| This Week@Cisco in Government Affairs |
| Cisco's E-Update keeps you up to date on the major policy news of the week. Focusing on Broadband, VoIP, Security, Wireless and Education, but covering high-tech and telecom in general, the E-Update is a great source of information for policymakers. Click EUpdate to become a subscriber.
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| TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK |
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DOWN TO THE WIRE - Once a leader in Internet innovation, the United States has fallen far behind Japan and other Asian states in deploying broadband and the latest mobile-phone technology. This lag will cost it dearly. By outdoing the United States, Japan and its neighbors are positioning themselves to be the first states to reap the benefits of the broadband era: economic growth, increased productivity, and a better quality of life. |
| This Week@WASHINGTON, DC |
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WHITE HOUSE, CONGRESSIONAL AUDITORS AT ODDS OVER IDENTIFYING IT PROBLEMS - GAO says Office of Management and Budget should keep a list of troubled projects, but OMB says it's not needed. http://www.informationweek.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid= GAO SAYS INEFFICIENT HOMELAND SECURITY IT PUTS COUNTRY AT RISK - A congressional auditor tells lawmakers Homeland Security must strengthen strategic planning, develop an enterprise architecture, and improve IT management. http://www.informationweek.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid= IRS SECURITY FLAWS MAY EXPOSE TAXPAYER, BANKING DATA - The Internal Revenue Service is putting taxpayers at risk of identity theft or other unauthorized uses of their personal data because of computer security flaws, according to the Government Accountability Office. JUSTICE DELAYS MULTIAGENCY WIRELESS NET - The federal government has delayed its schedule and changed its requirements for a multibillion-dollar makeover of federal wireless voice and data communications. http://www.gcn.com/24_8/mobile-wireless/35535-1.html POOR GRADES CAN MASK PROGRESS IN COMPLEX IT ENVIRONMENTS, SUCH AS DHS - The Homeland Security Department has received an F on the last two computer security report cards issued by the House Government Reform Committee, prompting chairman Tom Davis (R-Va.) to warn that “DHS needs to get its house in order.” http://www.gcn.com/24_8/e_gov/35530-1.html FINALLY, A DOD RULE ON RFID - Eleven months after the original deadline, the Defense Department today published its proposed regulations requiring its suppliers to identify shipments with passive radio frequency identification tags. Suppliers and other interested parties have until June 30 to comment on the proposed Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement covering the use of RFID published today in the Federal Register, almost a year past the originally planned date. |
| This Week@EMEA |
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SPEECH - NEELIE KROES - MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN CHARGE OF COMPETITION POLICY, State Aid Reform: Risk Capital, Research and Development and Innovation Conference on innovation and research, Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour, Berlin, 22nd April 2005. http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference= VOICE OVER BROADBAND USERS IN EUROPE TO REACH 22M: IDC - Voice over broadband users in western Europe will reach 22 million in 2008, and will translate to $7 billion in revenues for service providers, research firm IDC said. These users will use either IP or non-IP standards, IDC said http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=157312 CITY-WIDE WIRELESS BROADBAND COMING TO THE UK? - Having seen its service deployed in Oklahoma and Minnesota, Birmingham could be the next stop for Tropos Networks. A company that has built a number of city-wide wireless broadband networks in the US is talking to UK local government authorities in a bid to do the same here http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/wireless/0,39020348,39195811,00.htm MAPPING BROADBAND BRITAIN - Detailed maps published today show for the first time the large disparities in broadband take-up across England and Wales. Broadband analysts Point Analyst collated data to produce a up-to-date picture of how many business and households are using high-speed internet services in each local constituency. http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/670 BEWARE OF FRAUD AHEAD OF ".EU" LAUNCH, SAYS EUROPEAN COMMISSION - The European Commission is advising companies and individuals to beware of fraudsters during the run-in to the intended introduction of the .eu top-level domain (TLD) at the beginning of 2006. Registration of addresses is due to start later this year. DENMARK RANKS 1ST IN WEB-SAVVY, U.S. 2ND –STUDY - The United States and Switzerland boosted their rankings in an annual survey of the world's Web-savviest nations by aggressively rolling out broadband and wireless Internet connections. