May 2006

NEWS FROM CONGRESS
Stevens Frustrated By Hold on FCC Nominee
Two-Dozen FCC Actions in Stevens Bill
The Wrong Way to further the Spread of Broadband Internet
Senators resist fast vote on decency fines
Backer of ISP snooping slams industry
The Future of Rural Telecommunications: Is Universal Service Reform Needed?
Analysis of the Communications, Consumer's=20
Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006
SaveAccess Coalition Says COPE Harms Communities, Consumers, and Citizens

RADIO/TELEVISION
Congress Examines XM's Song Recording
The Fox News Effect
Officials target Hong Kong public radio

PUNDITS
Network Neutrality, Product Differentiation, and Social Welfare
Paid-for Pundit

NEWS FROM FCC MEETING
FCC approves Net-wiretapping Taxes
VRS Providers Must Provide Interoperability with Competing Providers
FCC Addresses Internet TRS Fraud

QUICKLY -- House panel approves bill to ban=20
cyber-gambling; FTC sues companies for selling=20
phone records; Junk food ad 'Fixes' Mirror=20
Existing Self-Regs; Florida House Passes=20
Franchise-Reform Bill; Wi-Fi Revolution? Not So Fast!

NEWS FROM CONGRESS

STEVENS FRUSTRATED BY HOLD ON FCC NOMINEE
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens=20
(R-Alaska) is getting frustrated with the hold on=20
the nomination of Robert McDowell to the open=20
commissioner seat on the FCC. Sen Stevens, who=20
backed McDowell for the appointment, said=20
yesterday that he would like to talk with Senator=20
Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) about the hold. That will=20
likely have to wait until Sen Rockefeller=20
recovers from recent surgery, however.=20
Rockefeller's office has never confirmed or=20
denied the hold. Sen Rockefeller wants the=20
administration to provide clarification and=20
written confirmation that a problem with the=20
Universal Service Fund, which underwrites=20
high-speed Internet service to schools and=20
libraries is fixed. The problem, to make a very=20
long story short, is new accounting rules=20
introduced to insure the government appropriates=20
the money for a program before it spends it.=20
Those rules had an adverse impact on the=20
distribution of funds to schools, libraries, and=20
rural telcos when the FCC, under the direction of=20
the Office of Management and Budget, began=20
applying them to the USF. According to a source,=20
Rockefeller's office has gotten assurances from=20
the administration that it will fix the problem,=20
but the Senator wants it in writing. Presumably=20
when and if that happens, the hold, will be=20
lifted and McDowell's nomination can be voted on=20
and the FCC can begin to take up some key issues,=20
like its rewrite of the media ownership rules.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6331079?display=3DBreaking+News

TWO-DOZEN FCC ACTIONS IN STEVENS BILL
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Senate Commerce Committee chairman Ted Stevens=20
(R-Alaska) would turn the Federal Communications=20
Commission into a beehive of activity under his=20
135-page telecommunications bill introduced=20
Monday in a bold step partly designed to reorder=20
competition in the pay TV market. Many, but not=20
all, provisions in the Stevens bill (S. 2686)=20
would require implementation by the FCC under=20
chairman Kevin Martin. As FCC observers and=20
practitioners know well, the agency=92s rulings=20
often wind up in court, giving the last word on=20
the meaning of federal legislation to judges in=20
courtrooms across the country. Among other=20
things, the Stevens bill would require local=20
governments to grant new cable franchises within=20
30 days, subsidize broadband providers in rural=20
America for the first time and force small cable=20
operators to offer local digital-TV signals in=20
analog until Feb. 14, 2014. According to the=20
Stevens bill, two-dozen provisions will require=20
FCC rulemakings, proceedings and adjudications,=20
giving the Martin-led agency enormous power to=20
fill in gaps left by Capitol Hill lawmakers,=20
often deliberately. As the saying goes, Congress=20
paves the road, but the FCC paints the lines.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6331545.html?display=3DBreaking+News

