DSSS systems, concluding that manufacturers have market-driven incentives to design products that can withstand interference from other radio frequency devices. [Source: internet.com]


    BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
  • Legal Activities

    Baby Bells
    Baby Bells Ruling 5/28 - A federal appeals court rejected rules forcing major telephone companies to open their local lines to competitors. In Friday's ruling, Judges Harry T. Edwards, A. Raymond Randolph and Stephen F. Williams found that the FCC had shown a "naked disregard of the competitive context" in the area of high-speed Internet service. They said that the FCC rules failed to acknowledge that cable companies control 54 percent of the broadband market-almost double the penetration of the telephone industry's comparable DSL service. The regional Bell companies, most likely to be affected by network leasing, contend that the rules force them to provide access at unreasonably low rates and that they apply regardless of the state of competition in a given region. Competing phone companies maintain, on the other hand, that lack of federal rules would preclude local competition for broadband services. The FCC rules will remain in place until the FCC rewrites them to comply with the justices' mandate to tailor network leasing rules for individual markets. [Source: Washington Post]

    ISP Bound Calls
    ISP Bound Calls Opinion 5/3. The U.S. Court of Appeals (DC) issued its opinion in WorldCom v. FCC, remanding (but not vacating) the FCC order on remand regarding it bill and keep system for ISP bound calls. (http://pacer.cadc.uscourts.gov/common/opinions/200205/01-1218a.txt) [Source: CTIA]

    MARTA
    MARTA Lawsuit 5/23 – On Monday, June 3, 2002 at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building in downtown Atlanta the Federal court heard the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction for specific failures on the part of MARTA to accommodate disabled passengers. Specific grievances include: Failure to make stop announcements, Failure to provide information about MARTA services through accessible formats and Technology, Failure to provide alternative transportation when a bus has an inoperative lift and the headway to the next accessible vehicle on the route exceeds 30 minutes, Paratransit "ready" times being changed without notice and Failure to provide adequate training to vehicle operators.

    Network-Leasing
    Network-Leasing Discounts Ruling 5/14 - The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the FCC rate-setting methods mandating that the giant Bells lease parts of their networks to competitors at discounted rates are consistent with the 1996 Telecommunications Act. The Bells have argued that the FCC rates prohibit them from recouping billions of dollars they spent to upgrade networks. The FCC believes that the current rules are the only way to ensure a strong competitive market. [Source: Wall Street Journal]

    Tech Patents
    Tech Patents Ruling 5/28 - The high court decided Tuesday to overturn parts of a lower court ruling that had limited a patent's scope. Many inventors, including those who work with tech products, feared the lower court ruling would allow copycats to rip off their products by making only minor changes. In the ruling in Festo v. Shoketsu Kinzoku Koygo Kabushiki, the high court gave more ammunition to patent holders by allowing them to exert a legal theory known as the "doctrine of equivalents" in certain cases. The case started when robotics and automation system maker Festo sued Shoketsu Kinzoku Koygo Kabushiki, claiming the company infringed its patents on robotic arms parts. [Source: news.com]

    Telecom Jurisdiction
    Telecom Jurisdiction Opinion 5/20 - The Supreme Court of the U.S. issued its opinion in Verizon Maryland v. Maryland Public Service Commission, holding that federal courts have jurisdiction over suits brought by telecommunications carriers against state public utility commissions regarding whether their orders pertaining to reciprocal compensation for telephone calls to ISPs violate the Communications Act. (http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/20may20021130/www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/01pdf/00-1531.pdf) [Source: CTIA]

    Unbundling + Line Sharing
    Unbundling and Line Sharing Opinion 5/24 - The U.S. Court of Appeals (DCCir) issued its opinion in USTA v. FCC, granting petitions for review of an FCC unbundling order and line sharing order. Incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) and the U.S. Telecom Association (USTA), a group that represents them, challenged the FCC’s order requiring ILECs to lease a variety of unbundled network elements to competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs). They also challenged an FCC line sharing order that requires ILECs to lease to CLECs only a portion of local copper loops, rather than the whole line, for the purpose of offering DSL service. (http://pacer.cadc.uscourts.gov/common/opinions/200205/00-1012a.txt)


    BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
  • Other Activities and Items of Interest

