Global Policy and Government Affairs (GPGA)

If you have high-tech public policy news or announcements that you think other eUpdate subscribers would be interested in, please send them to john.earnhardt@cisco.com. There are over 1300 subscribers to Cisco Government Affairs' eUpdate.

CISCO GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS WEBSITE - Please visit www.cisco.com/gov to view our worldwide government affairs website. You can reach any member of the team at: http://www.cisco.com/gov/contact/index.html. Also see Q&A with Laura Ipsen, Vice President of Worldwide Government Affairs, as she reviews the issues that Cisco is focusing on: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/media_info/public_policy_overview.html

CISCO VIDEO – “ABCs of VoIP” – Cisco video discussing the basics of Voice over Internet Protocol – VoIP. Good primer for those new to VoIP. http://tools.cisco.com/cmn/jsp/index.jsp?id=43596&redir=YES&userid=(none)

SAN FRANCISCO SEES ECONOMIC VITALITY IN CITYWIDE WI-FI— While lawmakers in some
parts of the country are fighting to ban free wireless broadband access, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is looking at it as a potential tool for fixing community. http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=
GMZD45HZRRO2GQSNDBOCKHSCJUMEKJVN?articleID=169400331

FCC RULES FOR VOIP E911 CHALLENGED— A provider of Internet phone calls is challenging new Federal Communication Commission rules requiring the company to ensure reliable 911 emergency call service. Nuvio Corporation, which has about 10,000 subscribers, has filed a motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia asking the court to hear the case. http://www.advancedippipeline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=168602003

MILITARY CHOOSES TECH TO IMPROVE TERRORISM READINESS— After testing more than 100 technologies earlier this summer, the military has tabbed three communication and IT systems to improve emergency response. http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=
GMZD45HZRRO2GQSNDBOCKHSCJUMEKJVN?articleID=169400172

TRACKING CHIPS USE SPREADS FROM GOODS TO PASSPORTS— The State Department said this month that electronic passports containing RFID chips would likely be issued to the public as early as next year. http://www.technewsworld.com/story/45515.html

DHS LOOKS AT BIGGER PICTURE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION R&D—The Homeland Security Department is taking a cross-sector approach to protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure in a new national R&D plan released this week. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/technology-policy/36739-1.html

OMB OUTLINES E-GOV REPORTING REQUIREMENTS— The Office of Management and Budget is following its own collect-once-and-use-many mantra for the fiscal 2005 report to Congress on the E-Government Act of 2002. http://www.gcn.com/24_23/e_gov/36652-1.html

BT SUSPENDS BUSINESS BROADBAND ROLLOUT—BT has stopped rolling out its business broadband service until at least early 2006, citing lack of demand caused by high prices. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/broadband/0,39020342,39214099,00.htm

OFCOM ISSUES PRICE CONTROLS ON BT NARROWBAND SERVICES—Ofcom has published details of network charge controls for BT narrowband products for four years starting October of this year. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=176144

BT LAUNCHES LATEST TECHNOLOGY TIMELINE— British telco BT’s futurology department has launched its latest Technology Timeline, which predicts the technological advances that will impact our future. http://www.dmeurope.com/default.asp?ArticleID=9744

UK GOVERNMENT SEEKS E-PROCUREMENT BEST PRACTICE— The UK government has launched a global survey into public sector procurement practices to help inform European e-government strategies. The results will be released at the EU Ministerial E-Government Conference in November. http://www.dmeurope.com/default.asp?ArticleID=9712

NEW BELARUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT TO CO-ORDINATE E-GOVERNMENT— The Belarus Department of Informatization under the Ministry of Communications and Informatization is to be established in Belarus in accordance with a recent presidential decree. http://www.dmeurope.com/default.asp?ArticleID=9741

T-MOBILE HUNGARY LAUNCHES W-LAN ACCESS AT LAKE BALATON— Mobile operator T-Mobile Hungary, which offers W-LAN access, has launched its mobile internet service in the Lake Balaton region, by adding nine access points. http://www.dmeurope.com/default.asp?ArticleID=9750

WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY GROWTH IN MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA— Research and Markets - a Dublin-based company that analyzes trends and provides forecasts in several communications and computer sectors - ranked the Middle East and Africa as the fastest growing wireless markets in the world. http://www.techweb.com/wire/mobile/169400361

FALCON CABLE GETS GOING— Work has begun on laying the underwater sections of Flag Telecom's Falcon fibre optic loop cable system, which links through the Middle East from Egypt to India. http://www.ameinfo.com/65989.html

UAE- INTERNET SLOWDOWN TO CONTINUE— Internet services will remain disrupted in the UAE for several more days, as engineers have not yet received permits from the Indian government to repair two damaged submarine cables, reported Gulf News. http://www.ameinfo.com/65803.html

BAHRAIN- TEMPORARY WIFI LICENCES— Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has started accepting applications for temporary WiFi frequency licenses. All operators using WiFi or Hot Spots are required to apply for the temporary license. http://www.ameinfo.com/65775.html

KENYA- VOIP IS A CHALLENGE FOR TELEPHONE FIRMS— The Communications Commission of Kenya last week issued guidelines for the provision of voice over internet protocol (VoiP). Going by the Commission's definition, VoiP is the transmission of voice as packets over traditional switched networks or over internet networks (a telecommunication service whereby voice messages are transmitted as packets over the internet or other telecommunications network). http://allafrica.com/stories/200508151302.html

OTTAWA TO GIVE POLICE MORE POWER TO SNOOP— The federal government will introduce legislation this fall that would give police and national security agencies new powers to eavesdrop on cellphone calls and monitor the Internet activities of Canadians, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said. http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050819/COTLER17/TPTechnology/

JALISCO AIMS FOR US$2BN IN IT REVENUE BY 2010— Mexico's Jalisco state is aiming to generate US$2bn in IT equipment and services by 2010, Francisco Medina, director of the state's private sector, science and technology organization Coecytjal said. http://www.bnamericas.com/story.jsp?idioma=I&sector=1&noticia=326662

MEXICO-DIVEO EXPECTS 32-33% REVENUE GROWTH IN 2005— The Mexican unit of Latin American broadband and IT services provider Diveo expects revenue to increase by 32-33% this year compared to 2004. http://www.bnamericas.com/story.jsp?idioma=I&sector=2&noticia=327056

CHILE- VTR LAUNCHES 10-MEGABYTE BROADBAND SERVICE— Chilean triple play provider VTR has launched a 10-megabyte broadband service, becoming the first broadband service provider to offer this speed in Latin America. http://www.bnamericas.com/story.jsp?idioma=I&sector=2&noticia=326824

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT FINALLY APPROVES TELSTRA SALE—The government has finally approved the full sale of Telstra, Prime Minister John Howard said. The sale is expected to take place in 2006. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=175923

AUSTRALIA APPROVES $3B PACKAGE FOR TELSTRA BUSH SERVICES—The A$30 billion ($23.1 billion) sale of Telstra has taken a major step forward with federal cabinet approving a $3 billion package to improve services in the bush. Prime Minister John Howard and senior cabinet ministers last night approved the package, which includes $1 billion to roll out broadband Internet services. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=175625

MCI EXPANDS BROADBAND SERVICE IN APAC— MCI has announced it is expanding Internet DSL access services in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Until now, MCI offered DSL service in Australia only. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=175630

RFID TO TRACK ARMY SUPPLIES IN IRAQ—Australian troops in Iraq will use radio frequency identification tags to monitor the movement of their equipment. The Australian Defence Force wants to improve monitoring and control of its critical distribution network, which provides items like rations and weapons to armed forces. http://news.com.com/RFID+to+track+army+supplies+in+Iraq/2100-7337_3-5839786.html?tag=nefd.top

JAPAN INTERNET CEO TO RUN AS DE FACTO LDP CANDIDATE— Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi tapped a maverick Internet CEO as a de facto candidate on Friday, the latest celebrity to run against party rebels in an election being cast as a referendum on reform. http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1466326,0003.htm