THE WRONG WAY TO FURTHER THE SPREAD OF BROADBAND INTERNET
[SOURCE: CNet|News.com, AUTHOR: Rep Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)]
[Commentary] The Internet is the most important=20
new communications platform in American history.=20
Through an open Internet, ordinary individuals=20
can directly reach an audience of hundreds of=20
millions of people around the world with their=20
words, music, art, photography and=20
literature--with just about any kind of creation=20
imaginable. That freedom for ordinary people to=20
connect with one another has led to some=20
remarkable innovation. But recently the freedom=20
of ordinary people to connect with one another=20
has come under attack. A few large corporations=20
don't seem to value the Internet's empowerment of=20
individuals and are asserting a desire to control=20
technology. The latest chapter in that attack on=20
freedom is the fight against network neutrality.=20
For most Americans, our options for broadband=20
Internet come down to two choices--a phone=20
company or a cable company. Instead of continuing=20
our freedom to use those connections with=20
whatever content, devices and services we want,=20
some corporations want to control what we access=20
over the Internet. This would include giving=20
better connections to their favored content, and=20
charging money for that privilege. What would the=20
world look like if the Internet had been=20
controlled in this way a few years ago? Imagine=20
if the students who created Google or Yahoo had=20
been charged a fee by a phone company for the=20
privilege of letting their potential users have=20
fast access. These small projects would not have=20
turned into big ideas that revolutionized the=20
World Wide Web. The proposed control of content=20
goes directly against the level playing field=20
created by Internet technology. The concept of=20
freedom written about by Thomas Paine is being=20
challenged by this threat to net neutrality. The=20
Internet has revolutionized the way Americans=20
communicate with one another and do business.=20
It's just common sense to keep that revolution=20
where it belongs--in the hands of ordinary=20
individuals, instead of a handful of big=20
corporations. Americans' Internet freedom depends on it.
http://news.com.com/The+wrong+way+to+further+the+spread+of+broadband+Int...
et/2010-1028_3-6068364.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert

SENATORS RESIST FAST VOTE ON DECENCY FINES
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Jeremy Pelofsky]
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's quest for a=20
quick vote to hike fines on broadcast television=20
stations, radio outlets and entertainers that=20
violate decency standards met fast resistance=20
from both Republicans and Democrats on Wednesday.=20
"There are multiple problems on both sides," Sen=20
Frist spokeswoman Amy Call said, referring to the=20
objections from Republicans and Democrats. "He=20
wanted to start the process of moving the bill forward."
http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=3DtelevisionNews&sto...
D=3D2006-05-03T200316Z_01_N03391872_RTRIDST_0_TELEVISION-MEDIA-DECENCY-SENA=
TE-DC.XML
* Stevens Won't Object To Fast-Tracking Smut Bill
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6331071?display=3DBreaking+News
* Frist Pushes Senate to Pass Bill on Indecency
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/03/AR200605...
2242.html
(requires registration)

BACKER OF ISP SNOOPING SLAMS INDUSTRY
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Anne Broache and Declan McCullagh]
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Congress' leading=20
proponent of forcing Internet service providers=20
to retain records about their users' activities,=20
lashed out at the industry on Wednesday, saying=20
such a federal law will be a "very minor burden"=20
to bear. She argues that new laws were necessary=20
to thwart child pornographers and other Internet=20
predators. Investigations into illicit behavior=20
have been hampered because data may be routinely=20
deleted in the normal course of business, Rep=20
DeGette and other data retention proponents claim.
http://news.com.com/Backer+of+ISP+snooping+slams+industry/2100-1028_3-60...
39.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert

