Georgia Institute of TechnologyCenter for Advanced Communications Policy
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Telecom/IT Policy Highlights


July 2002

Microsoft Word version / July, 2002 TiPH (237kB)

Adobe PDF version / July, 2002 TiPH (135kB)

Contents:
Overview
Legislative Activities
Policy / Regulatory Activities
Judicial Activities
Other Activities and Items of Interest
International
Websites/ Links
Journals/ Research/ ReSources
OTP Bookshelf
Newsletter Info
  • Overview

    WorldCom, recently in the news with its announcement of improper accounting for billions of dollars, filed for the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history. Despite their troubles, FCC Chairman Michael Powell has made assurances that WorldCom’s Internet backbone, the largest in the world, will remain operational.

    There was a good deal of legislative activity this month, highlighted by the passage of HR 5005, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, in the House of Representatives. The bill would create a cabinet-level position, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Many technology related provisions were debated, including the movement of the Computer Security Division of the NIST to the DHS. That provision was rejected. The Senate has not yet passed a related measure. HR 3482, the Cyber Security Enhancement Act, was also passed. The bill would increase penalties for online crimes and allow for greater information disclosure by ISP’s regarding activity on their networks.

    Also of note was the passage by the House of the Tech Talent Act (HR 3130), which appropriates $390 million to the NSF over 5 years to increase the number of students entering science, mathematics and technology fields. The House also approved a bill passed earlier by the Senate, the TEACH Act, which allows distance learning programs to use technologies such as the Internet to transmit works without violating copyright laws digital works.

    FCC Chairman Michael Powell, appointed by former President Bill Clinton in 1997, began his second term July 1. His term will run until 2007. On July 16 the Senate Commerce Committee approved the nomination of Jonathan Adelstein, aide to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), for the vacant FCC commissioner position. The seat was left open after Gloria Tristani left to challenge Sen. Pete Dominici (R-New Mexico) for his seat. Adelstein was nominated by President Bush in February.


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  • Legislative Activities

    Bill Seeks to Increase Number of Tech Students
    7.9.02 - The House of Representatives passed HR 3130, the Tech Talent Act. The bill grants the NSF $390 million over 5 years to increase the number of college students pursuing engineering and technology related degrees. [Source: InfoWorld]

    Counterfeiting Bill Passes Committee
    7.18.02 – The Anti-counterfeiting Amendments of 2002 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. If enacted, the bill would give greater leeway to law enforcement to crack down on CD, DVD and software copyright violators. [Source: Library of Congress]

    Cyber Security Bill Passes House
    7.15.02 – The Cyber Security Enhancement Act of 2002 was passed by a vote of 385-3. It amends the USA Patriot Act that was signed last October by President Bush. The bill would give more leeway to ISP’s to provide information to government and would increase cyber crime penalties. [Source: Library of Congress, InfoWorld]

    FCC Nominee Approved by Senate Commerce Committee
    7.16.02 – The Senate has moved one step closer to filling the FCC Commissioner post vacanted last year by Gloria Tristani, who left to seek a U.S. Senate seat. Jonathan Adelstein, former aide to Sen. Daschle on telecommunications, was nominated for the position by President Bush in February. The Senate Commerce Committee approved the nomination this month and the issue was placed on the Senate calendar for vote. [Source: www.wow-com.com]

    Senate continues funding for federal community technology programs
    7.17.02 – Two Senate appropriations subcommittees decided to fund the two community technology programs - the Technology Opportunities Program and the Community Technology Centers program - at levels comparable to last year's amounts, despite the Bush Administration's recommendation to eliminate these programs in their FY03 budget. The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, voted to continue funding the CTC program at $32.5 Million. The Senate Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary Appropriations Subcommittee, under the leadership of Ernest Hollings (D-SC) and Judd Gregg (R-NH), voted to continue funding the Technology Opportunity Program at last year's level. [SOURCE: Digital Empowerment Campaign] [http://www.civilrights.org/library/detail.cfm?id=9563]

    TEACH Act Approved
    7.17.02 – S 487 was approved by the House of Representatives, a bill previously passed by the Senate in June. The TEACH Act allows for distance learning programs to utilize technologies such as the Internet to transmit works without violating copyright laws. [Source: Library of Congress]

