EduTech
TeleAM: Lansing, Mich. May Lease PCS Tower Sites To Raise Funds
For School
Internet
NYT: Congress Faces List of Internet Issues
NYT: Bell Atlantic Opposes Internet Regulation
WSJ: Barnes & Noble, Disney To Unveil Agreement To Sell Books on Web
NTIA: New Frontiers on the Information Superhighway
Privacy
NTIA: Elements of Effective Self-Regulation for Protection of Privacy
Antitrust
NYT: Gates Goes on the Offensive During Silicon Valley Visit
WP: Gates Says Government Would Stifle Innovation
WSJ: Microsoft Isn't 'Defiant' In Justice Case, Gates Says
Campaign Finance Reform
WSJ: FCC Chief to Seek Free Air Time for Candidates
** EduTech **
Title: Lansing, Mich. May Lease PCS Tower Sites To Raise Funds For School
Source: Telecom AM---jan. 28, 1998
http://www.telecommunications.com/am/
Issue: EduTech/Wireless
Description: Local official in Lansing, Mich. are considering offering
wireless telecom companies a package of 15 sites in the city for locating
personal communications service and digital cellular communications towers,
in order to generate revenues for classroom technology programs in the
city's public schools. The Lansing board of Education and Lansing City
Council say they will be meeting to discuss a proposal by the nonprofit
Commission for Lansing School Success to take advantage of the high market
interest in wireless phone services to raise money for badly needed
technology upgrades in the schools.
** Internet **
Title: Congress Faces List of Internet Issues
Source: New York Times/CyberTimes
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/012898congress.html
Author: Jeri Clausing
Issue: Internet Regulation
Description: As Congress returns from a long winter break they face a
growing list of complex decisions that will shape the future of Internet
content, commerce and privacy. One of the key unresolved issues from the
fall session is the regulation of encryption technology. "We remain
skeptical as to whether the industry attempt to relax export controls is
truly viable at this point," Dave Banisar of the Electronic Privacy
Information Center (EPIC) said at a privacy briefing last week. "If it comes
down to a bad bill...versus no bill at all, we prefer to have no bill at
this point." Don Haynes, a consultant for the American Civil Liberties Union
and former lobbyist, said the ACLU opposes "any legislation on encryption
right now because we believe the political climate in Congress is such that
it will inevitable serve as a vehicle for anti-privacy controls on domestic
use of encryption." For a brief overview on other bills to regulate the
Internet that Congress will be considering, click on:
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/012898congress.html and scroll
down to the second half of the article.
Title: Bell Atlantic Opposes Internet Regulation
Source: New York Times/CyberTimes
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/012898phone.html
Author: Associated Press
Issue: Telephony/Internet Regulation
Description: Yesterday, Bell Atlantic, the nation's largest regional Bell
telephone company, asked the Federal Communications Commission to bar states
from regulating Internet service. Although the FCC does not have a role in
regulating the price of these high-speed communications services offered by
telephone companies, Bell Atlantic would like the commission to step in to
pre-empt state rules. "As we read the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the FCC
would have the authority to remove high-speed services from regulation
completely," said Tom Tauke, Bell Atlantic senior vice president. "In
essence, the FCC would be pre-empting the states from regulating those
services." Neither state regulators or the FCC had immediate comment on Bell
Atlantic's request.
Title: Barnes & Noble, Disney To Unveil Agreement To Sell Books on Web
Source: Wall Street Journal (B8)
http://wsj.com/
Issue: Internet Commerce
Description: Barnes & Noble and Walt Disney are expected to announce an
Internet-marketing pact in which Barnes & Noble becomes the exclusive
bookseller on Disney's popular Web site. The bookseller will also open a
special on-line boutique for Disney titles on its own site. Terms weren't
disclosed, but Barnes & Noble bought advertising and prime promotional space
at Disney.com in return for exclusivity at the site and revenue for the sale
of books. The pact is a part of Barnes and Noble's continuing effort to
become the exclusive bookseller at some of the Internet's most-visited Web
sites as it goes head-to-head with 'Net rival Amazon.com.