    Broadband
    Broadband Letter 5/24 - The Telecommunications Industry Rights of Way Working Group (I-ROW) wrote a letter to the FCC regarding the adverse effect of local governments' rights of way permitting on the deployment of broadband networks. The letter also advocates initiation of an FCC proceeding based upon Section 253 of the Communications Act. (http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6513195174)

    Broadband to E-Gov
    Broadband to Rural E-Gov 5/1 - IBM Corp. is adding satellite connectivity from Hughes Network Systems to bring broadband capability to an existing program that rural governments can use to operate their own Web sites. The satellite service makes Internet access possible for rural and remote areas of the country that lack either DSL or cable modem Internet connections. Through the IBM program, which is targeted for communities of less than 50,000, municipalities can use a template to build a low-cost Web site that enables citizens to go online and find out about community events, pay a utility bill or send e-mail to municipal officials. [Source: Washington Post]

    Cable vs. Broadband
    Cable vs. Broadband Report 5/8 - Cable modems will rule the broadband age--at least for the next five years, according to a research report The Yankee Group released Tuesday. DSL technology will remain in second place due to regulatory hurdles, and other broadband technologies, such as satellite, will lag far behind, according to the report from the from the Boston-based research firm. By the end of 2001, 60 percent of U.S. homes were equipped for cable modem service, while only 45 percent of homes were equipped for DSL service. The report also predicted that broadband growth will cannibalize the market for dial-up Internet access. [Source: CNet]

    E911
    E911 5/24 - Wireless Carriers Run into E911 Roadblocks U.S. wireless carriers are facing tough challenges deploying technology that would allow emergency dispatchers to get location information on callers using cell phones to dial 911. Recognizing the critical need for location data, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set standards before proven technologies were available, and the task is a formidable one. The companies must equip their own networks, thousands of public safety answering centers, and the land-line networks of national and local phone companies for the service. Three companies -- Cingular, VoiceStream, and AT&T Wireless -- who have GSM networks, are using Enhanced Observed Time Difference (EOTD) technology that employs the time and distance from wireless base stations to target the location of an emergency caller. The FCC requires that location information be accurate within 100 yards, a standard EOTD technology is having difficulty meeting. Also, the carriers' network and phone suppliers are falling behind on providing EOTD-capable equipment. Verizon Wireless and Sprint PCS, who have CDMA networks, are using global positioning technology to meet the 911 requirements, and have deployed the service on a limited basis. Verizon Wireless has service in place in Rhode Island, and in York County, Va. Sprint PCS is having difficulty getting the number of GPS-capable phones it needs to meet a July FCC deadline. The commission is considering giving wireless carriers more time to have the location technology in place. [Source: CNET News.com]

    E-Gov Rankings
    E-Gov Rankings 5/7 - According to Accenture LLP's third annual global ranking of e-government initiatives, the top three nations remain unchanged. Canada remains in the forefront for the second year in a row, followed by Singapore and the United States. The study reviewed 23 countries' eGovernment services in the areas of defense, education, human services, justice and public safety, postal services, procurement, regulation, revenue and transportation. Maturity of the services and sites were rated at three levels: informational, interactive and transactional. Among the findings, the report showed that the online services gap between countries categorized as Innovative Leaders (Canada, Singapore and the United States) and those that are Visionary Challengers, the second tier of ranked countries, is narrowing. Several new trends are highlighted which suggest how governments could better deliver e-government to businesses and citizens.Vivienne Jupp managing partner for Accenture's Global eGovernment Services said that "One of the most serious challenges governments now face in realizing their eGovernment visions is building electronic bridges between government tiers - for example, not only between agencies at the federal level but also with their counterparts at the regional, state or provincial and local levels." [Source: Newsbytes]

    ICANN
    ICANN Chief Stepping Down 5/29 - M.Stuart Lynn, president and CEO of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will be stepping down in March 2003 to pay more attention to his "personal life and health." Lynn has headed ICANN since March 2001. ICANN vice president Andrew McLaughlin is also planning to step down and will work on a part-time basis. Lynn put forth a controversial proposal in February calling for an overhaul of the ICANN board that would include ending general elections with the Internet public. U.S. lawmakers, Internet activists and some ICANN board members criticized the plan saying it would give commercial interests too much control over the Internet. Despite the protests the board is considering Lynn's proposal and may approve several elements in June. [Source: San Jose Mercury News]

