Communications-related Headlines for 3/11/99

INTERNET
Internet Crimes Attracting Attention of States (CyberTimes)
Libertarians Find Like Minds, and Donations, Online (CyberTimes)
Volume, Volume, Volume: A Web Buyers' Club (WP)

STAELLLITE
Bill For Shows On Staellite-TV Clears Panel (WSJ)

INTERNATIONAL
Microsoft Wants China Online (WP)
Europe's Telecom-Gear Makers Turn To The US For A Jump-Start
(WSJ)
Alcatel to Cut 12,000 Jobs (WP)

INFRASTRUCTURE
Microsoft Corp., 3Com Plan Kits For Home Nets (WSJ)

INTERNET

INTERNET CRIMES ATTRACTING ATTENTION OF STATES
Issue: Internet/Crime
As cyberspace comes to more closely mirror the real world, the task of
policing the Internet has become an important issue for law enforcement. In
a joint survey with the FBI, the Computer Security Institute of San
Francisco identified more than $100 million in losses by businesses due to
online crime. The growing sophistication and complexity of Internet crime
has resulted in the creation of statewide bureaus that solely focus on
crimes involving information technology. One of the biggest challenges
facing new state cyber sleuths is the issue of jurisdiction. "A fraud could
take place in California, but the bad guys could be in New York, Europe or
anywhere else," said Joe Chiaramonte, international president of the High
Tech Crime Investigation Association. Sean Colloly, spokes person for the
Information Technology & Law section of the Pennsylvania Attorney General's
office, explains that Internet legal presidents still need to be set. "At
this point, this is all still new and case law is still evolving."
[SOURCE: CyberTimes, AUTHOR: David Wallace]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/03/cyber/articles/11crime.html

LIBERTARIANS FIND LIKE MINDS, AND DONATIONS, ONLINE
Issue: Technology/Democracy
Perhaps for more than any other American political party, the advent of the
Internet has benefited the Libertarian Party, which claims to be America's
third largest party. In 1996 Libertarian presidential candidate Harry
Browne raised more money online than either Bob Dole or President Clinton.
This year, the party has launched an online campaign to urge the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to abandon a proposal that would
require banks to monitor and report unusual customer activities to
authorities. Within a week of the campaign's launch, a Libertarian petition
to the FDIC has received more than 37,000 online signatures. The
Libertarian's success online may be attributed to the fact that "the
Libertarian philosophy and the unregulated nature of the medium go hand in
hand," explains Raney.
[SOURCE: CyberTimes, AUTHOR: Rebecca Fairley Raney]
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/03/cyber/articles/11libertarian.html

VOLUME, VOLUME, VOLUME: A WEB BUYERS' CLUB
Issue: Electronic Commerce
In another variation of electronic commerce, Accompany plans on creating an
on-the-fly consumer cooperative on the Internet. Accompany debuts on the Web
next week and plans to launch with 50 or fewer items for sale, all of them
popular computer hardware and software, with prices going down as more
people sign up leading to volume discounts. Accompany sees its mission as
creating an environment that builds "community" around consumers while
changing their buying behavior. Reporter Leslie Walker says despite the many
hurdles (including unfamiliarity) we should pay attention. "The live format
is gimmicky, the core concept unproven, the staffing a mere 10 people, and
the marketing plan limited by company finances -- $500,000 in privately
raised capital. So why should we pay attention? Because I believe you can
glimpse the future of retailing in this San Francisco start-up