    Tech Guard Bill Passes
    7.18.02 – S 2037, the “Tech Guard” bill, was passed by the Senate. It would create a “net guard”, a group of science and technology volunteers designed to respond to national “technology emergencies”. [Source: Library of Congress]

    Wireless Technology Investment and Digital Dividends Act of 2002
    06.3.02 - In early May, without much public notice, Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), the Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, introduced legislation which could help make the trust fund a reality, leveraging one of the nation’s most valuable resources, spectrum, to bridge the digital divide. The Wireless Technology Investment and Digital Dividends Act of 2002 (H.R. 4641) has three main provisions: 1. Telecommunications Infrastructure Development And Citizen Empowerment, 2. Availability Of Spectrum For Advanced Commercial Mobile Services; 3. Distribution Of Proceeds Of Auctions For Advanced Commercial Mobile Services. [http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/content/stories/index.cfm?key=231]

    WorldCom Execs Refuse to Testify
    7.9.02 – Former WorldCom CEO Bernard Ebbers and former CFO Scott Sullivan both refused to testify before the House Financial Services Committee, citing their 5th amendment rights to avoid self-incrimination. WorldCom announced accounting irregularities last month that masked $3.8 billion in overstated profits. More irregulatires have since been discovered that increases that amount to $6.8 billion [Source: NY Times.com]


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  • Policy / Regulatory Activities

    700 Mz Spectrum Migration
    7.9.02 – The FCC adopted a Fifth Report and Order that sets forth a uniform migration path for General Use and State License public safety channels that will promote the deployment of spectrally efficient equipment in the 764-776 MHz and 794-806 MHz band (700 MHz band). Implementing the same migration path for General Use and State License channels will enhance the ability of public safety agencies to perform both long range and short term planning to include coordination with adjacent agencies regarding their respective communications needs. The FCC’s migration path requires that all new systems accepted for filing after December 31, 2006, must use 6.25 kHz equipment (i.e., radios that are able to provide one voice channel per 6.25 kHz). However, the FCC noted that the rules adopted today include a grandfathering policy to encourage the expeditious development and deployment of the 700 MHz band. The grandfathering policy allows licensees of 12.5 kHz systems to operate their systems until December 31, 2016, if they file their license application on or before December 31, 2006.

    The Fifth Report and Order adopts the following migration plan for the narrowband General Use and State License channels of the 700 MHz band, including: Accepts applications for filing to use 12.5 kHz equipment that are filed on or before December 31, 2006; Permits legacy licensees to continue using 12.5 kHz based systems until December 31, 2016; Permits legacy licensees to purchase dual-mode equipment for 12.5 kHz system expansion or maintenance. [FCC: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-220533A1.doc]

    Cellular Number Portability
    7.16.02 - The Federal Communications Commission granted mobile telephone carriers an extra year before they must offer consumers the ability to switch carriers without giving up their telephone number. [http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-224368A1.txt]

    Chairman Pushes for Digital TV
    7.11.02 – FCC Chairman Powell issued a statement that is designed to spur industry adoption of digital television standards. [http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-224218A1.pdf]

    FCC Chairman’s 2nd Term Begins
    7.1.01 – Michael Powell, Chairman of the FCC, began his second term at the beginning of this month. He was appointed by President Clinton and began his first term in November 1997. His second term will run until June 2007. [http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-223903A1.doc]

    FCC Releases Mobile Services Report
    7.3.02 - The 7th annual Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) report, entitled “Annual Report and Analysis of Competitive Market Conditions With Respect to Commercial Mobile Services," was released by the FCC. The report notes progress has been made in terms of increased competition, and improved service delivery and options, prices as well as increased mobile internet and advanced wireless usage. [http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-02-179A2.pdf]

    FCC Strategic Plan Open for Comment
    7.1.02 – The Federal Communications Commission opened its 2003-2008 strategic plan for review and comment. [http://www.fcc.gov/omd/strategicplan/strategicplan2003-2008.pdf] [Notice - http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-223852A1.pdf]