THE FUTURE OF RURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS: IS UNIVERSAL SERVICE REFORM NEEDED?
[SOURCE: Computer & Communications Industry Association press release]
On May 3, the House Small Business Subcommittee=20
on Rural Enterprises, Agriculture and Technology=20
held a hearing on "The Future of Rural=20
Telecommunications: Is Universal Service Reform=20
Needed?" Computer & Communications Industry=20
Association (CCIA) President Ed Black
told the Subcommittee that The Universal Service=20
Reform Act of 2006 is a comprehensive bill and=20
should serve as the framework for more extensive=20
reform. The provisions in the legislation offered=20
by Reps. Terry and Boucher are a much needed first
step.
See=20
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=3D109&STORY=3D/www/sto...
05-03-2006/0004353318&EDATE=3D
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=3D109&STORY=3D/www/sto...
05-03-2006/0004353318&EDATE=3D

ANALYSIS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, CONSUMER'S=20
CHOICE, AND BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ACT OF 2006
[SOURCE: Tales from the Sausage Factory, AUTHOR: Harold Feld]
[Commentary] Feld looks at various parts of the=20
massive telecom bill offered this week by Senate=20
Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens=20
(R-Alaska). His conclusion: "I find the damage=20
the Stevens Bill would do to municipal broadband=20
and network neutrality, combined with the=20
broadcast flag mandates, make this bill a 'must kill' in its current form."
* Broadcast Flag
http://www.wetmachine.com/item/497
* Munibroadband
http://www.wetmachine.com/totsf/item/498
* Network Neutrality
http://www.wetmachine.com/item/499
Also see --
* A Network Neutrality Primer
http://www.wetmachine.com/item/500

SAVEACCESS COALITION SAYS COPE HARMS COMMUNITIES, CONSUMERS, AND CITIZENS
[www.saveaccess.org press release]
As Congress puts a new telecommunications law on=20
the fast track, public outcry is growing against=20
the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and=20
Enhancement Act of 2006 =AD H.R. 5252=20
(=93COPE=94). Contending that the bill is fatally=20
flawed, a growing coalition of public interest,=20
municipal and grassroots media organizations=20
launched a new web site to send a message to=20
Congress: www.SaveAccess.org. Supporting=20
organizations include the Center for Digital=20
Democracy, Association for Community Networking,=20
Action Coalition for Media Education, Manhattan=20
Neighborhood Network, Chicago Media Action, Media=20
Alliance, Media Tank, CCTV-Cambridge and the=20
Center for Media & Democracy. The SaveAccess.org=20
Coalition is working to 1) preserve local control=20
of video franchises, 2) make sure all services=20
are available in all areas by promoting=20
anti-redlining, 3) supporting Network Neutrality,=20
and 4) advancing public, educational and=20
governmental (PEG) access channels for local use.
http://saveaccess.org/faq

RADIO/TELEVISION

CONGRESS EXAMINES XM'S SONG RECORDING
[SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, AUTHOR: Jim Puzzanghera]
A House subcommittee Wednesday grappled with the=20
sort of abstraction likely to become more common=20
in the digital age: When is a radio more than a=20
radio? Before the House subcommittee on Commerce,=20
Trade and Consumer Protection was a device from=20
XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. that allows=20
subscribers to digitally record as many as 50=20
hours of songs as they're played over the air.=20
Users can create their own playlists, but the=20
songs are locked in the $400 radio so they can't=20
be burned onto CDs or shared over the Internet.=20
Record labels say they deserve to get paid extra=20
when their songs are captured in the radios. XM disagrees. Enter Congress.
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-satradio4may04,1,4567...
.story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
(requires registration)

THE FOX NEWS EFFECT
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Richard Morin]
A brief look at a study that suggests that the=20
Fox News Channel does convince some to vote=20
Republican -- and how that changed the outcome of=20
the 2000 Presidential election. Also... Do people=20
apply a political litmus test to the news? Yes,=20
suggest the results of the latest online=20
experiment by The Washington Post,=20
washingtonpost.com and Stanford University's=20
political communication lab. The test found=20
Republicans preferred to get their news from Fox=20
-- even when the news stories were about subjects=20
far removed from politics, such as sports or=20
travel. On the other hand, Democrats avoided Fox=20
when it came to political news and preferred=20
National Public Radio and CNN. And when the news=20
focused on controversial issues such as the Iraq=20
war and politics, "partisans are especially=20
likely to screen out sources they consider=20
opposed to their political views," said Stanford=20
professor Shanto Iyengar, director of the communication lab.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/03/AR200605...
2299.html
(requires registration)

