Global Policy and Government Affairs (GPGA)

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SENATORS CLINTON AND FRIST PROMOTE HEALTH IT BILL—Legislation establishes health IT standards to reduce health-care costs and improve efficiency. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=164900375

IT CONFIDENTIAL: PATENT LAW, TRAIN WRECKS, SHOE STORES—S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, introduced the Patent Reform Act of 2005, legislation intended to "reform certain patent practices that disrupt the operations of high-tech companies and other businesses," according to a statement from the congressman's office. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=
LIK5BKY3LCOHWQSNDBCSKHSCJUMEKJVN?articleID=164302316

POLL: MOST WANT GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE INTERNET SAFETY—Most Americans want federal institutions to do more about phishing, viruses, and other problems. Yet people don't entirely trust these institutions, either, a new poll says. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=164303227

INDUSTRY AND CONGRESS SEEK MAJOR OVERHAUL OF U.S. PATENT SYSTEM—Various political, legal, and business interests are pushing for the most comprehensive patent reform since 1952. They argue that two recent policy changes--strengthening patent rights while weakening standards--have created a "perfect storm" of factors that's inviting abuse and pushing up costs. http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=
LIK5BKY3LCOHWQSNDBCSKHSCJUMEKJVN?articleID=164302574

HEALTH IT CONTRACTS COMING—The Department of Heath and Human Services started to develop the foundation for a national health care information technology infrastructure by releasing two contract notices. One notice is for development of a nationwide health information architecture and the other is for a process for certifying electronic health records. http://govhealthit.com/article88866-05-13-05-Web

DHS BLINKS ON DEADLINE FOR E-PASSPORTS, ALLOWS DIGITAL PHOTOS—The Homeland Security Department will require that Visa Waiver Program countries produce passports with digital photographs by Oct. 26, but will allow another one-year extension for those countries to comply with issuing electronic passports. The Bush administration was widely expected to ask Congress to extend the deadline again. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/36096-1.html

SPENDING PANEL REINS IN E-GOVERNMENT PROJECTS—The House Appropriations Committee has attached a legislative tether to e-government projects in several domestic agencies. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/36084-1.html

FRIST, CLINTON TO OFFER SENATE HEALTH IT BILL—Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) plan to introduce “strong, comprehensive” legislation Thursday to encourage development of an interoperable health IT network. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/36081-1.html

REP. WOLF EXTENDS TELECOMMUTING PENALTY FOR ANOTHER YEAR—Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) included a provision in the Science, State, Justice and Commerce appropriations bill that would withhold $5 million from each agency that fails to meet the law requiring that every eligible federal worker be given the opportunity to telecommute. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/36063-1.html

FCC LAUNCHES 'INQUIRY' INTO UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND—Agency seeks comments on managing and oversight of the USF, which is used primarily to subsidize rural telecom providers and low-income families. http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=
ZTSMFJBQHIVTGQSNDBCCKHSCJUMEKJVN?articleID=164303654

SEN. ENSIGN DRAFTING COMPREHENSIVE TELECOM BILL—Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, is quietly drafting a comprehensive deregulatory telecom reform bill that he plans to introduce in mid-July, sources said Tuesday. http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-XTJO1118790268913.html

TELECOM STANDARDS FACE PATENT AMBUSH THREAT—The European Commission is investigating Europe's main telecoms standard-setting body due to concerns that a flaw in its procedures could allow companies to carry out a 'patent ambush'. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/business/legal/0,39020651,39203931,00.htm

EU PREFERS 'COMPUTER-AIDED' PATENTS—You say implemented, I say aided. The European Parliament wants to get rid of the term 'computer-implemented inventions' in a key directive because it implies that software can be patented. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/business/legal/0,39020651,39203722,00.htm

UNIVERSITY NETWORK UNDERPINS HUGE VOIP DEPLOYMENT—It seems that making sure the bars have an ample supply of beer is no longer enough to attract students - universities are now being judged on the quality of the IT infrastructure they can provide. http://management.silicon.com/government/0,39024677,39131202,00.htm

BICSI EVENT A ROARING SUCCESS—The 4th annual BICSI Middle East & Africa district conference and exhibition, which took place on June 12-13 at the Shangri-la Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) was a great success with network professionals learning about the latest developments in technologies and standards. http://www.itp.net/news/details.php?id=16185&category