JAPAN PROJECT AIMS TO CREATE 3D TV BY 2020— Imagine watching a football game on a TV that not only shows the players in three dimensions but also lets you experience the smells of the stadium and maybe even pat a goal scorer on the back. Japan plans to make this futuristic television a commercial reality by 2020 as part of a broad national project that will bring together researchers from the government, technology companies and academia. http://news.com.com/Japan+project+aims+to+create+3D+TV+by+2020/2100-1041_3-5839341.html?tag=nefd.top

PHILIPPINE REGULATOR TO ISSUE FINAL RULING ON VOIP—A final ruling declaring that VoIP should not be monopolized by Philippine telcos is expected to be issued next week by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).The ruling will state that VoIP should also be made commercially available by companies such as ISPs, and is seen ending a two-year debate on which firms can offer VoIP. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=175921

KT MISSES WI-FI TARGET— KT recently announced that subscribers to its high-speed wireless Internet service reached 500,000 as of August. The announcement, however, showed KT has failed to meet its subscription target for the Wi-Fi service. KT had hoped to attract one million subscribers to its Wi-Fi service, called "Nespot" by the end of 2004. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=175926

CITING SECURITY CONCERNS, INDIA SLOWS HUAWEI EXPANSION PLANS— Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei Technologies' expansion plans have again drawn the attention of Indian security agencies. For the second time in the last five years, Indian security agencies have moved to slow Huawei's expansion plans out of concern for India’s strategic telecom network. http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=168601928

THE QUEST FOR A MUNICIPAL UTOPIA - Something exciting about the future of the Internet is happening in the heart of Utah. http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-jlqz1124223622523.html

JUST SAY 'NO' TO DMV-IZATION OF BROADBAND (OPINION)— Getting high-speed access in San Francisco is not a problem. According to the FCC, when all San Francisco zip codes are taken together, the number of high-speed Internet providers (DSL, cable modem, wireless, satellite, fiber) offering broadband service to at least one customer is around 12. The same number, the data show, applies to poorer neighborhoods, like the Bayview District, Hunters Point, and Western Addition. http://www.technewsworld.com/story/45576.html

CALIFORNIA PUTS IT SERVICES AND ACQUISITION UNDER ONE ROOF— California established its new state technology services department last month with a mission: Send a clear signal to agencies and industry that the state is serious about consolidating IT services and functions and leveraging its buying power. http://www.gcn.com/24_23/state-local/36662-1.html

CALIFORNIA RESTRUCTURES CALNET II TELECOMMUNICATIONS RFP— The California Department of General Services released a memo to vendors from Sandra Bierer, Department of Technology Services' Network Services chief, regarding changes to the CALNET II program, a billion-dollar contract for telecommunications services. Instead of bidding on a single bundled contract, CALNET II has been split into four separate modules. http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=96286

FLORIDA-COURT RECORDS SHOULD GO ONLINE, STATE PANEL SAYS— Florida courts should post most of their records online, but stricter data privacy laws are needed both in the state and nationwide. http://news.com.com/Court+records+should+go+online%2C+state+panel+says/2100-1028_3-5839854.html

CITIES JOIN INTEL'S WI-FI PROGRAM— Intel and several corporate partners launched a program aimed at helping cities use wireless networks to better serve their citizens--and perhaps make a little cash on the side. Thirteen cities are currently participating in the initiative, called "Digital Communities." Its goal is to give cities technical resources and discounts to help them establish or build out their broadband wireless infrastructure so they can better connect with police and fire personnel as well as with public-works employees such as meter readers and building inspectors. http://news.com.com/Cities+join+Intels+Wi-Fi+program/2100-7351_3-5838623.html

IDAHO- NEW WIRELESS RECORD CLAIMED— A small wireless Internet service provider in Idaho and a wireless equipment start-up claim to have set a new record for transmitting data across a wireless link this week. Microserv Computer Technologies, based in Idaho Falls, and Trango Broadband Wireless, a fixed-wireless broadband equipment maker, announced on Tuesday that they wirelessly transmitted data over unlicensed spectrum 137.2 miles. http://news.com.com/New+wireless+record+claimed/2100-7351_3-5835374.html

