Cisco Government Affairs E-Update

Volume 1, Issue 4
09 March 2001
Brought to you by Cisco Government Affairs Online: www.cisco.com/gov

This Week@Cisco in Government Affairs

CISCO@INTERNATIONAL

• Cisco, this week, was proud to host European Commissioner Erkki Likkanen. (http://europa.eu.int/comm/commissioners/liikanen/cv_en.htm ) Likkanen, Commissioner for Information Society And Enterprise, visited with Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Mike Volpi; Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Dan Scheinman; Senior Vice President, Commercial Line of Business, Charles Giancarlo; Director of Worldwide Government Affairs, Laura Ipsen and other Cisco executives to talk about broadband, voice over IP technology and other issues of interest to the Commission.
• The ITU has organized a World Telecommunication Policy Forum (WTPF) to hear international opinions on the growing trend of IP Telephony and address possible policies and actions to assist in the transition to IP-based networks. Cisco's Art Reilly is representing Cisco as a technical expert on the United States Delegation. The WTPF is examining the impact and opportunities presented by Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), including the ability for this new technology to improve business efficiencies and bridge the digital divide, particularly in developing nations.
• "Internet Phone Calls Prompt Changes" – Read the Associated Press story from Geneva.
• The Commission welcomed the European Parliament's completion of its first reading of three important Directives dealing with the proposed new regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services. The proposals are for Directives on authorisation, access and interconnection and the so-called framework Directive. See press release.
• The Commission has published a speech by Pedro Solbes, Member of the European Commission, Economic and Monetary Affairs at the "Is there an e-Economy" Conference "The e-Economy in Europe: its potential impact on EU enterprises and policies."
• The Commission this week issued a report on the implementation of the 2000 Broad Economic Policy guidelines. This report is full of data and information. (Adobe Acrobat required).

• Unbundled Access To Local Loop: The Commission has published an amended proposal for a Regulation on unbundled access to the local loop. (.pdf format – Adobe Acrobat required).

• The European Commission has adopted a report on "Creating an entrepreneurial Europe - the activities of the European Union for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)". The report released on March 1st, highlights how enterprise policy has been woven into wider Community policies and other programs and assesses how EU activities can help SMEs make the most of the new economy and new market opportunities. Adobe Acrobat required.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/entrepreneurship/promoting_entrepreneurship/doc/com2001-98_en.pdf

CISCO@WASHINGTON, DC

• Cisco’s DC office this week hosted Cisco President and CEO John Chambers as he spoke at the 2001 Global Internet Summit (see Cisco@US States).
• Commissioned by the White House and sponsored by the National Science Foundation in conjunction with the University of Maryland, the Internet Policy Institute this week published its findings on the viability of Internet Voting: "Report of the National Workshop on Internet Voting." http://www.internetpolicy.org/research/results.html (The report)

http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32292-2001Mar6.html (News Story)

• The House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection held a hearing this week on the EU Data Privacy Directive. http://www.house.gov/commerce/hearings/03082001-49/08082001.htm Read Cisco’s Privacy Policy position here.
• The Department of Commerce this week published its report on "Measuring the Electronic Economy." http://www.census.gov/econ/www/ebusiness614.htm Cisco Systems, Inc. sponsored the University of Texas’ Internet Indicators study going back to June, 1999 and that data is available at www.internetindicators.com.
• The House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a hearing this week on "Technology and Education: A Review of Federal, State, and Private Sector Programs." http://www.house.gov/commerce/hearings/03082001-51/08082001.htm Read about Cisco and e-learning.
• Internet Tax – The Senate Commerce Committee has a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, March 14, at 9:30 a.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. Chairman McCain will preside. The Committee will hear testimony on whether Congress should allow states to require all remote sellers to collect and remit sales taxes on deliveries into that state, provided that states and localities dramatically simplify their sales and use tax systems. Read Cisco’s Internet Tax thoughts here. (http://www.cisco.com/gov/markets/tax.html)

CISCO@US STATES

• Cisco President and CEO John Chambers, this week spoke at the 2001 Global Internet Summit in McLean, Virginia. Chambers was the Summit’s co-chairman with Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore. Chambers said that the world is in the Internet Revolution, much like the Industrial Revolution of the early part of the last century.
• Cisco’s Manager of State Government Affairs Michelle Mallory Peacock was in Washington this week to staff Chambers’ meeting with Governor Gilmore.
• Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Promote Career Technical Education In response to growing concerns about the ability of high school students to make the transition into the 21st century workforce, a bipartisan group of lawmakers unveiled a series of bills today to protect and promote career technical education in California schools. (http://www.calchamber.com/index.php3?main=news/2001dailynewsclippings/main_newsclippings.htm)
• The Governor of Florida this week said he would support new technology for voting. http://www.sptimes.com/News/030601/State/Voting_changes_a__pri.shtml
• The Governor of Pennsylvania is also exploring his state’s current voting technology and examining the need for a change. http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2001/03/06/city/SNOTEBOOK06.htm
• Tax Time!!! Visit our U.S.States (http://www.cisco.com/gov/us_states/index.html) page to find your state and federal income tax forms. Download the forms or file electronically. eGovernment in action!

