Global Policy and Government Affairs (GPGA)

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CHINA TO TRUMP U.S. IN BROADBAND SUBSCRIBERS—China is on track to surpass the United States in broadband subscribers by 2007, according to new market research data. While the U.S. has been criticized for falling behind in terms of its broadband penetration rates, slipping from 13th place to 16th in a recent International Telecommunication Union report, it has always had the most subscribers. But now it looks as though China will soon take top billing for broadband. http://news.com.com/China+to+trump+U.S.+in+broadband+subscribers/2100-1034_3-5695591.html?tag=cd.hed

TELECOM ACT CONSIDERATION BY JUNE - Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, says that his panel will take up legislation revising the 1996 Telecommunications Act by June. http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-XXEH1114716589355.html

AIR FORCE PICKS HOBBINS FOR CIO—The man who said he hoped to head the Air Force’s new information technology organization received his wish - Lt. Gen. William T. Hobbins will lead the newly created Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief Warfighting Integration and Chief Information Officer. http://www.fcw.com/article88785-05-05-05-Web

FCC DENIES SBC'S REQUEST FOR PRICE FLEXIBILITY—Federal regulators have denied a request from SBC Communications for more flexibility in charging for Internet voice connections. http://news.com.com/FCC+denies+SBCs+request+for+price+flexibility/2100-1036_3-5697139.html?tag=cd.top

FCC TO PUSH MANDATORY 911 FOR NET PHONE SERVICES—Kevin Martin, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has proposed requiring Internet-based telephone services to offer 911 emergency services to customers by as early as the end of September. http://news.com.com/FCC+to+push+mandatory+911+for+Net+phones/2100-7352_3-5696352.html?tag=cd.hed

APPEALS COURT BLOCKS U.S. RULES FOR ANTI-PIRACY TV TECHNOLOGY— A U.S. appeals court on Friday threw out new federal rules requiring anti-piracy technology that would have limited how consumers could record and watch their favorite television programs in the future. http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/TechNews/TechInvestor/2005/05/06/1028776-ap.html

H-1B VISA EXPANSION CLARIFIED—Federal officials have announced long-awaited guidelines for how 20,000 new H-1B guest worker visas will be awarded this year. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency in charge of the controversial visa program, said the visas will be reserved for foreign workers who have received a master's or higher degree from a U.S. institution of higher education. http://news.com.com/H-1B+visa+expansion+clarified/2100-1022_3-5697161.html

IT QUALITY A CONCERN AT HOMELAND SECURITY— By the end of August, the Homeland Security Department expects to launch the initial version of a portal that will tie together its various intranets, public-facing Web sites, and its extranet. http://www.informationweek.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=
KGG0GFACJZWXEQSNDBCSKH0CJUMEKJVN?articleID=162600257

BUSH ADMINISTRATION PUSHES CHINA TO PROTECT COPYRIGHTS— The Bush administration, responding to America's yawning trade deficit, said in its annual report on copyright theft that China must do more to crack down on rampant piracy. http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/42765.html

DHS MULLS CHOICE OF PASSPORT TECHNOLOGY, AS LAWMAKERS CLASH— Senior federal IT policy officials are facing a technology choice that also has set off fireworks in Congress: Should Uncle Sam accept digital photographs, as well as smart chips, as biometric identifiers in foreign passports? http://www.gcn.com/24_10/e_gov/35690-1.html

CYBERCENTER MONITORS DATA— A new cybersecurity operations center at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia has been set up to continuously monitor and report cyberattacks against computer networks related to critical infrastructure. http://www.gcn.com/24_10/tech-infrastructure/35691-1.html

COMMISSION ENDORSES PUBLIC FUNDING FOR BROADBAND NETWORK IN LIMOUSIN, FRANCE - http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressreleasesaction.do?reference=
ip/05/530&format=html&aged=0&language=en