    Industry News
    Industry News 5/9 - AT&T Wireless and Sprint Complete Spectrum Exchange AT&T Wireless and Sprint announced that they have completed the exchange of certain 10 MHz blocks of PCS spectrum in major U.S. markets under an agreement announced by both companies in November 2000. As a result of the exchange, AT&T Wireless acquired additional spectrum in San Francisco; Seattle; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Austin, Texas; Salt Lake City; and San Luis Obispo, Calif. Sprint received spectrum for Atlanta; Houston; Charlotte, N.C.; Raleigh, N.C.; Greensboro, N.C.; Memphis, Tenn.; Santa Fe, N.M. and Cleveland. [Source: Dow Jones Newswires]

    Mergers and Antitrust Matters
    Merger and Antitrust Matters 5/20. The Department of Justice's (DOJ) Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that they will not adhere to their Memorandum of Agreement concerning clearance procedures for merger reviews and other antitrust matters. The agreement attempted to define, by industry, which transactions would be reviewed by which agency. Both the FTC and DOJ have statutory authority to conduct antitrust merger reviews. Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-SC) threatened to retaliate through the appropriations process if the DOJ and FTC did not drop the agreement. He is Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees the FTC, but not the DOJ, and Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee's subcommittee that passes the appropriations bill for both the DOJ and FTC. (http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/public/10170.htm)

    Microsoft Product
    Microsoft Product Update 5/24 - In compliance with the settlement Microsoft signed last year with the Justice Department, the software company will be releasing a "service pack" to allow computer makers and consumers to install non-Microsoft software on Windows computers. While the settlement has not been formally approved, Microsoft had said they would start work immediately after signing the agreement. The changes to the Windows XP system will address the government's complaint that by bundling Microsoft browsers, email programs and music players with Windows computers rival companies were put at a disadvantage. [Source: The Wall Street Journal]

    Terrorist Warning Network
    Terrorist Warning Network 5/16- Network of Antenna Sites Could Provide Early Warning of Terrorist Attack - Researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory are proposing the creation of SensorNet, a network of sensors installed on the thousands of cell phone base stations across the U.S., forming a grid that could detect and establish the size and extent of a chemical, biological or radiological attack. The proposed SensorNet network is the result of a meeting between Oak Ridge Lab's Systems Engineering and Technology Group and an unnamed wireless technology provider. Because wireless base stations already exist across the country, there would be little need to spend time on zoning and land use issues, the researchers said. Also, the sites keep very accurate time, and, therefore, could identify exactly when an event began, and, as the sensors on other sites pick up the problem, determine speed, direction and spread. Though SensorNet is thought to be useful in some situations, it may not apply to all threats -- the release of a chemical agent inside a building for example -- and the effectiveness of the military sensors has yet to be determined, said a researcher at the Chemical and Biological Arms Control Institute in Washington. But SensorNet could be an effective tool in the case of an attack involving a radiological agent like a "dirty bomb." [Source: UPI]

    “.us”
    “.us” 5/1 - When the ".us" Internet suffix became available to the public last week, people and companies responded in droves, as more than 200,000 names were registered. But some consumer advocates say certain addresses, such as union.us and nonprofit.us, should not have been sold on a first-come, firstserved basis. While NeuStar did set aside some generic names, such as “president.us”, “parks.us” and “kids.us”, several nonprofit groups accused NeuStar this week of making those decisions arbitrarily and not including consumers in those decisions. The Center for Democracy and Technology, the Media Access Project and Common Cause yesterday sent a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee, urging the members to investigate NeuStar's name-reservation policies. [Source: Washington Post]


    Wireless LAN Meeting 5/1 - Wireless LAN Companies Form Group to Plan Roaming Standards - Pass-One, a new association representing wireless LAN service providers and hardware vendors, is scheduled to meet June 14 in Boston to begin work on minimum service standards for wireless LAN roaming. Founding members of the group include Wayport, Symbol Technologies, Wificom of Finland, and Tele2 AB of Sweden. [Source: InfoWorld]


    BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
  • Newsletter Info

    Center for Advanced Communications Policy
    Telecom/IT Policy Highlights
    May 2002

    The focus of this publication is to present legislative, regulatory, legal, and other activities that are germane to technology policy news, events or products. For additional information regarding the information provided in this report, or if there are newsworthy items that should be included in future editions, please feel free to contact , Director of Research and Editor in Chief.
    BACK TO TOP OF PAGE