CISCO@MULTIMEDIA – NEW VIDEO!!!

• Watch and listen to Cisco Vice President, Law, Mark Chandler talk about workforce freedom and its positive impact on the economy.
• Watch and listen to Cisco EMEA Manager of Government Affairs, Isabella de Michelis di Slonghello. She’s now on the web in the Multimedia Section of our web site.
• Watch and listen to Coordinator of Government Affairs Susie Berg talk about her role at Cisco as facilitator of meetings between Government leaders and Cisco executives.

SITE OF THE WEEK – International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

World Telecommunication Policy Forum on IP Telephony was held this week.

http://www.itu.int/wtpf/

Also, read about Cisco’s innovation of IP Telephony at our Innovations@Cisco site.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS LAUNCHES "VIRTUAL THINK TANK"

·       To read about the newest Cisco Government Affairs web supported public policy initiative please visit News@Cisco.

FACTS AND STATS OF THE WEEK: "3G, IP & PDAs, etc."

• 3G IS THE KEY - According to Durlacher Research, wireless internet services in Europe will be worth $72 billion by 2005 -- provided that third-generation (3G) network devices are made available by 2003. The report predicts that by 2005, the mobile communications service market will generate $162 billion by 2005. Durlacher says that mobile internet services currently represent 45% of total mobile communications service revenues.
• The Backbone's Connected to the Revenue According to Analysys, revenue streams from carrying data traffic over internet protocol (IP) backbone networks will hit $225 billion by 2006. Analysys says that transatlantic traffic will increase eight-fold by 2002.
• Global Messaging - According to Gartner, 12 billion text messages are sent globally every month. 9 billion come from PCs, personal digital assistants and mobile phones, and the other 3 billion come from pagers. Gartner claims that text messaging could emerge as the killer wireless application.
• 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.

TECH NEWS STORIES OF THE WEEK

• "Japan Hopping On E-Bandwagon" –Associated Press - Worried about falling behind the rest of the world in Internet technology, Japan is pushing a sweeping five-year plan to link all homes to high-speed Net connections and encourage competition in telecommunications. (http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,42193,00.html)
• The Dallas Morning News reports that broadband access is a concern for outgoing Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. http://www.dallasnews.com/technology/301520_farber_03bus.A.html
• The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) reports on the Cisco Networking Academy Program.
• "The Broadband Revolution: You Say You Want a Definition" – eMarketer writes about the definition of broadband. http://www.emarketer.com/analysis/broadband/20010306_bband.html
• The Center for Democracy & Technology’s Report on Broadband. "Broadband Backgrounder: Public Policy Issues Raised by Broadband Technology." http://www.cdt.org/digi_infra/broadband/backgrounder.shtml
• Asia falls behind in B2B take up - The dotcom craze may have subsided, but Asian companies that put ecommerce on the back burner risk losing their global competitive advantage, warns a new B2B report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG). http://www.nua.ie/surveys/index.cgi?f=VS&art_id=905356507&rel=true
• Cisco this week announced that it will soon launch a new program to help Chinese firms make better use of the Internet. Read the Reuters story. (http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010307/wr/cisco_china_dc_1.html)
• Europemedia: Italian kids are tech-savvy - The number of Italian children with PC and Internet access is on the rise, according to a new report. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/index.cgi?f=VS&art_id=905356498&rel=true
• IDC Research: Corporate elearning market to skyrocket - According to IDC, the worldwide corporate elearning market will exceed USD23 billion by 2004. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/index.cgi?f=VS&art_id=905356515&rel=true
• Yahoo: African Americans lead in US Internet growth - The number of home Internet users in the US increased by 33 percent in 2000, with African Americans leading the online growth. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/index.cgi?f=VS&art_id=905356501&rel=true
• ICMA: Majority of US local governments now online - According to a survey by the International City/Council Management Association (ICMA), almost 95 percent of local governments in the US either have a website or plan to have one in place within a year. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/index.cgi?f=VS&art_id=905356508&rel=true
• CNET: Strong growth in North American broadband - An estimated 7.8 million homes in the US and Canada subscribe to broadband Internet services, according to a new report. http://www.nua.ie/surveys/index.cgi?f=VS&art_id=905356510&rel=true
• Eastern European Digital Divide - Low per capita income and an underdeveloped telecommunications infrastructure keep internet penetration levels low in Eastern Europe. http://www.emarketer.com/analysis/eeurope/20010227_east_europe.html?ref=wn
• Confronting the High Cost Of Internet Access In Brazil - High telephone service fees and per-minute internet access charges help create an impasse to internet proliferation in Brazil. http://www.emarketer.com/analysis/elatin_america/20010301_brazil_users.html?ref=wn
• Governing Magazine talks about "Governors and e-Expectations." http://governing.com/3talk.htm

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.

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