EUROPEAN TRAIN OPERATOR PILOTS WI-FI AT 300 KILOMETERS PER HOUR— European train operator, Thalys, recently announced the availability of wireless Internet access on its Paris to Brussels route at transfer rates comparable to a faster variant of digital subscriber line (DSL) known as Asymmetric DSL plus. http://www.govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php?channel=14&id=93900/p>

AVATAR SIGNS WEB PAGES FOR THE DEAF—Those deaf people who have trouble understanding written English could soon be able to access online information faster and easier, according to software experts at a British university who have created a virtual human that uses sign language to read out a Web page. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/ecommerce/0,39020372,39197488,00.htm/p>

TURKISH COMMS MINISTER STILL HOPEFUL DEUTSCHE TELEKOM WILL BID FOR TURK TELEKOM— The Turkish transport and communications minister has said German telco Deutsche Telekom remains 'very welcome' to participate in the privatisation of Turk Telekom. http://www.dmeurope.com/default.asp?ArticleID=7698

COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY DELIVERS UPDATE ON INFORMATION SOCIETY PROGRESS IN BELARUS— The Belarusian minister of communications and informatisation, Vladimir Goncharenko, and state telco Beltelecom general director Nikolai Krukovski last week summarized the latest developments within the country's Informatisation Program developments as part of the presentation of the minister at the XIIth Information Society Technologies International Congress (TIBO'2005). http://www.dmeurope.com/default.asp?ArticleID=7585

WANT E-GOV? PICK UP THE PHONE— In an attempt to find out which electronic channels work best for local governments -- and what local citizens think of the channels available for using e-government services -- the United Kingdom's Office of the Deputy Prime Minister conducted a study called the e-Citizen National Project. http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=93902

UK- MULTI-MILLION-POUND BID TO END BROADBAND BLACKSPOTS— The UK government's broadband aggregation program has stirred into life again with work beginning in the West Midlands to make high-speed internet access universally available. http://www.dmeurope.com/default.asp?ArticleID=7570

NEW TRADE UNION FOR 'YOUNG' INTERNET WORKERS FORMED IN GREECE— A new trade union representing young internet workers has been created in Greece. http://www.dmeurope.com/default.asp?ArticleID=7591/p>

UAE- ETISALAT BLOCKS VOIP CALLS— Etisalat, UAE’s telecom incumbent is blocking websites offering cheap international calls through voice over Internet protocol technology, reported Gulf News. VoIP is not blocked in the free zones of Dubai, according to users. Etisalat officials said the technology was still under study. http://www.ameinfo.com/59261.html/p>

IRAN WANTS MALAYSIAN TECH COMPANIES TO CREATE ITS INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE— Iran introduced broadband Internet access to the public only three months ago and now wants to lay the groundwork for wider high-speed Web access so that it can embrace e-commerce. Iran has invited Malaysian companies to help boost the Middle Eastern country's budding Internet infrastructure. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=159597/p>

UGANDA: EXPERTS WANT GOVT TO JOIN PRIVATE INVESTORS IN TELECOM EXPANSION— Only seven years after the liberalization of the telecommunication sector, experts in Uganda are advising the government to go in for public-private sector partnerships (PPPs) instead of leaving infrastructure development solely to the private sector. http://allafrica.com/stories/200505040039.html/p>

KENYA DATA NETWORK BEGINS WORK ON $50M FIBRE-OPTIC CABLE— Kenya Data Network (KDN), a local public data carrier company, in conjunction with Siemens Communications, one of the largest players in the global telecommunications industry, is currently laying fibre optic cables around the country. http://allafrica.com/stories/200505040143.html/p>

CHILE BROADBAND CONNECTIONS REACH 537,000 IN 1Q '05 - During the first quarter of the year, 36,000 new broadband connections were created. http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,BT_CO_20050504_010263,00.html (Paid subscription required)

3G AMERICAS: DATA 20% OF MOBILE BILLING IN 5 YEARS—Mobile operators in the largest Latin American markets should see data services grow to represent 15-20% of their revenues in 4-5 years, according to Erasmo Rojas, Latin America and the Caribbean director at GSM advocacy agency 3G Americas. http://www.bnamericas.com/story.jsp?idioma=I&sector=2&noticia=316916

