Cisco Government Affairs E-Update

Volume 1, Issue 18
15 Jun 2001
Brought to you by Cisco Government Affairs Online: www.cisco.com/gov

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This Week@Cisco in Government Affairs

CISCO@WASHINGTON, DC

SENATE APPROVES ADMINISTRATION’S EDUCATION PLAN - The Senate approved the first major overhaul of the nation's education policy in 35 years as it voted overwhelmingly yesterday in favor of President Bush's far-reaching plan to use federal aid as leverage to force improvements in academic achievement. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3404-2001Jun14.html

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE VOTES DOWN TAUZIN-DINGELL BROADBAND LEGISLATION - The House Judiciary Committee today by voice vote voted to report unfavorably H.R. 1542, the broadband legislation sponsored by Reps. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) and John Dingell (D-Mich.).

http://www.house.gov/judiciary/news061301.htm

TEACH ACT PASSED BY SENATE - The Senate passed S 487, the Technology Education and Copyright Harmonization (TEACH) Act by unanimous consent. The bill would amend the Copyright Act to extend the distance learning exemptions enacted in 1976 to digital delivery media. The TEACH Act incorporates many of the recommendations made by the U.S. Copyright Office in 1999. Under current law, there are exemptions for "face-to-face" and "transmission" teaching activities; but Internet based education is not referenced. Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT), a sponsor of the bill, stated on the Senate floor that "This legislation will help clarify the law and allow educators to use the same rich material in distance learning over the Internet that they are able to use in face-to-face classroom instruction. The Senate has been focused on education reform for the past two months. The legislation we report today reflects our understanding that we must be able to use new technologies to advance our education goals in a manner that recognizes and protects copyrighted works."

HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE PASSES EDUCATION MEASURES FOR MATH AND SCIENCE - http://www.gop.gov/item-news.asp?N=20010613172602

E-GOVERNMENT AT THE WHITE HOUSE - White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mitchell Daniels on Thursday named Mark Forman as the associate director for information and e-government. The new position is part of President Bush's plan to improve the government's use of digital technology. Currently, Forman is vice president for e-business at Unisys. He will begin work at OMB on June 25 and report to the deputy director for management. Forman will oversee the implementation of new technology in all areas of the federal government and will control the e-government fund Bush created to promote interagency e-government. Forman also will direct the CIO Council, which consists of the chief information officers of all federal agencies. Before joining Unisys, Forman worked for IBM Global Service's Public Sector, and he was the senior professional staff member on the majority staff of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/ or http://www.cio.gov

MAKING FEDERAL WEB SITES FRIENDLY TO DISABLED USERS -

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/11/technology/11ARTS.html (free subscription required)

NEW DEMOCRATIC NETWORK E-AGENDA - http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=103&subid=110&contentid=3450

This centrist Democratic coalition group announced their e-agenda this week, which focuses on the following principles:

- INVEST IN EDUCATION AND A SKILLED WORKFORCE so that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed in the New Economy;

- FOSTER THE DIGITAL ECONOMY so that productivity and technology continue to be the engine of our economic growth;

- PROMOTE INNOVATION to unleash the potential to save lives and open doors to the future; - ASSERT GLOBAL LEADERSHIP to open overseas markets to American goods and services; - PROMOTE DIGITAL GOVERNMENT to streamline government so that Americans can get out of line and on-line to participate in their democracy; and

- ADOPT RESPONSIBLE FISCAL POLICIES TO ENSURE CONTINUED GROWTH to keep interest rates and the cost of capital low and to foster the environment for businesses and individuals to succeed.

SENATORS REACH INTERNET TAX DEAL - http://www.usatoday.com/news/washdc/2001-06-14-internet-tax.htm

PRESIDENT BUSH CONTINUES PRESIDENT'S IT ADVISORY COMMITTEE - President Bush recently gave the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee a two-year reprieve from termination. http://www.washingtontechnology.com/news/1_1/daily_news/16653-1.html

PROGRESSIVE POLICY INSTITUTE REPORT: The Failure of Cyber-Libertarianism - The Case for a National E-Commerce Strategy http://www.ppionline.org/documents/E-com_Strategy.pdf

(Adobe Reader required)