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=575&ncid= TELEFONICA GERMANY TO EXPAND DSL NETWORK - Telefonica Germany has announced it is expand its DSL network to cover 40 per cent of domestic households by the middle of next year, deploying 1,500 switches with ADSL2. The move will allow its partners to deliver DSL services to residential subscribers http://www.dmeurope.com/default.asp?ArticleID=7480 OMAN, 100% PHONE COVERAGE PLAN - Oman Telecommunications Company plans to provide phone coverage to the whole of the Sultanate's population using wireless local loop systems. Omantel has engaged China-based Huawei to implement its WLL system which uses radio signals rather than copper wire to connect subscribers to phone services http://www.ameinfo.com/58184.html IBM, ISRAELI MINISTRY TO BACK OPEN-SOURCE STARTUPS - IBM and the chief scientist of Israel's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor said they have agreed to a pact to foster development of open-standards technology by Israeli start-ups. http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2005-04-22T201940Z_01_N20211172_RTRIDST_0_TECH-TECH-IBM-ISRAEL-DC.XML NIGERIA-Growing Nigeria's IT Industry - (OPINION) technology is just an enabler, and not the solution to the problem. The real solution to a problem is the people and their creativity in adapting a technology to their problem. Innovation is what drives the IT sector. UGANDA-UCC TO LEGALISE INTERNET TELEPHONY - The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) will legalise the provision of Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services in July. VOIP, has been illegally used in the country. http://allafrica.com/stories/200504190658.html SOUTH AFRICA-PRIVATE, PUBLIC ICT PARTNERSHIPS BEST FOR GOVT - ICT industry experts agree that private and public partnerships and bringing down the cost of technologies will help African governments to enhance service delivery to their citizens |
| This Week@Americas International |
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COLOMBIA-TELECOM TO RECEIVE FOURTH MOBILE LICENSE - Colombia's government plans to directly award the country's fourth mobile license to state-owned telco Colombia Telecomunicaciones (Telecom), a move that has generated controversy in the sector. According to Colombian law, as a state company Telecom can receive the license because the state is required to provide public service directly or indirectly, including mobile telephony. NICARAGUA-ANALYSTS: LIBERALIZATION TO DRAW NICHE PLAYERS - Nicaragua should prepare for the arrival of niche players in the short term, following the liberalization of its fixed line and long distance markets last week, analysts told BNamericas. http://www.bnamericas.com/story.xsql?Tx_idioma=I&id_noticia= |
| This Week@Asia-Pacific/Japan |
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JAPAN LEADS WORLD IN NET-BASED TELEPHONY - Eighty percent of the world's Internet-based voice telephone users are in Japan, which should come as no surprise given the steep cost of traditional fixed-line phone calls. http://www.advancedippipeline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=161500064 CHINA CONTINUES TO DRIVE BROADBAND GROWTH IN ASIA PACIFIC - The explosive spread of broadband use in China is expected to be the driving force behind the Asia-Pacific market for the next few years, a research firm said. The number of homes with broadband Internet services in the region is expected to rise to 176 million by 2010 from 61 million, according to Strategy Analytics. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=157919 CHINA TO ISSUE WHITE PAPER ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS PROTECTION - The Information Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, will issue Thursday a white paper titled New Progress in China's Protection of Intellectual Property Rights. The white paper is the second of its kind since 1994. http://english.people.com.cn/200504/19/eng20050419_181780.html CHINA SENTENCES TWO MEN IN PIRACY CASE - A court in Shanghai has sentenced two U.S. citizens to jail terms of up to 2 1/2 years in prison for selling pirated DVDs online in a case China has used to highlight the difficulties of enforcing anti-piracy laws http://www.rednova.com/news/technology/144818/ EX-MICROSOFT EXEC ENTERS CHINA BROADBAND FRAY - A former designer of Microsoft's Xbox game console is teaming up with two of China's biggest electronics makers to develop a system to deliver movies and video games on demand to millions of homes worldwide by broadband Internet. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=156787 HK BATS FOR WIDE ADOPTION OF VOIP IN GOVT - Hong Kong is pushing for a steady adoption VoIP communications in the public sector, a move designed to bolster the city's position as an e-government leader in Asia. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=157028INDIA-REGULATOR ORDERS VSNL TO GIVE BANDWIDTH TO ALL ISPS - The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has directed VSNL to release international bandwidth to all ISPs without discrimination. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=157644 INDIA USES SMS TO GET WATER, ISSUE PARLIAMENT WHIPS - India, where until recently it took years to get a phone line and where lumbering government services creak along slowly and sloppily, if at all, is cashing in on the mobile phone boom to boost democratic efficiency. http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2005-04-21T085638Z_01_SP95445_RTRIDST_0_TECH-TECH-INDIA-SMS-DC.XML PAKISTAN TO OUTSOURCE GOVERNMENT IT CONTRACTS - Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Minister for IT and Telecoms, said that the government would outsource between US$50-US$100 million in IT and e-government contracts to the private sector over the next 18 months. The minister said the outsourcing plan should attract providers of IT solutions to Pakistan, and he encouraged local firms to team up with foreign companies if they have insufficient resources or expertise in order to bid for the contracts. http://www.pstm.net/article/index.php?articleid=588 |
| This Week@US States |
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SPYWARE COULD COST YOU $2M IN WASHINGTON STATE APRIL - State legislators in Washington have passed two measures intended to dissuade cybercriminals from even trying to steal the protected information of state residents and businesses. The bills, which target spyware and phishing, must be signed by the governor. E-COMMERCE: TEN YEARS LATER - In its new report, E-Commerce in the US: Retail Trends, eMarketer briefly reviews what has happened over the decade since the first online purchase and looks ahead to the future of e-commerce. http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?1003356 ALASKA-SENATE APPROVES BAN ON 'SPYWARE' PROGRAMS - The state Senate voted Tuesday to put a ban on "spyware," those unwanted software programs that can infiltrate computers to make unwanted changes, collect sensitive personal information and bombard screens with pop-up advertisements. http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113~7244~2826091,00.html U.S. JUDGE DISMISSES CALIFORNIA CLAIMS VERSUS MICROSOFT - A federal judge on Monday dismissed a claim by five California cities and counties that Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software maker, had overcharged them for software. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1787781,00.asp NEW YORK LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO REIN IN IDENTITY THEFT - New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and representatives of consumer advocacy and crime victims organizations recently urged the State Legislature to pass legislation to protect consumers' from identity theft and the unauthorized use of personal data. NEW UTAH CIO - Utah Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. has named Stephen Fletcher as the state's new Chief Information Officer. Fletcher plans to begin work May 1, 2005. His goal is to review all IT functions in state government for efficiency and productivity, and personnel support for state departments. http://www.govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php?channel=6&id=93710 CALIF. LAWMAKERS VOTE TO BAN INTERNET-BASED HUNTING - California state senators approved a bill on Thursday that would ban hunters from killing animals over the Internet. Hunters may now stalk prey online at www.live-shot.com, a Web site linking firearms and cameras so customers can point, click and shoot antelope, sheep and wild hogs on a Texas ranch from thousands of miles away. http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=internetNews&storyID= VERIZON BRINGS BLAZING-FAST COMPUTER CONNECTIONS TO GROWING NUMBER OF BANDWIDTH-HUNGRY TEXANS - A growing number of Verizon customers in parts of Dallas, Tarrant, Denton and Collin County are now experiencing extremely high-speed Internet access as the company continues to expand the availability of its Verizon FiOS(SM) (FYE'-ose) Internet Service to homes in North Texas. http://www.rednova.com/news/technology/144986/verizon_brings_blazingfast_ ILLINOIS BILL EASING RESTRICTIONS ON SBC SAILS THROUGH STATE SENATE - The telecommunications bill that would ease state rules on how SBC can charge rivals and customers passed the state Senate by an easy margin of 37 to 14. A tougher fight is expected in the House http://www.suntimes.com/output/business/cst-fin-sbc16.html |
