|
Cisco Government
Affairs E-Update
Volume
1, Issue 16
1 Jun 2001
Brought to
you by Cisco Government Affairs Online: www.cisco.com/gov
CISCO.COM/GOV AND E-UPDATE FEEDBACK
As we continue to build out
Cisco’s Government Affairs web site, as well as our new service, this
E-Update, we welcome comments, criticisms, praise and suggestions.
Please send any feedback to John Earnhardt at jearnhar@cisco.com.
To contact any member of the
Government Affairs team, please visit our “Contact Us ” page. http://www.cisco.com/gov/contact/index_ext.html
NEW UPDATED FACTS AND STATS - For hundreds of Facts & Stats on
the Internet, the Internet Economy and Internet related processes -
e-commerce, broadband, Internet usage, etc. go to Cisco Government Affairs
Facts and Stats page. This information is culled from multiple sources
to make it easy for the marketer, speechwriter, policymaker and staffer
to get quick snapshots of the Internet Economy.
http://www.cisco.com/gov/factsNStats/index.html
This Week@Cisco in Government Affairs
CISCO@WASHINGTON, DC
BILL WOULD PROVIDE GOV LOANS FOR RURAL BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT - Sen. Byron Dorgan
(D-ND),
Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), and Sen. Paul
Wellstone (D-MN) introduced S 966, the Rural Broadband Enhancement Act,
a bill to amend the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Organization Act to encourage deployment of broadband service to rural
America. Sen. Dorgan stated
that "To remedy the gap between urban and rural America, this legislation
gives new authority to the Rural Utilities Service in consultation with
NTIA to make low interest loans to companies that are deploying broadband
technology to rural America." He added that "When we were
faced with electrifying all of the country, we enacted the Rural Electrification
Act. When telephone service was only being provided to well-populated
communities, we expanded the Rural Electrification Act and created the
Rural Utilities Service to oversee rural telephone deployment. The equitable
deployment of broadband services is only the next step in keeping America
connected, and our legislation would ensure that."
Rep.
Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) introduced HR 2038,
the House version.
SENATE MAY
SWITCH BROADBAND FOCUS, ANALYSTS SAY - The historic switch of leadership
under way in the U.S. Senate could shift the focus on how lawmakers
will try to promote the deployment of high-speed Internet service to
tax credits, analysts said.
http://newsletter.channelweb.com/cgi-bin4/flo?y=eDnm0BrelR0he0OPA0AE
R&D TAX CREDIT - The Conference Report on HR 1836, the Economic Growth
and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (President Bush’s tax bill), which
passed the House on May 25, and the Senate on May 26, does not contain
language making the research and development tax credit permanent. An
earlier Senate version of the bill did include this provision. There
are also stand alone bills pending in the House and Senate that would
permanently extend the R&D tax credit. See, S 41 and HR 41, so numbered
because they would amend Section 41 of the Internet Revenue Code. See
also, S 515 and HR 1137.
BILL WOULD AMEND RULES AFFECTING INTERNET EDUCATION - Rep. Johnny Isakson
(R-GA), Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA), Rep. Michael
Castle (R-DE), and Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) introduced HR 1992, the
Internet Equity and Education Act of 2001. The bill would amend the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to expand the opportunities for higher
education via the Internet. Currently, the HEA limits the amount of
aid a student enrolled in distance education courses delivered via telecommunications
may receive if the institution offers half or more of its courses by
correspondence or telecommunications.
COUNCIL OF
ECONOMIC ADVISORS ECONOMIC REPORT 2001 - http://w3.access.gpo.gov/eop/
Online School
- http://www.washtimes.com/national/default-2001529232811.htm
INTERNET ACCESS
RATES ON THE RISE - http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/15802p-292617c.html
TAX-FREE EDUCATION
ACCOUNTS COULD HELP NARROW DIGITAL DIVIDE -
http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/svfront/tax053001.htm
DOT-GOV GOES
RETAIL - The federal government has become one of the biggest online
retailers in America. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2001/0528/cov-main-05-28-01.asp
LAWMAKERS,
INDUSTRY SEE COMPROMISE ON FEDERAL CIO - http://www.washingtontechnology.com/news/1_1/daily_news/16586-1.html
FCC
CHIEF TOUTS MOVE TO DIGITAL WORLD – Like leaving the comforts of home,
Americans will find the shift to new digital technology frustrating
and scary at times, says the Federal Communications Commission's new
chief. http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/18313p-327413c.html
CISCO@US STATES
VIRGINIA ADDS TELECOMMUTING INCENTIVE -
http://www.civic.com/civic/articles/2001/0528/web-tele-05-31-01.asp
NEW YORK CITY
CITY ROLLS OUT NEW PORTAL - New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani introduced
the city's expanded Web portal, NYC.gov, employing an "intentions-based
design" that allows visitors to find a city service without the
need to know which agency provides it. The site
lists services
under an "I Want To" directory of 12 frequently accessed service
categories. www.nyc.gov
DMV ONLINE
- Thirty states were offering at least one online motor vehicle service
as of
January 2001,
up from 13 in December 1999, according to a survey by the consulting
firm Accenture. http://www.accenture.com/xdoc/en/industries/government/dmv.pdf
(Adobe Reader required)
WIRELESS WEB
HOUSEHOLDS INCREASING IN US - The number of US households with Web-enabled
wireless devices increased by 50 percent to 15 percent in the past six
months, according to a new report from Statistical Research. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356787&rel=true
WEB APPLIANCES
TO BE HUGELY POPULAR - Consumer demand for Internet-enabled appliances
is set to grow by a compound rate of 101 percent annually until 2005,
according to Cahners In-Stat. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356799&rel=true
E-GOVERNMENT
STANDS FOR EVENTUALLY ONLINE - Internet: Southern California cities
have been slow to offer interactive services on their Web sites. But
the idea is beginning to click. http://www.latimes.com/news/state/20010528/t000044790.html
BROADBAND USERS
MORE LIKELY TO BUY ONLINE - US households with broadband Internet access
are 60 percent more likely to buy online than their dial-up counterparts
are, according to a new study from Centris. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356780&rel=true
BROADBAND GETS
HIT BY A TRAIN - http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2766183,00.html
ALMOST ALL
US PUBLIC SCHOOLS ONLINE - New data from the US Department of Education
shows that 98 percent of all public schools in the US now have Internet
access.