OFFICIALS TARGET HONG KONG PUBLIC RADIO
[SOURCE: The Christian Science Monitor, AUTHOR: Robert Marquand]
A quiet battle over whether the only free and=20
independent broadcaster on the land mass of China=20
will remain so is intensifying. Over a 77-year=20
span, Hong Kong public radio has dished out a=20
blend of credible news and cultural programming=20
in three languages, served as a link between=20
expatriates and the Hong Kong street, and has=20
gained increasing editorial autonomy and respect.=20
Yet that is exactly what bothers influential=20
pro-Beijing forces who wish media to more fully=20
trumpet government policies. Many of them see=20
Radio Television Hong Kong, or "RTHK" as it is=20
popularly known, as an irritant at best and a=20
damaging critic at worst - allowing a broad range=20
of opinion, including mild satire and programs=20
that may challenge official proposals, all at=20
taxpayer expense. The basic issue: Will RTHK be=20
cut, restricted, or turned into a cheerleader for=20
government policies? Or will it evolve into a=20
subsidized but separate identity, similar to the BBC or Channel 4 in London?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0504/p07s02-woap.html

PUNDITS

NETWORK NEUTRALITY, PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION, AND SOCIAL WELFARE
[SOURCE: Trevor R. Roycroft, Ph.D.]
A recent addition to the argument that network=20
neutrality can undermine last-mile broadband=20
competition is a Phoenix Center Policy Paper by=20
George S. Ford, Thomas M. Koutsky and Lawrence J.=20
Spiwak titled =93Network Neutrality and Industry=20
Structure." The major policy recommendation=20
offered by Ford et al. is that policymakers=20
=93should avoid network neutrality mandates that=20
have the intent or effect of =91commoditizing=92=20
broadband access services since such a policy=20
approach is likely to deter facilities-based=20
competition, reduce the expansion and deployment=20
of advanced communications networks, and increase=20
prices.=94 There are four fatal flaws in the Ford=20
et al analysis, each of which completely=20
undermines their conclusion that policy makers=20
may harm social welfare by pursuing a policy of=20
network neutrality. Specifically, Ford et al.=92s=20
policy recommendation is unsupported as their=20
economic analysis fails to address substantial=20
scale economies and sunk costs associated with=20
the provision of last-mile broadband networks,=20
assumes that policy makers could totally=20
eliminate network differentiation, and also=20
ignores the negative impact that abandoning=20
network neutrality principles will have on=20
competition for Internet content, services, and=20
applications. Ford et al.=92s conclusions are not=20
supported by their economic model or economic theory.
http://www.roycroftconsulting.org/response_to_Ford.pdf

PAID-FOR PUNDIT
[SOURCE: New York Post, AUTHOR: Tim Arango tim.arango( at )nypost.com]
Major U.S. newspapers often quote Jeff Kagan -=20
regarded as one of the most influential=20
telecommunications analysts - but invariably=20
leave out the fact that he is paid by many=20
companies in the industry to offer his comments=20
to the media. His Web site declares: "Kagan is a=20
'fee-based' analyst. He gives interviews,=20
analysis and insights to the media for free, and=20
charges everyone else." Kagan declined to talk=20
specifically about fees, but one source said a=20
typical arrangement is for the company to pay=20
$10,000 a month in exchange for his services.=20
Kagan admits he is rarely asked by reporters if=20
he is being paid by the companies he is speaking=20
about. He said he is more frequently asked if he=20
has an investment relationship with a particular=20
company, and does not hold stock in the companies=20
he counts as clients. "If they don't have me on=20
retainer I will talk about them" in the media,=20
Kagan said. "But my comments won't be that deep."=20
The Wall Street analyst scandal has made it=20
common practice for reporters to disclose=20
investment banking relationships when quoting=20
analysts from Wall Street firms. But when quoting=20
analysts from other organizations, conflicts are=20
rarely discussed. "It's not a securities issue,"=20
said an analyst at a Wall Street firm. "It's a=20
question of public trust in journalism."
http://www.nypost.com/business/67923.htm

