Lifestyles
NYT: In Cyberspace, Every Day Is Halloween
NYT: A Wired Generation Comes of Age on the Net
Regulation
NTIA: Government Self-Control: Resisting the Urge to Regulate
TelecomAM: Outgoing FCC Chief of Staff Leaves Behind
'Prisoners of the Industry'
Campaign Finance Reform Update
WP: March Deadline Set for Senate Campaign Finance Bill
Infrastructure
TelecomAM: Bellcore Study Proposes Solution to Internet
Congestion on Telephone Networks
Competition
TelecomAM: Solution Mapped Out In GTE-Baby Bell Online Yellow Pages Wars
** Lifestyles **
Title: In Cyberspace, Every Day Is Halloween
Source: New York Times (CyberTimes)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/103197masquerade.html
Author: Lisa Napoli
Issue: Lifestyles
Description: "Dressing in costumes and temporarily adopting a new persona
may be a once-a-year thrill for most people at Halloween, but there are
those in this day and age who spend hours daily on the Web pretending to be
something they're not."
Title: A Wired Generation Comes of Age on the Net
Source: New York Times (CyberTimes)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/nation/103197nation.html
Author: Jason Chervokas & Tom Watson nation( at )nytimes.com
Issue: Lifestyles
Description: A generation of Americans is coming of age online: "A
generation of children who are utterly at home with computers and the
networked universe is growing up now, and they don't need metaphors like the
virtual desktop to be able to deal with cyberspace." And this generation may
be the first to embrace "virtual relationships" in which online friends are
closer than those who live near by. A new study by FIND/SVP called "Children
on the Internet" estimates that 14% of US children are active online. [For
related sites see http://www.pclink.com/cnoble/,
http://members.aol.com/Dance798/home3.html, Kids on the Web
http://www.wenet.net/~leroyc/kidsweb/, and GIRL
http://www.worldkids.net/girl/]
** Regulation **
Title: Government Self-Control: Resisting the Urge to Regulate
Source: NTIA
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/speeches/101597wsj.htm
Author: Larry Irving
Issue: Regulation
Description: Mr. Irving's remarks at the The Wall Street Journal Technology
Summit, New York City, October 15, 1997. "Today, the Internet epitomizes the
ability of new technologies to empower the individual. The Net gives people
a new voice as well the power to use it. People are communicating directly
with government officials and community leaders. Electronic commerce is the
ultimate entrepreneurial vehicle, used by individuals the world over, from
artists in New Mexico to rug weavers in Morocco to basketmakers in Botswana...."
Title: Outgoing FCC Chief of Staff Leaves Behind 'Prisoners of the Industry'
Source: Telecom A.M.---Oct. 31, 1997
http://capitol.cappubs.com/am/
Issue: Regulation
Description: Blair Levin, the outgoing Chief of Staff at the Federal
Communications Commission, talked about the lack of local competition during
an Economic Strategy Institute lecture and discussed what he called the
"prisoner's dilemma": his theory that prisoners separated from one another
get punished depending on what the other prisoner is or isn't revealing. Mr.
Levin described the FCC as "prisoners of the industry" who will be
surrounded by a ring of lobbyists. He credited the new FCC chairman as
having enough 'backbone' to say 'no' to lobbyists
and friends. "Bill Kennard has this attribute. I've seen him stand tall," he
said. Applying his theory to the telecom industry, Mr. Levin explained that
companies aren't talking to each other, don't know what the other is doing,
and are mutually distrustful. This won't help competition flourish, he said.
** Campaign Finance Reform Update **
Title: March Deadline Set for Senate Campaign Finance Bill
Source: Washington Post (A4)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-10/31/1611-103197-idx.html
Author: Helen Dewar
Issue: Campaigns
Description: Senate leaders agreed to take up campaign finance legislation
by early March, thus clearing the way for action on other initiatives -- like
President Clinton's request for "fast-track" trade negotiating authority.
Democrats had been blocking all but "urgent" legislation to force
Republicans to agrees to an "acceptable" plan for debate and votes on
campaign finance. Minority leader Thomas A. Daschle said the key to winning
the agreement was four defeats suffered by Republicans over the last two weeks.
[For more on campaign finance reform visit Destination Democracy at
http://www.destinationdemocracy.org/intro.html]
** Infrastructure **
Title: Bellcore Study Proposes Solution to Internet Congestion
on Telephone Networks
Source: Telecom A.M.---Oct. 31, 1997
http://capitol.cappubs.com/am/
Issue: Infrastructure
Description: Amir Atai and James Gordon, two Bellcore consultants,
recently released a white paper that recommended a packet-switched network
approach to Internet congestion that uses the features and intelligence
already embedded in today's network. The increasing popularity of the
Internet has service providers and equipment vendors seeking ways to
"off-load" 'Net traffic onto data networks. Atai and Gordon agree and
believe that ADSL systems and cable modems offer the best of long-term
solutions. But, they also believe in using pre-existing overlays of SS7 and
intelligent network capabilities to detect and re-route 'Net traffic onto
packet-switched networks.
** Competition **
Title: Solution Mapped Out In GTE-Baby Bell Online Yellow Pages Wars
Source: Telecom A.M.---Oct. 31, 1997
http://capitol.cappubs.com/am/
Issue: Competition
Description: A San Francisco-based Internet company, 555-1212.com has
posted a map of the U.S. with access to both GTE and Baby Bells' yellow
pages directories. This move is one of the first to offer solutions amidst
the online wars. Jeff Field, founder of 555-1212.com, sees his company's
approach as a compromising solution saying, "The Internet evolved as an open
playing field. From my company's perspective, we'd like it to remain that
way." Field said that his company is focused on providing a resource for the
most accurate and up-to-date info at the 555-1212.com site, which is a well
traveled global and U.S. directory. Field continued, "I believe our move to
post a map with access to both GTE and the Baby Bells is one Internet users
will support."
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