http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356783&rel=true
ONLINE AIR
TICKET SALES TO SOAR - According to IDC, 31 percent of all US air tickets
will be sold over the Internet, up from 10 percent last year. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356782&rel=true
US INTERNET
USERS GETTING RELIGION - Cyberatlas reports that 8 percent of US adults
and 12 percent of US teens use the Internet for religious or spiritual
experiences.
http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356797&rel=true
US HOMES WITH
HIGH-SPEED CONNECTIONS ON THE RISE - According to Statistical Research
Inc. (SRI), the number of households with high-speed connections in
the US grew from 5.2 million in November 2000 to 9.4 million
in May 2001. SRI says that in May, 6.5 million connections were via
cable modem and 2.8 million were digital subscriber line (DSL). In November,
cable modems represented only two-thirds of the broadband connections.
SRI also mentions that the percentage of households with telephone lines
dropped over the time frame: from 89% to 83%.
NET ACCESS
TO COME AT WAL-MART PRICES –
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-6154663.html?tag=mn_hd
CISCO@INTERNATIONAL
EU
– COMPETITION COMMISSIONER REDEFINES ROLE IN NEW ECONOMY. In a speech
that opened with a description of the new economy as “The ally of competition
authorities”, EU Competition Commissioner Mario Monti said “These technological
developments are...pointing the way towards more competitive markets:
costs will be cut; producers will have improved access to customers;
customers will have greater information, greater choice of producers,
and lower prices”. However, just in case any of the audience mistakenly
concluded that this could signify a reduced role for competition authorities,
Monti clarified that the ally was “in need of supervision”, and sketched
out some of the areas where intervention is still required. He concluded
by calling for greater international regulatory co-operation to tackle
a global market (European Commission press release, 21/05).
FAST WIRELESS
WEB IS HERE, BUT NOT ON A CELLPHONE - While the world's mobile phone
companies run trials on costly third-generation mobile phone services,
consumers and businesses are discovering that the high-speed, mobile
Internet already exists -- and it's free.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010601/wr/tech_3g_technologies_dc_1.html
ONLINE ADVERTISING
IN WESTERN EUROPE - Revenues from online advertising in Western Europe
are set to reach USD4.2 billion by 2006, up from USD1.5 billion this
year, according
to a new report
from the Yankee Group. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356781&rel=true
EUROPEAN FIRMS
REMAIN OPTIMISTIC - A new survey of senior company executives in Europe
has found that 93 percent of large European companies intend to maintain
or increase their IT spending in the next year. Sixty percent of those
polled said they were confident about the medium term future of the
European economy. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356796&rel=true
ECOMMERCE REVENUES
TO SOAR IN INDIA - India Express reports that ecommerce in India is
expected to be worth INR252 billion (USD5.3 billion) by 2005, up from
INR4.5 billion (USD95.8 million) last year. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356794&rel=true
ONLINE EDUCATION
PICKING UP IN CHINA - The Chronicle
of Higher Education reports that the Chinese Ministry for Education
plans for 5 million college students to use online education services
by 2005. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356786&rel=true
YOUNG THAIS
DRIVE INTERNET GROWTH - The South China Morning Post reports that the
number of Internet users in Thailand is expected to double this year
to 4.6 million, up from 2.3 million last year. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356784&rel=true
LOW INCOME
HOMES GET ONLINE IN UK - Those on low incomes now constitute the largest
group of UK Internet users, according to NetValue. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356800&rel=true
EU PROPOSAL
HORRIFIES PRIVACY ADVOCATES - The European Union has initiated plans
to make logs of all Internet traffic available to law enforcement agencies
for up to seven years.