| Other Tech News Of The Week |
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VOIP: NOT JUST ABOUT FREE CALLS - While price is the main attraction for Europeans, Americans are interested in wireless VoIP because it helps them cope with patchy GSM coverage, says one vendor. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/wireless/0,39020348,39195960,00.htm SERVICE PROVIDER VOIP GATEWAY MARKET TO HIT NEARLY $1 BILLION BY 2009 - The global service provider voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) gateway market will grow from $165.3 million in 2003 to $985.7 million dollars in 2009, according to a new report by Research and Markets. http://www.networkingpipeline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=161500212 VOIP AND WIRELESS: DESTINED TO CONVERGE - What do you get when you combine Voice over Internet telephony, Wi-Fi wireless access and cell phones? Aside from an acronym-induced headache, you get yet another new telephone technology with the potential to concuss an industry already whipsawed by tectonic change. VOIP AWARENESS LOW AMONG INTERNET USERS, SAYS NEW TNS TELECOMS STUDY - Despite forecasts of new telecommunications technologies being rapidly adopted in the U.S., the latest survey from TNS Telecoms indicates that most Americans still have a low awareness of Voice-over IP (VoIP) technology. UN PANEL ON INTERNET GOVERNANCE OPENS THIRD MEETING - Spam, network security, cyber crime, the roles and responsibilities of all actors involved in Internet governance, and measuring the adequacy of existing arrangements are on the agenda of the third meeting of the United Nations-backed panel meeting in Geneva to examine Internet-related issues. http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=93725 WIFI, WIMAX TO DRIVE WIRELESS CAP EX TO $29.3 BILLION BY 2008, SAYS TIA - Wi-Fi and WiMAX infrastructure revenue is expected to reach $5.2 billion and $115 million respectively in 2005, according to the Telecommunications Industry Association's 2005 Telecommunications Market Review and Forecast. .http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=OC5YDIFAGQ1D RFID RIDES HIGH ON JET ENGINES - Boeing and Delta Air Lines are testing RFID tags on commercial jet engines to see how well they hold up under the extreme heat and vibrations of an engine environment. http://www.informationweek.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid= REUTERS WORM A "WAKE UP" CALL - Reuters’ recent forced shutdown of its instant messaging system following a blitz of attacks from a new Kelvir worm should be seen as a “wake-up call” to other users, industry experts claim. http://www.itp.net/news/details.php?id=14802&category= CA DRAFTS NEW POLICY FOR SPYWARE VENDOR APPEALS - Computer Associates International Inc. is changing its policy for handling appeals from suspected spyware vendors. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1788832,00.asp HANDHELD DEVICE SECURITY COULD COST MORE THAN THE DEVICE- Among the security issues researched is the cost to secure devices such as personal digital assistants and smartphones. In the research report, "Handheld Device Security," analyst Eric Maiwald calculated that the list prices for a complete set of security products (antivirus, VPN, device security, and management) can be higher than the cost of the device itself. http://www.govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php?channel=6&id=93717 SBC, VONAGE WORKING ON 911 SERVICE ACCESS DEAL - SBC Communications Inc. is in talks to provide Internet telephone provider Vonage Holdings Corp. with enhanced 911 emergency services for its customers, after an initial fight between the two carriers. WI-MAX TO PLUG RURAL BROADBAND HOLE - Intel foresees a bright future for Wimax in rural areas, developing countries and as a successor to wi-fi. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4462167.stm |
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