Communications-related Headlines is a free online news summary service =
provided by the Benton Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday =
through Friday, this service provides updates on important industry =
developments, policy issues, and other related news events. Headlines =
are compiled this week by Norris Dickard (norris( at )benton.org) -- we =
welcome your comments.
INTERNET
States May Take Aim at File Sharing
Apple iTunes "Rock and Roll"
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION
'Nanograss' Now on the Way?
Siemens Pushing "Push-to-Talk"
FCC=20
Network Reliability and Interoperability Council To Begin Work
INTERNET
STATES MAY TAKE AIM AT FILE SHARING
State attorneys general may be gearing up for action against Internet =
file-sharing companies. A draft of a letter under the signature of =
California attorney general, Bill Lockyer addressed to companies that =
develop file-sharing or peer-to-peer software (P2P), called on them to =
warn their customers about the legal and personal risks that they face =
using such software. As it became known that lobbyists in the movie =
industry helped write "the declaration of war," many in the P2P camp =
complained of undue influence. A spokesperson for Mr. Lockyer said he =
was hoping to encourage the P2P industry to police itself -- and noted =
the letter was only a draft. P2P industry reps said they were doing =
enough already.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: John Schwartz]
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/16/technology/16peer.html
APPLE iTUNES "ROCK AND ROLL"
And in related news, Apple Computer Inc. said Monday it has sold more =
than 50 million songs through its online iTunes Music Store. Several =
other online music services followed Apple's 99-cents-per-download lead =
with similar a la carte song services but Apple still maintains a clear =
lead over its closest rival, Napster.
[Source: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Associated =
Press]http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60446-2004Mar15.htm=
l
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION
NANOGRASS NOW ON THE WAY?
A new "chameleonic" material developed at Bell Labs sheds water droplets =
like a waxed car, but, at the flick of a switch, turns absorbent like a =
paper towel. The material could help cool future computer chips, where =
droplets sink in just in the spots that are hot. It could also be used =
for filters and switches for optical networks by moving droplets in and =
out, turning a surface from clear to opaque.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Kenneth Chang]
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/16/science/16NANO.html
SIEMENS PUSHING "PUSH-TO-TALK"
German technology conglomerate Siemens said it would cooperate with =
rivals Motorola and Ericsson to develop a standard for "push-to-talk" =
technology. The goal is to make their technologies compatible. =
Push-to-talk allows handsets to be used like walkie-talkies. Mobile =
phone operators believe this feature will increase their revenues by =
encouraging users to talk more. "Push-to-talk" is popular in North =
America but has yet to take off elsewhere.=20
[Source: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Reuters]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62135-2004Mar16.html?nav=3D=
headlines
FCC=20
RENEWED FCC NETWORK RELIABILITY AND INTEROPERABILITY COUNCIL TO BEGIN =
WORK
The FCC's Network Reliability and Interoperability Council ("Council") =
will hold its first meeting under a renewed charter. The meeting will =
take place on Tuesday, March 30, 2004, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in =
the FCC Meeting Room, TW-C305 at 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. =
The Council was established to bring together telecommunications =
industry leaders and experts to explore and recommend measures to =
enhance network security and reliability.=20
[SOURCE: FCC]
http://www.fcc.gov/
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