CANADA-NORTEL: WIRELESS MESH DEALS WITHIN MONTHS –Canadian technology firm Nortel Networks expects to close deals over the next few months in "key" Latin American markets for installing its wireless mesh broadband technology. http://www.bnamericas.com/story.jsp?idioma=I&sector=2&noticia=316885

CANADA EXPECTED TO REIN IN BIG PHONE COMPANIES ON VOIP SERVICE— The budding Internet-based telephone business is widely expected to be regulated the same way as traditional phone services under a CRTC ruling next week that analysts say will strike a blow to the dominant phone companies. http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/
LAC/20050506/RCRTC06/TPTechnology/

COSTA RICA SCORES TWO MORE HIGH TECH OPERATIONS—Costa Rica's efforts to gain traction as an high tech destination increased with announcement by Intel and Trax Holdings that they will establish new operations in the Central American country. http://www.techweb.com/wire/ebiz/162800169

AUSTRALIAN STATE TO BAN WORKPLACE E-MAIL SPYING—Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, moved on Wednesday to outlaw employers from snooping on workers' private e-mails as part of anti-spying legislation aimed at stopping bosses from covertly observing employees. http://news.com.com/Australian+state+to+ban+workplace+e-mail+spying/2100-1028_3-5694838.html

INDIA ENTERS THE NETWORKING MARKET—Following in the footsteps of China's Huawei Technologies and ZTL, a couple of Indian companies are trying to get a foothold in the global market for networking gear. http://news.com.com/India+enters+the+networking+market/2100-1037_3-5696846.html?tag=cd.top

INDIA'S DISHNET PUSHES FOR NATIONWIDE WI-FI—India's Dishnet Wireless aims to dominate the country's nascent mobile-Internet market by rolling out nationwide service in two years, the company said on Wednesday. http://news.com.com/Indias+Dishnet+pushes+for+nationwide+Wi-Fi/2100-7351_3-5695014.html?tag=cd.hed

PHILIPPINE REGULATOR EXTENDS HEARING ON VOIP— The Philippines’ National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) hearings on VoIP service have been extended following calls from telcos, independent service providers, and telecom equipment suppliers for a longer debate. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=160099

TAIWAN CABLE OPERATORS PUSH IP TELEPHONY DESPITE GOVT BARRIERS— Cable operators in Taiwan are pushing ahead with VoIP despite government restrictions that prevent them from offering the service to customers. China Network Systems is the latest to launch a VoIP product. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=159592

MUNICIPAL BROADBAND NATIONWIDE—Government-sponsored projects to provide fiber-optic or wireless networks are taking off across the United States, as are efforts to legislate the issue in state capitals. [Check to see all states with the activity listed] http://news.com.com/Municipal+broadband+and+wireless+projects+map/2009-1034_3-5690287.html?tag=cd.hed

LOCAL OFFICIALS SOUND OFF ON MUNICIPAL WIRELESS - A group of local government officials gathered in Philadelphia this week to discuss strategies for deploying their own citywide broadband wireless networks. http://news.com.com/Local+officials+sound+off+on+municipal+wireless/2100-7351_3-5694248.html

NORTH CAROLINA DEVELOPS SKILLS— North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley announced last week the creation of a new public/private educational initiative to help students and teachers improve their information and communication technology skills, among other things. The governor’s office will devote money and personnel in developing the state’s Center for 21st Century Skills program, which is designed to promote a new model for teaching and learning. http://www.fcw.com/article88684-04-25-05-Web

NASCIO GOES TO WASHINGTON—Twenty-one state chief information officers met this week with congressional lawmakers and their staffs on Capitol Hill to discuss concerns over cybersecurity, data sharing, privacy, and health information exchange. http://www.fcw.com/article88778-05-05-05-Web

CONNECTKENTUCKY RELEASES INVENTORY OF STATEWIDE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET COVERAGE—The ConnectKentucky Steering Committee recently released Phase 1 maps showing the status of broadband coverage in Kentucky. http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=93896