BLUE, RED STATE BROADBAND PENETRATION MIRRORS ELECTION RESULTS— U.S. households continue to install broadband at a furious rate, according to a report released Wednesday. Curiously, the penetration of cable modem and DSL has been tracking state-by-state splits in the 2004 presidential election. In its latest broadband report of what it calls "one of the fastest adopted services in U.S. history," the Leichtman Research Group noted that eight "Blue" states with broadband penetration over 35 percent had all voted for John Kerry while eleven "Red" states with broadband penetration at or below 20 percent all voted for George Bush in 2004. http://www.techweb.com/wire/networking/169300126

CLEVELAND, OHIO DEPLOYS NEW ENTERPRISE PERMIT, LICENSE, AND CODE ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM— Cleveland, Ohio, has successfully deployed Accela Automation as the City's new Web-based enterprise permit, license, and code enforcement system. The new system, deployed in 11 key departments, integrates activities citywide in one central data warehouse, provides online services to citizens, and powers inspectors with mobile devices to shift their operations directly to the field. http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=96303

DELAWARE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT RECEIVES CIO 100 AWARD— CIO magazine recently named the Delaware Department of Technology and Information (DTI), led by Tom Jarrett, as one of the recipients of its 2005 CIO 100 Award. Jarrett, chief information officer and secretary of DTI, currently serves as president of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=96310

WORLDWIDE IT SPENDING TO REACH €1.1 TRILLION IN 2009 – REPORT— Worldwide IT spending is to increase to €1.1 trillion by the end of 2009, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9 per cent from 2005-2009, according to a report from market advisory firm IDC. Government, manufacturing, and banking will be the industries that provide the most attractive opportunities for IT vendors worldwide. http://www.dmeurope.com/default.asp?ArticleID=9767

BROADBAND'S NEW MATH PROBLEM—VDSL2 is officially a global standard - and not a moment too soon for telcos, according to industry players who say that between home networks, P2P and high-definition TV, old-school ADSL just isn't going to do the trick. http://www.telecomasia.net/telecomasia/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=173990

VOIP CONSUMERS TO SOAR, REPORT SAYS— The number of consumers bypassing the traditional phone network and opting for Internet voice service is soaring beyond expectations. An analysis by the TeleGeography research group found 2.7 million subscribers nationwide in the second quarter, compared with just 440,000 a year earlier. http://www.networkingpipeline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=169400089

CONSUMERS STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WI-FI POTENTIAL: SURVEY— While wireless LANs in homes are widespread, many consumers still don't understand the potential use of their networks with consumer electronics devices, according to a survey released Wednesday by market research firm In-Stat. Instead, most of the 640 respondents tend to use their Wi-Fi networks primarily for data applications such as connecting PCs and printers. http://www.mobilepipeline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=169300050

NATIONAL SUPERCOMPUTER GRID SET FOR $148M EXPANSION— The National Science Foundation will make high-speed national TeraGrid network of supercomputers available to researchers solving complex scientific and industrial problems in genomics, nanotechnology, earthquake and tornado prediction, and other areas. http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid= GMZD45HZRRO2GQSNDBOCKHSCJUMEKJVN?articleID=169400332

LATEST COMPUTER WORMS REMIND TECH MANAGERS TO BE VIGILANT ABOUT PATCHES— Hackers unleashed new variants of a computer worm that attacks a vulnerability in Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 2000 operating system, but infection rates appeared to be low and damage minor. http://www.canada.com/technology/news/story.html?id=47057dd1-2416-481c-bfbc-7a22593a299c

RACING TO BUILD THE WORLD'S MIGHTIEST COMPUTER— A global race is under way to reach the next milestone in supercomputer performance, many times the speed of today's most powerful machines. And beyond the customary rivalry in the field between the United States and Japan, there is a new entrant--China--eager to showcase its arrival as an economic powerhouse. http://news.com.com/Racing+to+build+the+worlds+mightiest+computer/2100-7337_3-5839280.html?tag=nefd.top

CABLE, PHONE BROADBAND PROVIDERS RUSHING TO GIVE USERS FREE SECURITY— Both cable operators and phone companies are rushing to offer security tools -- in most cases at no extra charge -- to people who subscribe to their speedy broadband services. http://206.190.35.122/s/ibd/2005816tech01

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