NEWS FROM FCC MEETING

FCC APPROVES NET-WIRETAPPING TAXES
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Declan McCullagh and Anne Broache]
Broadband providers and Internet phone companies=20
will have to pick up the tab for the cost of=20
building in mandatory wiretap access for police=20
surveillance, federal regulators ruled Wednesday.=20
The Federal Communications Commission voted=20
unanimously to levy what likely will amount to=20
wiretapping taxes on companies, municipalities=20
and universities, saying it would create an=20
incentive for them to keep costs down and that it=20
was necessary to fight the war on terror.=20
Universities have estimated their cost to be=20
about $7 billion. The American Council on=20
Education, which represents 1,800 colleges and=20
universities, estimates that the costs of CALEA=20
compliance could total roughly $7 billion for the=20
entire higher-education community, or a tuition=20
hike of $450 for every student in the nation.=20
Documents filed in the lawsuit challenging the=20
FCC's rules put the cost at hundreds of dollars=20
per student. But during yesterday's vote,=20
commissioners dismissed those concerns as=20
unfounded. "I am not persuaded merely by largely=20
speculative allegations that the financial burden=20
on the higher-education community could total=20
billions of dollars," said FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate.
http://news.com.com/FCC+approves+Net-wiretapping+taxes/2100-1028_3-60679...
html?tag=3Dhtml.alert
* See FCC press release
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-265221A1.doc
* FCC keeps deadline for broadband wiretap access
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-05-04T052546Z_01_N03434052_RTRUKOC_0_US-SECURITY-TELECOMS.xml&archi=
ved=3DFalse

FCC DECLARES VIDEO RELAY SERVICE PROVIDERS MUST=20
PROVIDE INTEROPERABILITY WITH COMPETING PROVIDERS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
In response to a petition by the California=20
Coalition of Agencies Serving the Deaf and Hard=20
of Hearing, the FCC has found that all Video=20
Relay Service (VRS) consumers must be able to=20
place a VRS call through any VRS provider's=20
service, and all VRS providers must be able to=20
receive calls from, and make calls to, any VRS=20
consumer. The Commission also determined that=20
restricting the use of a provider's VRS service=20
so that consumers cannot access other VRS=20
providers is inconsistent with the functional=20
equivalency mandate, the public interest and the=20
intent of Congress. VRS is a form of the=20
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) that=20
enables persons who use American Sign Language=20
(ASL) to communicate with voice telephone=20
users. Video equipment links the VRS user with a=20
relay operator - called a "communications=20
assistant" (CA) - so that the VRS user and the CA=20
can see and communicate with each other in=20
ASL. The CA translates the signed language into=20
spoken language for the hearing party on the=20
call. Because of its speed, VRS has become an=20
enormously popular form of TRS. In its=20
Declaratory Ruling, the Commission declared it=20
inconsistent with the notion of functional=20
equivalency to require VRS consumers to have=20
multiple sets of equipment to be connected to=20
multiple providers. It noted that public safety=20
concerns are raised when a consumer has VRS=20
equipment that can be used only with one=20
provider's service. In an accompanying Further=20
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission=20
asked for comment on the creation of an open and=20
global database of proxy numbers for VRS=20
consumers, so that a hearing person may call a=20
VRS consumer more easily. The Commission also=20
asked for comment on whether it should adopt=20
specific Internet protocols or standards to ensure interoperability.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-265218A1.doc