WHAT THE PHONE DEALS MEAN FOR YOU - Verizon-MCI Pact Is Expected to Accelerate Battle With Cable to Provide Bundled Services - http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111515700772523730,00.html (Paid subscription required)

CONSUMER BROADBAND REVENUES SEEN DOUBLING IN ONE YEAR— Consumer broadband service providers more than doubled their revenues during last year, from an annual rate of about $3.3 billion worldwide in early 2004 to be worth $6.9 billion by the end of December 2004 http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=
KGG0GFACJZWXEQSNDBCSKH0CJUMEKJVN?articleID=162800025

BELLSOUTH GIVES VOIP OPERATORS SOME 911 HELP—BellSouth is opening up its 911 routers to all Net telephony operators and nearing a deal to give Vonage access to its emergency calling infrastructure, the Baby Bell said. http://news.com.com/BellSouth+gives+VoIP+operators+some+911+help/2100-7352_3-5696954.html?tag=cd.top

ENTERPRISE VOIP USE ROCKETED 46% IN 2004: REPORT—Large organizations are adopting the technology at a higher rate than smaller ones. http://www.networkingpipeline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=162800041

CABLE TELEPHONY SPEAKS UP—Cable operator Cablevision says its Optimum Voice phone service is attracting customers at a record rate, another sign that the cable industry is becoming a force in the U.S. phone market. http://news.com.com/Cable+telephony+speaks+up/2100-1037_3-5696678.html?tag=cd.top

PATENT HOLDER TO EASE WAY FOR RFID LICENSES—Responding to complaints that it has become a roadblock to new technology that uses radio signals to identify and track consumer goods, Intermec Technologies said Wednesday that it planned to license four broad portfolios of its radio-tagging patents on terms that it said should spur development. http://news.com.com/Patent+holder+to+ease+way+for+RFID+licenses/2100-1039_3-5696226.html?tag=cd.hed

ONE CHIP TO BIND ALL CELL PHONE FUNCTIONS—Qualcomm on Wednesday unveiled several chips designed to underpin inexpensive cell phones with MP3 players and cameras, pitched at emerging handset markets in Latin America, India and China. http://news.com.com/One+chip+to+bind+all+cell+phone+functions/2100-1039_3-5695838.html

GOOGLE LAUNCHES WEB ACCELERATOR FOR BROADBAND— Google's Web accelerator beta release had several effects, including some unintended ones, such as reviving dormant speculation that Google would develop and release its own browser, a suggestion that executives at the company have denied though many analysts believe it's highly likely Google is at least dabbling in browser work behind the scenes. http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/42930.html

NET SECURITY BOOST— Worldwide network security appliance and software revenue topped US$3.7 billion in 2004, up 30% from 2003, and is projected to grow to US$5.5 billion in 2008, according to Infonetics Research’s quarterly worldwide market share and forecast service, Network Security Appliances and Software http://www.itp.net/news/details.php?id=15067&category=

WEF SEEKS 2006 TECHNOLOGY PIONEERS— Chief executives of companies that have developed and applied innovative and transformational technologies can win global recognition through an award scheme run by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
http://allafrica.com/stories/200505050133.html

GLOBAL DIGITAL TV SALES UP 50%-- According to the latest research from the Strategy Analytics Connected Home Devices service, Manufacturers sold 49.3m digital TV receivers worldwide in 2004, a 50 per cent increase on the previous year and an all-time record, according to research from the market analysts Strategy Analytics. http://www.dmeurope.com/default.asp?ArticleID=7700

INTEL'S CEO SAYS WIMAX COMPETITIVE WITH DSL, CABLE— Intel Corp. Chief Executive Craig Barrett said that new wireless high-speed data technologies would be competitive with Internet links provided by cable and phone companies. http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=internetNews&storyID=2005-05-06T184540Z_01_N06602750_RTRIDST_0_NET-TECH-INTEL-WIMAX-DC.XML

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