    FTC Warns Search Engines
    6.27.02 – The Federal Trade Commission expressed concern over web sites paying for prominent display in search engine results. It is argued that it is misleading to users who expect to have the most relevant results displayed. They sent a letter to 7 companies engaging in this practice to warn them of possible agency action if these practices are not disclosed and clearly displayed. Some have begun modifying their policies as a result. [Source: Nando Times]

    FTC Workshop to Examine State Influence on E-commerce
    7.11.02 – The FTC is planning to take a closer look at whether some state laws illegally restrict Internet commerce. In October the FTC will host a workshop to study the issue, that will including panelists from industry, academia, state, and federal government agencies, as well as independent public policy organizations. [http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/07/ecom.htm]

    High-Speed Services For Internet Access (FCC Report)
    7.23.02 –The FCC released summary statistics of its latest data on the deployment of high-speed connections to the Internet in the United States. High-speed connections to the internet increased 33% during the second half of 2001 for a total of 12.8 million lines in service. The information was filed by qualifying service providers on March 1, 2002, and includes data as of December 31, 2001. Of note: High-speed lines connecting homes and businesses to the Internet increased by 33% during the second half of 2001, from 9.6 million to 12.8 million lines, compared to a 36% increase, from nearly 7.1 million to 9.6 million lines, during the first half of 2001. Of the 12.8 million high-speed lines in service at the end of 2001, 11 million served residential and small business subscribers, a 41% increase from the 7.8 million residential and small business high-speed lines reported six months earlier. At the end of 2001, the presence of high-speed service subscribers was reported in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, and in 79% of the nation’s zip codes, compared to 78% six months earlier and 73% at the end of 2000.

    High-speed asymmetric DSL (ADSL) lines in service increased by 47% during the second half of 2001, from nearly 2.7 million to over 3.9 million lines, compared to a 36% increase, from nearly 2 million to 2.7 million lines, during the preceding six months. High-speed Internet connections over coaxial cable systems (cable modem service) increased by 36% during the final six months of 2001, from 5.2 million to 7.1 million lines. By comparison, cable modem service increased by 45%, from nearly 3.6 million to 5.2 million lines, during the first half of 2001. [www.fcc.gov/wcb/stats]

    NTIA Chief Suggests Eliminating Analog Rules
    7.12.02 – Nancy Victory, Director of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration wrote to FCC Chairman Michael Powell regarding wireless analog rules. She suggests that the FCC do away with requirements that carriers provide analog service for customers. Her argument is that digital standards have become adopted to the extent that the rules burden service providers. [http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/fccfilings/2002/regreviewletter07122002.htm]

    Qwest Files for Long-Distance
    7.12.02 – Qwest Communications has filed a section 271 application under the Telecom Act of 1996. It is a request to provide long-distance services in Montana, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. [Source: Qwest]

    WorldCom Receives Letter from FCC Chairman
    7.22.02 – Michael Powell, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, wrote a letter to WorldCom CEO John Sidgmore concerning the continuation of the company’s vital services. In light of their bankruptcy, Powell reiterated WorldCom’s obligation to have FCC approval for restructuring or sales of assets and termination of services. [http://www.fcc.gov/commissioners/powell/72202_sidgmore.pdf]


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  • Judicial Activities

    FCC and Telecom Association in Line-Sharing Dispute
    7.9.02 – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has filed a petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals, asking for a rehearing of a recent decision that overturned an FCC order. The U.S. Telecom Association petitioned and won the dispute before a 3 judge panel over new FCC line-sharing orders. The orders require incumbent providers to lease certain network elements to competitors, including partial leases for DSL lines. [http://www.fcc.gov/ogc/briefs/00-1012.pdf]

    Injunction Granted Against Gator
    7.12.02 – The Washington Post was granted a preliminary injunction against the Gator Corp., alleging trademark infringement. They claim Gator re-publishes their content, receiving revenue by adding advertisements on top of the stories. The complaint refers to Gator Corp. as a “parasite on the Web” in their complaint. [Source: U.S District Court, Eastern District Virginia] [http://www.gibsondunn.com/Media/WP_Complaint.pdf]