Title: New Frontiers on the Information Superhighway
Source: NTIA
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/feb4ma.htm
Issue: Competition
Description: NTIA will hold its third forum in the New Frontiers on the
Information Superhighway Series on Wednesday February 4, in Washington DC.
NTIA will bring together new entrants, entrepreneurs, consumer groups, and
Wall Street analysts to discuss who is investing, who is entering, and who
is competing in the rapidly changing telecommunications industry.
Participants will share their vision of how to bring greater competition to
telecommunications markets.
** Privacy **
Title: Elements of Effective Self-Regulation for Protection of Privacy
Source: NTIA
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/reports/privacydraft/198dftprin.htm
Issue: Privacy
Description: NTIA and the Department of Commerce have released a Discussion
Draft, "Elements of Effective Self-Regulation for Protection of Privacy."
The document outlines preliminary views on self-regulation and the actions
that the private sector can take in order to meet an acceptable level of
privacy protection.
** Antitrust **
Title: Gates Goes on the Offensive During Silicon Valley Visit
Source: New York Times (D4)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/012898microsoft.html
Author: John Markoff
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Microsoft's Chairman, William H. Gates, went back on offensive
yesterday during a visit to Silicon Valley. During his speech he repeatedly
said that he would not accept restrictions on his ability to add features to
Microsoft's Window 95 operating system. He insisted that he had no intention
of defying the U.S. Government, but said that Microsoft would stand by its
guiding principles as an innovator in technology. Although Gates did discuss
a variety of topics ranging from his vision for computers in the future to
his commitment to education, throughout the day questions kept returning to
the company's legal dispute with the Department of Justice.
Title: Gates Says Government Would Stifle Innovation
Source: Washington Post (C11)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-01/28/127l-012898-idx.html
Author: Elizabeth Corcoran
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Bill Gates addressed several groups yesterday, starting with
several hundred financial analysts at a conference in San Francisco and
ending with a group of students at San Jose University. In a meeting with
reporters, Gates strongly defended Microsoft against federal allegations
that the software giant had violated a 1995 consent decree by requiring
computer makers to use its Internet browsing software as a condition of
licensing its Windows 95 software. Gates said that the Government's tack
suggests that "any software available separately can't get into the
operating system. What features are we allowed to put into the OS?" he
asked, ticking off a list of functions and features that were once
stand-alone products and have since become part of the operating system. "We
put things into the OS that [software] developers and users want." He also
said, "The principle endorsed by the government wouldn't let us build
Windows 95, or Windows NT," and it would similarly inhibit work by companies
such as Oracle Corp. and Netscape communications Corp. on their core
products, gates contended. "We have to stick up for the principle of
innovation."
Title: Microsoft Isn't 'Defiant' In Justice Case, Gates Says
Source: Wall Street Journal (B15)
http://wsj.com/
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Bill Gates said the portrayal of his company as "defiant" in
its current dispute with the Justice Dept. is incorrect, but vowed to defend
the company's ability to bundle new products into its Window operating
system. "I am the opposite of defiant," Mr. Gates said in a meeting with
reporters. "I am disappointed. I am humble. I am respectful." Gates said he
won't bend on what he called the principle that Microsoft alone has the
right to determine what features to include in its software.
** Campaign Finance Reform **
Title: FCC Chief to Seek Free Air Time for Candidates
Source: Wall Street Journal (A3)
http://wsj.com/
Author: John R. Wilke
Issue: Campaign Finance Reform
Description: FCC Chairman Kennard will launch a new effort to require
broadcasters to give free air time to political candidates -- and he may
have the votes among fellow commission members to get it done. The plan
could face strong opposition from the politically powerful broadcast lobby.
There will also be resistance from the Republicans on Capitol Hill.
According to Kennard, more than 60% of funds go to pay for broadcast time,
making candidates hostages to constant fund-raising. Mr. Kennard is clearly
ready to act if Congress doesn't. "The law gives the FCC authority to define
the public interest obligations of broadcasters," he said in an interview.
"The airwaves belong to the public."
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