ITP.NET VISITORS RUE SKYPE BAN—60% of itp.net visitors have been directly affected by the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority's ban of Skype.com. http://www.itp.net/news/details.php?id=16154&srh=&tbl=itp_news

NETWORK SUPREMO—Emaar’s technical head scooped the top accolade at the inaugural Network Middle East Innovation Awards at Dubai’s Shangri-La hotel on June 12. Richard Jasnau, divisional manager of telco operations & infrastructure at Sahm Technologies, the technology arm of UAE property giant Emaar won the award for Network Professional of the Year. http://www.itp.net/news/details.php?id=16164&srh=&tbl=itp_news

U.K. UNDER CYBER ATTACK—Government agencies and companies in the U.K. are under attack by a concerted series of Trojan horses out to steal information. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=164900307

CANADIANS FLOCKING TO EPOST—Nearly 300,000 Canadians signed up for Canada Post's electronic postal payment service in the first three months of this year, epost president and CEO Roger Couldrey says. http://www.canada.com/technology/story.html?id=d4ca3b9e-124f-4147-9ecb-9faba2b85246

FINANCE EXECS STRUGGLE WITH RIGORS OF ACCOUNTING REGS— TORONTO – They may have confidence in their IT department, but almost 50 per cent of finance executives in large companies don’t think they will be able to comply with regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley and Bill 198, according to the results of a survey released Thursday. http://www.itbusiness.ca/index.asp?theaction=61&sid=59271

PAKISTANI MILITARY TAKES CONTROL OF PTCL, HUNDREDS ARRESTED—Pakistani security forces seized control of national telecommunications carrier PTCL and detained some 500 workers and trade union leaders. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=166134

SK BEGINS INTERNATIONAL ROAMING SERVICE—SK Telecom said it has launched international roaming services for European-standard 3G phones with Vodafone K.K., the Japanese unit of Britain's Vodafone Group. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=165777

COMMUNICASIA EXPANDS AS ITC SPENDING RISES—An estimated 28,000 international visitors are expected to converge on Singapore over the next four days to participate in CommuniAsia2005, the biggest annual ICT exhibition in the region. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=165771

MICROSOFT CENSORS BLOGS AT ITS NEW CHINESE PORTAL—Chinese bloggers, even on foreign-sponsored sites, better chose their words carefully--the censors are watching. http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=
LIK5BKY3LCOHWQSNDBCSKHSCJUMEKJVN?articleID=164302868

DEBATE OVER TIMING OF WIRELESS BROADBAND—Singapore's new wireless broadband licensees are wary of the "uncertainty" and lack of standards around the technology. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=166554

MALAYSIAN MOBILE CONTENT START-UPS TARGET OVERSEAS MARKETS—Ten mobile content providers from Malaysia made their debut at CommunicAsia2005 courtesy of the Maxis Developer Program (MDP), an initiative led by Maxis Communications that aims to nurture a local community of mobile application, service and content developers. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=166556

PHILIPPINE REGULATOR RELEASES SECOND DRAFT OF 3G RULES—Despite claims by Philippine telecom firms that the local market is not yet ready, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued its second draft of proposed regulations for the award and use of 3G technology. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=166564

THAI REGULATOR URGED TO HALT PRICE WAR AMONG CARRIERS—Thailand's largest telecom conglomerate Shin Corp. has asked the national telecom regulator to control the heavy pricing promotions of telecom operators before they become a barrier to newcomers, The Nation reports. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=166566

NZ WATCHDOG WANTS POWER TO CUT MOBILE CHARGES—The government is being urged to give New Zealand’s telecommunications watchdog the power to help cut high mobile phone prices in the country. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=165775

SOFTWARE THAT WOULD HUMBLE A SOPRANO—New Jersey looks to expand the use of its law-enforcement intelligence database to police throughout the state and even to federal and international agencies. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=164302942

THE ROAD TO AUTOMATED INFORMATION SHARING—Within the next 12 months, SIMS will be expanded to include as many of the 33,000 law enforcement officers statewide as possible. The system has about 20 datasets, including those for intelligence, tips and leads, and maritime information. http://www.fcw.com/article89267-06-13-05-Web

MASSACHUSETTS PARTNERS WITH EDS FOR MEDICAID INFORMATION SYSTEM—The commonwealth of Massachusetts has awarded a seven-year, $48 million contract to EDS Corp. to implement and maintain a new Medicaid management information system, according to the company. The contract has four option years. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/36093-1.html

FRISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY DEPLOYS RFID TECHNOLOGY TO HELP MANAGE BOOKS—Frisco Public Library, a public library system located in one of the fastest growing cities in Texas, selected Checkpoint Systems' Intelligent Library System to provide a wide range of technology solutions to improve operational efficiency and enhance the security of its collections. http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=94309

CONNECTICUT STREAMLINES EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT RECORDS WITH NEW DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM—Prior to deploying the Vignette document management, the tasks involved with storing, managing and retrieving hundreds of thousands of state employee records were beginning to overwhelm RBSD's limited IT staff resources. http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=94308

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY TO DEPLOY WEB-BASED ERP SOLUTION—The Commonwealth of Kentucky selected AMS Advantage 3 for a statewide Enterprise Resource Planning solution to be deployed beginning in July 2006. http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=94291

IDAHO ADDS NEW ONLINE ACCOUNTANCY LICENSE RENEWAL SERVICE—For the first time, accountants licensed in Idaho and those with practice privileges can renew their professional licenses online. http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=94284

NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY TO MEET—The New York City Council Committee on Technology will hold an oversight hearing June 21 at 1 p.m. in the City Hall Committee Room. The hearing, entitled: "Oversight: How City Government Can Support the Development of New York City's Information Technology Industry” http://www.govtech.net/magazine/channel_story.php?channel=7&id=94312

RUDY GIULIANI ADDRESSES VARBUSINESS 500 CROWD—Addressing the cream of solution-provider leadership, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani offered his own leadership insights at the VARBusiness 500 Awards dinner. http://www.varbusiness.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=
WORRWR1L5T3Q0QSNDBCSKHSCJUMEKJVN?articleID=164303446

STATE, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WARM TO OPEN SOURCE, RESEARCH FIRM FINDS—State and local governments are giving more consideration to use of open-source code as another way to help relieve continuing budget pressures, according to market research firm Input Inc. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/36115-1.html

ERICSSON UNVEILS ONBOARD GSM FOR AIRCRAFTS—Ericsson has unveiled its newly-developed system “GSM on Aircraft,” which allows aircraft passengers to use their mobile phones on commercial flights. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=166135

FASTTAKES—Countries in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Central and Eastern Europe are among the fastest growing new markets for mobile services. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=166138

LIBERTY ALLIANCE TACKLES ONLINE IDENTITY THEFT—The 150-member group aims to tackle identity theft from a collaborative, multi-vendor, multi-organizational perspective. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=164303174

E-COMMERCE GROWTH SPURS MORE SOPHISTICATED SCAMS—As electronic commerce increases on the Internet, so does the sophistication of technology used by scam artists, with a new tactic called "pharming" being the most dangerous. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=164303179

GENERATION GAP: WHO WILL STEP UP AS IT VETS RETIRE?— As older IT workers exit, along with them go tech skills, industry and company knowledge, and seasoned judgment, including how to weigh the many factors that go into decision-making. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=164302170

PHISHING ATTACKS SHOW SIXFOLD INCREASE THIS YEAR—Since the start of the year, phishing attacks -- fake E-mails designed to lure unsuspecting victims into giving up valuable personal information -- have increased more than sixfold. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=164302582

DSL PARADOX: SHIPMENTS STALL, REVENUES DROP—Despite the downturn, an Infonetics Research report says, the market has strong potential and will see long-term growth. http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=
LIK5BKY3LCOHWQSNDBCSKHSCJUMEKJVN?articleID=164302911

VOIP FINDS ITS VOICE, BUT FEARS OF PHARMING GROW—One of the sure signs that businesses and the general public are embracing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone services is that the service is now the focus of pharming and other security attacks. One of the earliest VoIP threats identified, Caller ID spoofing, substitutes someone else’s Caller ID information as your own. And new VoIP security threats have been persistently gaining momentum week after week. http://www.itp.net/news/details.php?id=16257&category

BOEING LAUNCHES MARITIME BROADBAND SERVICE—In a pioneering move, the Connexion by Boeing broadband service, already offered by several airlines, is being launched for maritime use in 50 ships operated by the London-based Teekay Shipping Corporation. http://www.techweb.com/wire/networking/164303278#_

OUTSOURCE 'MUNDANE' NETWORKING, GARTNER SAYS—IT departments are outsourcing more elements of their network infrastructure to free up resources for high value projects, according to analyst Gartner. http://www.zdnetasia.com/insight/business/0,39044868,39236947,00.html

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