    Minnesota Supreme Court Issues Net Jurisdiction Decision
    7.11.02 – The Minnesota Supreme Court has refused to enforce a libel judgment involving an Internet posting, arguing that the Alabama court that issued the ruling should not have asserted jurisdiction over the matter. The case involved an allegedly defamatory posting by a Minnesota woman about an Alabama man on an Internet newsgroup. The man sued in Alabama court and then sought to enforce the resulting $25,000 judgment in Minnesota. The Minnesota court ruled that the posting alone was not a sufficient tie to the state to merit an assertion of jurisdiction and expressed concern over the potential breadth of the Calder decision's effects-based analysis. [Source: www.siliconvalley.com] Decision at [http://www.courts.state.mn.us/opinions/sc/current/c301296.html]


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  • Other Activities and Items of Interest

    ACLU Sees Problems With Cable Modem Industry
    7.11.02 – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) issued a white paper criticizing the lack of competition in Internet services provided by cable companies. Currently cable companies are not subject to regulations that require open access to facilities, which is the case with telecommunication services. The ACLU argues that cable-based Internet service will prevail, thus creating a monopoly for cable companies in their respective regions. This will give them the power to restrict content and serves as a threat to free speech online. The National Cable Telecommunications Association (NCTA) countered this argument, saying no content is restricted by cable modems and that the ACLU offers no evidence for their claims, in addition to the fact that cable modems enhance the Internet for millions of customers. [http://www.aclu.org/issues/cyber/NoCompetition.pdf – ACLU] [http://www.ncta.com/press/press.cfm?PRid=283&showArticles=ok - NCTA]

    Accessibility : Raising The Bar
    07.22.02 - Stanford University's Archimedes Project is working to make information accessible to everyone. The project is unusual in that it targets just about everyone who uses computers and information appliances -- individuals with disabilities, the elderly, those who can't read, as well as the general population. This summer, a group of Stanford graduate students will collaborate with industry executives to innovate products for people with disabilities, but they want their technology to outperform other commercial products so "non-disabled people will want it," said project leader and co-founder Neil Scott. "Obsolescence is really a bad thing for the disability industry," said Scott. The Archimedes Project takes a radical approach to dealing with obsolescence. Each individual is equipped with an "accessor," a single device that allows the user to utilize all computers and information appliances without specialized hardware or software. The Total Access System, as the accessor is named, uses speech recognition, head-and-eye tracking and other "human-centered interfaces" that match individual needs. [Source: Wired News] [http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,53930,00.html]

    Bush administration Unveils wireless plan
    07.23.02 – The Bush administration announced that the Pentagon has agreed to shift some military communications to other frequencies, allowing space in the airwaves for advanced mobile phones and other wireless devices. The Pentagon would give up two sections of the spectrum by the end of 2008, with the costs of transfer paid for by the wireless companies that buy the rights to the released frequencies. Wireless companies have been pushing for the release of a specific range of frequency that other countries plan to use for advanced wireless features. By using the same frequencies internationally, customers would be able to use a device anywhere in the world. [Source: Associated Press]

    Digital Copyright Protection Reaches Cell Phones
    7.11.02 – IBM and Nokia have reached an agreement to design technology to prevent mobile phone users from sharing copyrighted ring tones, graphics and games. The agreement is the first step towards the protection of copyright of the music, video and console-quality games that could be shared between future mobile devices. [http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992530]

    'Digital Divide' Less Clear
    08.02.02 - Several recent studies suggest that the once clear 'digital divide' is now becoming murky. According to researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles, the gap between those with Internet access and those without is closing when measured by the degree of education computer users have attained. A government report showed the gap between urban and rural users disappearing. A third report from the Pew Research Center indicated that the gap between whites and African Americans is narrowing. Based on analysis like this, the Bush administration has proposed elimination of two key programs from the fiscal year 2003 budget. However, groups trying to save the government programs argue that the digital divide is not disappearing, it is changing. Norris Dickard, a senior associate at the Benton Foundation, points out one new divide that has emerged is between those with high-speed Internet access and those with slower dial-up access. Jeffrey Cole, head of the UCLA study, believes that access issues may be getting better, but that there is a significant divide in how people use the Internet and what their Internet skills are. [Source: The Washington Post]