RURAL BROADBAND BILL INTRODUCED - Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) introduced HR 2139, the Rural America Broadband Deployment Act, a bill to create a program at the Department of Agriculture to provide loans to entities that deploy broadband services in rural areas. The bill would authorize the appropriate of $100 Million for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2004. The bill defines "broadband" as at least 200 Kbps downstream. The bill was referred the Agriculture Committee and the Commerce Committee. http://thomas.loc.gov

CISCO@INTERNATIONAL

EUROPEAN BROADBAND ACCESS SET TO SURGE - Over 21 percent of European households will have broadband Internet access by 2003, up from the current figure of 1.79 percent. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356832&rel=true

CAUSE: “UK PAYS HIGH PRICES FOR FAST INTERNET ACCESS” -

http://news.ft.com/ft/gx.cgi/ftc?pagename=View&c=Article&cid=FT3V1RHHQNC&live=true&tagid=FTDDMJNIFEC&subheading=internet%20and%20e-commerce

EFFECT: A THIRD OF BRITONS DON'T WANT NET ACCESS - The Register reports that a third of British people do not want or need home access to the Internet. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356830&rel=true

COMMISSION CALLS FOR E-LEARNING INNOVATION - The European Commission has announced a call for proposals for preparatory and innovative actions for the e-learning action plan. The present call for proposals aims at developing better understanding of the problems and opportunities which are associated with e-learning methods, contents and resources; their relationship with the traditional ones; their impact in education and training in terms of organization and management; the pedagogical and technological trends emerging in this new sector and the possibilities for European added value.

http://dbs.cordis.lu/cgi-bin/srchidadb?CALLER=NHP_EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&SESSION=&RCN=EN_RCN_ID:16915

European telecommunications companies met last week in Milan, Italy, to evaluate the progress in opening the dominant operators' networks to competitors. Participants concluded that significant progress has been made in so-called local-loop unbundling. "However, experience so far suggests that local-loop unbundling will not be the most popular option to address the mass market for high-speed Internet access," the European Telecommunications Network Operator's Association (ETNO) said in a press statement. ETNO said it supports a European Union regulation requiring unbundling because it can promote competition leading to cutting-edge high-speed Internet services. But non-loop services, such as cable and wireless firms, are also potential competitors. http://www.etno.belbone.be/ (From National Journal’s TechDaily)

COLOMBIA WEBCODE ".CO" POISED TO CHALLENGE ".COM" - http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010611/wr/tech_internet_colombia_dc_1.html

U.S. TO LOSE INTERNET DOMINANCE - http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1383000/1383910.stm

BT AND DEUTSCHE TELECOM IN 3G DEAL - http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1384000/1384241.stm

EGYPTIAN PORTAL COMING ONLINE - Egypt LINKdotNET in Microsoft Arab Portal Deal - Egyptian Internet service provider LINKdotNET and U.S. software giant Microsoft Corp plan to launch an Arab web portal called MSN Arabia based in Cairo and Dubai. - http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010611/wr/tech_egypt_internet_dc_1.html

CHILE'S Government May Modify Regulations of Telecom Industry - http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB992466992871973710.htm (paid subscription required)

SIX NETWORK SUPPLIERS WILL TEST 3G - China has invited at least six mobile network suppliers to test third generation (3G) technology in the mainland in September.

http://breakingnews.scmp.com/NLet/NLet.asp?Sec=technology&SSec=comm&Id=ZZZWN9VIWNC

CHINA GOES SMARTCARD CRAZY - China wants to keep better track of its 1.26 billion citizens,

and thinks that smartcards are the answer. http://www.forbes.com/2001/06/12/0612smartcards.html#story

CHINESE WIRELESS TO BOOM - China's wireless market appears to be poised for rapid growth over the next several years. http://www.emarketer.com/analysis/wireless/20010615_wireless.html?ref=dn

US LOSS MAY BE INDIA'S GAIN - The downturn in the US economy could prove a boon for technology workers in India, according to a report from Reuters. http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1007-200-6217369.html?tag=ch_mh http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356850&rel=true

IST 2001 DÜSSELDORF - The European Commission's main event on Information Society Technologies takes place in Düsseldorf under the theme "Technologies Serving People" 3-5 December 2001.