FCC ADDRESSES ISSUE OF INTERNET TRS FRAUD
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The FCC has opened a proceeding requesting=20
comment on ways to curtail the abuse of the two=20
Internet-based forms of Telecommunications Relay=20
Service (TRS) -- Internet Protocol (IP) Relay=20
Service and Video Relay Service (VRS). Such=20
misuse, including, using IP Relay to make=20
telephone purchases from merchants using stolen,=20
fake, or otherwise invalid credit cards, or=20
improperly using VRS as a substitute for=20
in-person interpreters, results in improper=20
compensation from the Interstate TRS=20
Fund. Although calls that reach relay centers=20
via the Internet contain no calling party number=20
or location information, TRS providers and their=20
employees who process IP Relay calls can often=20
identify wasteful calls. The Commission asked for=20
comments on additional steps it might take to=20
prevent misuse. It also asked whether it should=20
adopt rules to guide the discretion of TRS=20
providers in determining whether a call is illegitimate.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-265219A1.doc

QUICKLY

HOUSE PANEL APPROVES BILL TO BAN CYBER-GAMBLING
[SOURCE: Reuters]
On Wednesday, the House Judiciary subcommittee on=20
crime approved a bill that would ban Internet=20
gambling, estimated to be a $12 billion industry.=20
The legislation would update and expand an=20
existing federal law to cover all forms of=20
interstate gambling within the United States, and=20
would bar a gambling business from accepting=20
payment in the form of credit cards, checks, wire=20
and Internet transfers. It would also prohibit=20
gambling on an estimated 2,300 Internet gambling sites.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DinternetNews&storyID=
=3D2006-05-04T031118Z_01_N03403359_RTRUKOC_0_US-LEISURE-CONGRESS-GAMBLING.x=
ml

FTC SUES COMPANIES FOR SELLING PHONE RECORDS
[SOURCE: Reuters]
The Federal Trade Commission said on Wednesday it=20
has filed suit against five online companies,=20
charging they had illegally sold confidential=20
phone records. The FTC is asking a court to bar=20
the sale of the phone records and force the=20
companies to give up the money they made with=20
their operations. The companies identified in the=20
suit are: Integrity Security & Investigations=20
Services Inc., based in Yorktown, Virginia; 77=20
Investigations Inc., and Reginald Kimbro, based=20
in Upland, California; AccuSearch Inc., doing=20
business as Abika.com, and Jay Patel, based in=20
Cheyenne, Wyoming; CEO Group Inc., doing business=20
as Check Em Out, and Scott Joseph, based in Fort=20
Lauderdale, Florida; and Information Search Inc.,=20
and David Kacala, based in Baltimore, Maryland.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-05-03T200016Z_01_N03361870_RTRUKOC_0_US-TELECOMS-FTC.xml
* FTC Says 5 Firms Sold Cellphone Records
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/03/AR200605...
2145.html
* FTC Sues Five Firms Over Data Sales
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-ftc4may04,1,1396112.s...
y?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business

FTC 'FIXES' MIRROR EXISTING SELF-REGS
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
In a report released this week, the Federal Trade=20
Commission and the Department of Health and Human=20
Services made a point of saying they were making=20
recommendations to the industry on how it can=20
better market foods to kids that they planned to=20
"monitor closely." But some of items pitched as=20
recommendations in the report mirror pledges=20
already made, and in some cases instituted, by the ad industry.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6331148?display=3DBreaking+News

FLORIDA HOUSE PASSES FRANCHISE-REFORM BILL
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Linda Haugsted]
The Florida House of Representatives approved a=20
franchise-reform bill Wednesday that will enable=20
statewide regulation by July 1, but lobbyists for=20
the cable industry expressed doubt that backers=20
of the bill can get the proposal through the=20
state Senate in time for the end of the legislative session Friday.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6331523.html?display=3DBreaking+News

WI-FI REVOLUTION? NOT SO FAST!
[SOURCE: BusinessWeek, AUTHOR: Olga Kharif]
Disagreements over standards, rival technologies,=20
and concerns about hotspot security are bringing=20
the industry's hopes down to earth with a crash.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2006/tc20060502_738925...
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