    Georgians See Danger in Using Hand-Held Cell Phones while Driving
    7.03.02 - A recent Peach State Poll found that 87 percent of Georgia residents say that using a hand-held cell phone while driving is either very dangerous (44 percent) or somewhat dangerous (43 percent). Most Georgians also believe that their safety has been compromised very often (38 percent) or somewhat often (33 percent) by other people using cell phones while driving. The Peach State Poll is a quarterly survey of public opinion conducted by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Survey respondents made a clear distinction regarding safety between hand-held cell phone use and hands-free cell phone use while driving. A slight majority believe that using hands-free cell phones while driving is either somewhat safe (45 percent) or perfectly safe (10 percent). A majority of Georgians (63 percent) believe that the use of hand-held phones while driving should be illegal. On the other hand, about three out of four respondents (77 percent) believe that the use of hands-free phones while driving should remain legal. [http://www.cviog.uga.edu/peachpoll/2002-07.html] (Source: Morris News Service)

    High Tech Hospital Adds Wireless LAN
    07.10.02 - BellSouth is deploying the largest Cisco wireless LAN network in the Southeastern U.S. at St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. The wireless network enables St. Vincent's healthcare providers to access real-time and historical clinical data via wireless devices anywhere, any time, and to offer wireless bedside registration. The system also begins the final phase of the facility's digital hospital initiative that includes computerized physician order entry, which will allow physicians to instantaneously review vital patient information and electronically place orders for care. For the past decade, St. Vincent's has developed and implemented technologies aimed at creating a digital and wireless environment. [Source: TelephonyOnline.com]

    Mobile e911 spawns “locational ID”
    07.25.02 – A variety of commercial services utilizing location-derived information are expected to arise as a result of implementation of the federal e911 regulations. These regulations require that all cell phones be precisely locatable, and companies are using the same technology to launch commercial "location-based services." Consumers would be able to locate friends' cell phones or get directions to the closest Mexican restaurant or police station, or find out where they are, if they're lost. Whether America's 140 million cell phone users will embrace such services remains to be seen, especially since earlier non-calling services, such as wireless e-mail, are still struggling to catch on years after being introduced. Location-based services in particular also have privacy advocates on edge, though carriers say consumer information will be kept safe. [Source: news.com]

    Public Interest Groups Call For Open-Access
    7.11.02 – American Civil Liberties Union joined the Consumer Federation of America and the Center for Digital Democracy in calling for tighter regulation of cable Internet service providers. The ACLU released two documents touting the public interest benefits and technical feasibility of requiring cable companies to open their networks to competing ISPs. Cable industry advocates argue that they have never attempted to restrict their customers' access to online content. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50363-2002Jul10.html]

    Technology Companies Lose Value
    7.2.02 - In the first half of 2002, IBM and Intel fell off of the list of the top 10 largest companies, measured by market value. This leaves Microsoft as the lone technology company on the list, though it did pass General Electric to become the most valuable in the nation. [Source: Bloomberg]

    U.S. Mobile Workforce to Grow Twice as Fast as General Workforce, Study Finds
    07.02.02 – Although the September 11 attacks and concern about the economy have prompted companies to scale back business travel over the past nine months, the total mobile workforce continues to grow, said a report from IDC entitled "U.S. Mobile Worker Population Forecast and Analysis, 2002-2006." Today's mobile workers, however, may just be visiting a nearby site or a conference room on another floor. The number of mobile workers in the U.S. will increase by 12.7 million between 2001 and 2006, from 92 million to 105 million. In contrast, the number of workers who are not mobile will actually decline by two million through 2006, down to 53.8 million. This means that by the end of 2006, roughly two-thirds of U.S. workers will be mobile workers, IDC said. [Source: Wireless NewsFactor]