http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356801&rel=true
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010531/wr/telecoms_internet_dc_1.html
GARTNER TELLS
AUSTRALIAN GOVT. TO PULL UP ITS E-SOCKS - If all levels of Australian
government and the private sector are to succeed in the next phase of
e-business, they need to dig deep or even scrap existing projects and
start again from scratch.
http://www.thestandard.com.au/articles/display/0,1449,14354,00.html?ts
FAINT VOICES RISE FROM CUBA - Free speech is not a hallmark
of Fidel Castro's regime, yet several independent reporters are finding
a way to practice journalism on the Web. The problem is, few Cubans
have Web access. http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,44045,00.html
BRAZIL CANCELS WIRELESS AUCTION - Finding no bidders
willing to pay $560 million each for a pair of wireless licenses, Brazil's
telecommunications regulators have canceled a planned wireless auction
for the second time this year.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Brazil-Wireless.html
FRANCE HANDS
OUT 3G LICENSES - France has
awarded third-generation (3G) mobile phone licences to France Telecom's
Orange and Vivendi Universal's SFR. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1362000/1362514.stm
SITE OF THE WEEK –
Government of France Internet Portal
France’s new government portal for discussing ALL internet related matters
helps prepare its citizens to live, play and learn with the Internet…
http://www.internet.gouv.fr/
(In French)
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS HIGH TECH COMMUNITY
Issue of the week:
Broadband Deployment - Add your thoughts at Cisco’s High Tech Community
- http://forums.cisco.com/cgi-bin/Community/HtCom?page=main.
FACTS
AND STATS OF THE WEEK:
US GOVERNMENT
SELLS OUT - The US government
sold more than $3.6 billion worth of
goods online
in 2000, according to a report from Federal Computer Week and the Pew
Internet and American Life Project. Pacing all government agencies was
the Treasury Department, which registered $3.3 billion in sales of items
like savings bonds and T-bills. For the year, the government even outsold
the top private e-retailer, Amazon.com, which reported 2000 sales of
$2.8 billion.
ONLINE GOVERNMENT
JUST FINE WITH CANADIANS - Canadian internet users favor using the web
for government services over in-person interaction, according to the
CF Group. Only 12% of those taking part in a 2001 survey -- 40% of whom
visit a government website at least once a month -- said they would
prefer to talk with an actual person when conducting personal business
with the government. 71% said they would like to renew their driver’s
license over the internet, while 68% said they would be willing to vote
online and 60% would pay taxes online.
BROADBAND USERS
MAKE MORE AND SPEND MORE - US households with broadband internet connections
are twice as likely as those with dial-up connections to have an annual
income of more than $100,000, says a May 2001 report. CENTRIS data reveals
that the 5 million
households
with broadband access during the last quarter of 2000 and the first
quarter of 2001 spent an average of $35.40 per month for their connections,
compared with an average of $18.05 for dial-up users. Broadband households
are also 60% more likely than their dial-up counterparts to make a purchase
over the internet, and spend an average of 38% more on online transactions.
INDIAN eCOMMERCE
SET TO EXPLODE - India’s domestic e-commerce market will grow to 252
billion rupees ($5.4 billion) in 2005, according to the Confederation
of Indian Industry (CII). The market was worth 4.5 billion rupees ($95.9
million) in 2000. The vast majority of the sum will come from business-to-business
(B2B) e-commerce, which is predicted to grow from 4 billion rupees ($85.2
million) in 2000 to 232.8 billion rupees ($5 billion) in 2005. CII forecasts
the business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce market to increase from 0.5
billion rupees ($10.6 million) to 18.82 billion rupees ($400.8 million)
during that period.
For more Facts and Stats on the New Economy, visit our
Facts and Stats page. Also,
see our special State of the Internet report on this page.
For daily, topical
Facts and Stats visit our Hot
In Tech page.
CISCO
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS@2001
Cisco’s
top policy focuses for 2001 are the areas of Education, Broadband Deployment
and eGovernment. To read or
listen to our thoughts on these issues, please visit our Government Affairs home page or our visit
our multimedia section . http://www.cisco.com/gov/multimedia/index.html
E-UPDATE ARCHIVE
To view past issues
of Cisco’s Government Affairs E-Update, visit our E-Update Archive page . http://www.cisco.com/gov/archive/eupdates/index.html
DISCLAIMER
Positions in articles
and papers from outside sources are in no way endorsed by Cisco Systems'
Office of Government Affairs. We offer articles on topics of interest
to our audience to further the debate on the issues that are important
to high-tech. To view our positions
on the policy matters that we care about, please visit our Government Affairs homepage. – http://www.cisco.com/gov
SUBSCRIBING/UNSUBSCRIBING:
You are receiving this
update because you requested it. If you no longer wish to receive
this update, send a message with “unsubscribe” in the subject line to
Subscribe-eUpdate@cisco.com.
If you received this
message because it was forwarded to you and you wish to subscribe to
this weekly E-Update, please send a message to Subscribe-eUpdate@cisco.com with
“Subscribe” in the subject line. Or,
visit our Government Affairs homepage (www.cisco.com/gov)
and click on the “Subscribe” button in the lower left-hand corner.
|