http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/01/835|0|RAPID&lg=EN

CONTENT, COMPETITION AND CONSUMERS: INNOVATION AND CHOICE - SPEECH BY MR. MARIO MONTI, COMMISSIONER FOR COMPETITION POLICY, STOCKHOLM -

http://www.europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=SPEECH/01/275|0|RAPID&lg=EN

CONFERENCE: "Regulating the Information Society" 19-20 June 2001 in Brussels. http://www.emf.be/regul/

THE FRENCH CENTRAL LIBRARY has made available on line all public reports, more than 1000. http://www.ladocfrancaise.gouv.fr/brp/index.html (In French)

THE MINISTRY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESS OF FRANCE invites on line contribution to participate to SMB forum. http://www.pme-commerce-artisanat.gouv.fr/alaune/index.htm (In French)

CISCO@US STATES

US STATES ADOPTING EGOVERNMENT - A new study shows which US states have best incorporated technology Into their law enforcement and courts, and into their social services.

http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356834&rel=true

http://www.centerdigitalgov.com/

GETTING OUT THE VOTE, ELECTRONICALLY – Electronic voting technology starting to take hold - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57603-2001Jun12.html

STATE BEATS ITS GOAL BY YEAR OF WIRING MORE STUDENTS TO THE WEB -

In 1997, New Jersey set a goal of at least one computer in school for every five students. The state devoted $250 million in grants for this and other school technology improvements, on top of the hundreds of millions already spent locally. Recently, the state announced in its annual school technology survey that the goal has been surpassed a year early, with districts this year reporting a multimedia computer for every 4.5 students, a big jump from the 1:7 ratio of just two years ago. http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/jersey/ledger/137d5d6.html

WIRELESS MARKET TO EXPLODE IN NORTH AMERICA – (not literally) - Gartner Dataquest predicts there will be 137.5 million wireless data subscribers in North America by 2005, up from 7.3 million last year. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356845&rel=true

ONE IN 12 HAVE HI-SPEED IN NORTH AMERICA - eMarketer reports that there are now 7.6 million broadband subscribers in the US and 1.7 million in Canada. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/?f=VS&art_id=905356838&rel=true

TEXAS SETTING UP SECURITY OFFICE - Texas is poised to become the first state government to establish an information technology security office to apply policies and monitor the Internet architecture. http://www.civic.com/civic/articles/2001/0604/web-texas-06-05-01.asp

SITE OF THE WEEK

INTERNET PUBLIC LIBRARY - The Internet Public Library (IPL), is a public service organization and learning/teaching environment at the University of Michigan School of Information.

http://www.ipl.org/

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS HIGH TECH COMMUNITY –

Issue of the week: Broadband Deployment - It is estimated that 2.5 BILLION hours were wasted with people accessing the Internet via dial-up. Broadband access, or always-on, high-speed internet, allows productivity increases, standard of living increases and new applications that haven't even been thought of. Broadband can be delivered via satellite, wireline, wireless, cable, fibre and technologies are being tested for access through electical wires. Broadband is the future of the internet and the future of communications. What are some examples of the ways broadband has added to your productivity?

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:

GLOBAL WEB USAGE FIGURES - Nielsen//NetRatings reports that there are 429 million people worldwide with internet access as of Q1 2001. 41% of all users come from the US and Canada. The region encompassing Europe, the Middle East and Africa was next with 27%, followed by the Asia Pacific region (20%) and Latin America (4%). North America may not be the leader for long, though -- an additional 12% of Asia Pacific households and 9% of European households are expected to come online within just 12 months.

BROADBAND USE TO BROADEN - Cahner’s In-Stat Group forecasts that the number of broadband subscribers will top the 21 million mark globally by the end of 2001 and reach nearly 84 million by 2005. Subscribership in the US is expected to increase from 6.8 million to more than 19 million between 2000 and 2002. With the rise in broadband usage will come a tremendous jump in revenues as well -- Cahner’s predicts that worldwide broadband service revenues will exceed $37 billion in 2005, up from $5.8 billion in 2000.

BROADBAND FIXED WIRELESS MARKET GROWING - Broadband fixed wireless access (BFWA) service provider revenues will reach $3 billion worldwide by 2005, Cahner’s In-Stat Group predicts. The figure is a tenfold increase from 2001. Cahner’s estimates that while there are just 210,000 subscribers to broadband fixed wireless services as of 2001, BFWA will account for "a substantial proportion" of the broadband market within the next four years.

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

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