    Web Security Spending to Rise Sharply by 2006
    7.22.02 – The Web security market will rise to almost $700 million by 2006 compared with $65 million in 2001, representing a staggering compound annual growth rate of 60.5 percent, according to research from IDC. Billions are currently being spent on network security, but Web sites and applications continue to be penetrated by hackers and crackers, meaning corporations are still vulnerable, the firm found. IDC said current network intrusion detection methods are not designed around the application layer and therefore cannot adequately protect against the many vulnerabilities targeted at this layer. Instead, products and services designed to thwart specific application-level attacks must be employed. [Source: EcommerceTimes]

    Wireless 911 Systems Locate Callers
    7.18.02 - Wireless companies working with local governments have installed systems that make it possible for emergency dispatchers to determine the location of callers using cell phones. St. Clair County, Ill., Lake County, Ind., York County, Va., and the state of Rhode Island are among the places where wireless E911 systems can locate callers on cell phones. Emergency workers report that the systems are saving lives and helping to solve crimes. In St. Clair County, a bomb threat suspect was located and prosecuted as a result of information provided by the wireless E911 system. [Source: New York Times]

    Wireless Internet Data Link
    7.16.02 –Intel Corporation, I.B.M., AT&T Wireless, among other leading computer and telecommunications companies, are in discussions about creating a joint wireless data network allowing users of hand-held and portable computers to have access to the Internet at high speeds nationwide. The coalition, known as Project Rainbow, is discussing the creation of a national network based on the 802.11 wireless data standard, that would provide on-the-go professionals and other Web surfers a unified way to reach the Internet from a wide range of "hot spots". It is not intended to supply broadband connections to customers' homes. [Source: New York Times]

    WorldCom Files for Bankruptcy
    7.22.02 – WorldCom filed for Chapter 11 protection in the southern New York district Bankruptcy Court. With assets of over $107 billion this filing is much greater than that of Enron, which had around $63 billion at the time of their filing. WorldCom is struggling with $41 billion in debt, and after an announcement last month of improper accounting for $3.8 billion in expenses. FCC Chairman Michael Powell assures customers that their service will continue and that WorldCom’s Internet backbone, the largest in the world, will remain operational. [Source: CNN]


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  • International

    BC To Remove Family Law Decisions From Net
    7.15.02 – The British Columbia courts have decided to remove family law cases from its publicly available database of decisions. The move comes after complaints about the easy availability of sensitive data found in the cases. [Source: Globe and Mail]

    Blair Pushes E-Voting 'By 2006'
    7.17. 02 – British Prime Minister Tony Blair has set 2006 for the first possible general election where people will be voting online or by post. Under proposals, all voters would be offered four ways of voting: online from work or home; by post; by telephone; or at polling stations by online terminals. All votes would be counted electronically. [Source: The Guardian] http://www.guardian.co.uk/internetnews/story/0,7369,756668,00.html

    British Sentiment Supports Limiting Public Mobile Phone Use
    7.17.02 – Nearly half of all adults in Britain think that mobile phones should be banned in public places, such as movie theaters, concert halls, restaurants and hospitals, according to research by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). 33% per cent of Britons said that their enjoyment at a public event had been reduced because of a disturbance by a mobile phone, and 62 per cent of non-owners said they favored restrictions on phone usage in public places, compared to 45 per cent of cell phone owners. Key findings include: one in four people under 24 say that mobile phone use should not be banned in public places; one in seven people feel that something ought to be done about mobile phone disturbance; and there is limited support for designated "mobile phone usage" areas on public transportation. An earlier survey showed that in Finland and Italy (where over 80 per cent of the population has mobile phones), more than seven out of ten people were in favor of using technology to block the use of mobile phones (72 per cent in Finland and 73 per cent in Italy) while more than eight out of ten people in France (85 per cent) supported the idea. (Source: europemedia.net)

    EC Report Calls For Sharing Open Source Resources
    7.09.02 – A European Commission report recommends that European government administrators should share software on an open-Source licensing basis. The recommendation comes as information technology costs are set to rise by 28% this year. Report at [http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y1BC22831] [Source: http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-942055.html]

    Text Messages Become Rescue Tools
    7.11.02 – A British police department on Thursday unveiled the country's first plan that lets hearing- and speech-impaired people report emergencies by text message on their mobile phones. Police forces across Britain are expected to copy the project, which begins in central England on Monday. [Source: Reuters]


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  • Websites/Links

    Benton Foundation
    Benton's Communications Policy Program (CPP) researches and reports on communications technologies and practices, legislative and regulatory debates and industry trends. It urges the nonprofit, government and corporate sectors to acknowledge their shared public responsibility and to apply their unique strengths to creating a communications environment that meets educational, civic and social needs. A variety of daily listservs report on developments of interest. [http://www.benton.org/cpphome.html].


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  • Journals/ Research/ ReSources

    GAO Finds FDIC Security Issues
    7.15.02 – A report with the title “FDIC Information Security: Improvements Made but Weaknesses Remain” was released by the General Accounting Office. It finds problems in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s IT systems that could result in unauthorized access to vital information. [http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d02689.pdf]

    Putting Public Spectrum to Work to Close the Digital Divide
    7.03.02 - The Digital Promise Project is proposing to establish a major educational trust fund, the Digital Opportunity Investment Trust (or "DO IT") that will help transform education, training and lifelong learning to meet the needs of the nation's new knowledge-based economy. The fund would use spectrum auction revenues to digitize the wealth of information housed in the nation's noncommercial organizations so that it could be easily shared with students and lifelong learners. [http://www.digitalpromise.org/]

    Administration's Broadband Policy Would Strangle Isps, Destroy Competitive Internet Marketplace
    07.01.02 - The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and the Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel released a study criticizing the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) broadband proposals. The study, "The Role of ISPs in the Growth of the Commercial Internet", concludes that the current FCC approach to broadband will allow major cable and telephone companies to deny access to telecommunications networks thus damaging the competitive environment and threatening consumer interests. The full text of the study is online at: [http://www.consumerfed.org/backpage/ispstudy070102.pdf]. [SOURCE: Consumer Federation of America]

    Bringing a Nation Online: The Importance of Federal Leadership
    08.11.02 - The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund and the Benton Foundation, with support from the Ford Foundation, released a new report that concludes that continued Federal leadership is essential to bringing a nation online, given the significant technology gaps that remain along economic, racial and geographic lines. Bringing a Nation Online: The Importance of Federal Leadership examines data released earlier this year by the Department of Commerce in its report “A Nation Online: How Americans Are Expanding Their Use of the Internet” which showed substantial gains in access to computers and the Internet for all Americans. The report released today underscores that despite these gains; a significant divide remains based on income, race and ethnicity, geography and disability. As a result, many Americans have yet to witness the significant social, civic, educational, and economic benefits of the information age. The report is available online at: [http://www.civilrights.org/publications/bringinganationonline]


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  • OTP Bookshelf

    Pew Report, “How broadband connections change online life”
    07.25.02 - A new survey of home broadband users by the Pew Internet & American Life Project shows that the act of getting high-speed Internet access changes Americans’ online behavior: They spend more time online, do more things, and do them more often than dial-up Internet users. They also have high levels of satisfaction with the way the Internet helps them connect to family and friends, learn new things, pursue their hobbies, do their jobs, and connect to local organizations. The Project’s report, called “The Broadband Difference,” also finds that home high-speed Internet adoption is steadily growing, with 12% of all Americans (24 million people) now enjoying broadband in the home; this is 21% of all U.S. adult Internet users and it is up from 6 million home broadband users that the Project first tracked in June 2000. [http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp?Report=63]

    Pew Report, "Vital Decisions: How Internet users decide what information to trust when they or their loved ones are sick"
    05.22.02 - Of the 73 million Americans who use the Internet to answer health questions, only about one quarter follow experts' advice and thoroughly check the Source and date of the information they find online. But the overwhelming majority of online health seekers say they get the information they need to help them make good medical decisions for themselves and for loved ones - even when they do quick, scattershot searches. Some 61% of these health seekers, or 45 million Americans, say online information has improved the way they take care of their health – a significant jump from 48% of online health researchers who reported such improvements when we did a similar survey in August 2000. [http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp?Report=59]


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  • Newsletter Info

    Center for Advanced Communications Policy
    Telecom/IT Policy Highlights
    June 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.
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