Universal Service
Larry Irving Contributes Essay to Markle Foundation's EMFA Online
Conversation (NTIA)
Kids and Technology
Lending a Techno-Hand (WP)
Clinton Administration and EC2 at USC's Annenberg Center for
Communication Host
Conference on Digital Media Content for Children and Teens
(NTIA)
FCC
FCC Chief Declines To Curb Cable Prices (WP)
FCC Adopts Interim Procedure for Global Mobile Satellite Equipment
Approval --
Action Speeds Deployment of New Voice and Data Services for
Consumers (FCC)
Commission Personnel Appointments & Announcements (FCC)
Encryption
"Final Offer" Made in Computer Encryption Talks (Reuters)
E-Commerce
House Committee Approves Internet Tax Moratorium (Reuters)
Japan Backs Administrations Market-Driven Approach to E-Commerce
(CyberTimes)
Commission Proposes Streamlining Equipment Approval Procedures to
Increase Speed
to Market and Reduce Barriers to International Trade (FCC)
Telephony
Commission Proposes Ways to Improve Telecommunications Relay Services,
Extend Services to More People With Disabilities (FCC)
Arts
Smithsonian Wired (WSJ)
Antitrust
Microsoft, Signaling Concessions, Averts Suits for Now (WSJ)
Microsoft Agrees to Talks at 11th Hour (WP)
Ever a Pragmatist, Microsoft Compromises (NYT)
** Universal Service **
Title: Larry Irving Contributes Essay to Markle Foundation's EMFA Online
Conversation
Source: NTIA
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/new.html
Issue: E-Mail
Description: Larry Irving contributed an essay on Expanding the Universal
Service Concept as part of the Markle Foundation's E-Mail for All (EMFA)
Universal Access Conversation:
Building a Networked Nation on the Global Internet. The online conversation
has been taking place from May 4 through today. Vice President Gore also
submitted an essay: Connecting Communities for the Future. More about EMFA
can be found at: http://www.iaginteractive.com/emfa/
** Kids and Technology **
Title: Lending a Techno-Hand
Source: Washington Post (D4)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-05/15/117l-051598-idx.html
Author: Maura Kelly
Issue: Computer Literacy
Description: The Kids Computer Workshop (KCW) in Washington D.C. is a
program to help underprivileged children, that may not have access to as
many educational resources as their wealthier counterparts, learn
technological skills. The sessions held every other Saturday concentrate on
everything from learning how to use email and the Internet, to creating
computer graphics. Norman Eisen, a DC attorney and volunteer teacher at KCW,
explains: "Ultimately we would like to develop our program into one which
can be replicated broadly...to really start bridging this terrible
technological divide that increasingly separated the computer 'haves' from
the computer 'have-nots." To learn more, visit KCW's Web site at:
http://www.kcw.org
Title: Clinton Administration and EC2 at USC's Annenberg Center for
Communication Host
Conference on Digital Media Content for Children and Teens
Source: NTIA
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/contsum.htm
Author: Paige Darden
Issue: Digital Media
Description: A conference on Digital Media Content for Children and Teens
will be held June 11-12 in Los Angeles. This is the third conference in a
series sponsored by the Clinton Administration: the first was held in
December of 1997 and focused on safety issues for children on the Internet,
the second was held in February and focused on access to the Internet for
all Americans. More about the conference at http://whis.ec2.edu
** FCC **
Title: FCC Chief Declines To Curb Cable Prices
Source: Washington Post (F1,F4)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-05/15/077l-051598-idx.html
Author: Paul Farhi
Issue: Cable Regulation
Description: Federal Communications Commission Chairman William E. Kennard
announce yesterday that the agency won't step in to freeze or roll back
cable prices before a congressionally ordered deregulations of cable prices
goes into effect next March.
Title: FCC Adopts Interim Procedure for Global Mobile Satellite Equipment
Approval
-- Action Speeds Deployment of New Voice and Data Services for
Consumers
Source: FCC (GEN Docket 98-68)
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/News_Releases/1998/nret80
09.html
Issue: Satellite Regulation
Description: Yesterday (5/14) the Commission took an important step toward
implementing the international arrangements governing Global Mobile Personal
Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) systems adopted in Geneva this past
March. The Commission voted unanimously in favor of an interim procedure for
the type approval of GMPCS terminals which will facilitate their
transport across national borders. In addition, the Commission adopted a set
of proposed modifications to the FCC's equipment approval process and a
proposal to implement the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) that was
completed between the United States and the European Community (EC) last year.
Title: Commission Personnel Appointments & Announcements
Source: FCC
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Miscellaneous/Informal/appointments051498.html
Issue: FCC Appointments & Announcements
Description: On May 14, 1998 the Commission made the following personnel
appointments and announcements: Deborah A. Lathen named Chief, Cable
Services Bureau; A. Richard Metzger, Jr. steps down as Chief, Common Carrier
Bureau; Kathryn C. Brown named Chief, Common Carrier Bureau;
Michael Riordan steps down as FCC Chief Economist to return to Boston
University; William P. Rogerson named FCC Chief Economist; Dale N. Hatfield
named Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology; Rebecca L. Dorch named a
Deputy Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology; Richard K. Welch named
Senior Counsel to the General Counsel.
** Encryption **
Title: "Final Offer" Made in Computer Encryption Talks
Source: Reuters (via Excite News)
http://my.excite.com/news/r/980515/09/computers-encryption
Author: Aaron Pressman
Issue: Encryption
Description: Americans for Computer Privacy, "a private-sector coalition
opposed to strict U.S. export controls on data scrambling technology," made
its final offer yesterday to compromise with the Clinton administration,
said sources familiar with the talks. The final offer asks President Clinton
to "immediately allow exports of strong encryption products to 'legitimate
and responsible organizations' worldwide, such as foreign financial
institutions, telecommunications firms and utilities. The offer also asks
the President to state in writing that the government will not
impose domestic controls on encryption."
** E-Commerce **
Title: House Committee Approves Internet Tax Moratorium
Source: Reuters (via Excite News)
http://my.excite.com/news/r/980515/09/internet-tax
Author: Reuters
Issue: Internet Tax
Description:The US House Commerce Committee yesterday unanimously approved
legislation to impose a three-year moratorium on new state and local taxes.
The bill is aimed at fostering the growth of electronic commerce. "The
Internet Tax Freedom Act (H.R. 3849) would prohibit the FCC and individual
states from regulating subscriber prices for online services and Internet
access, as well as setting a three-year ban on state taxation of Internet
access and online services." The bill was introduced on Tuesday by
representatives Chris Cox (R-Calif) and Rick White (R-WA) in an effort to
address concerns stemming from a previous Internet tax bill which passed the
subcommittee last year.
Title: Japan Backs Administrations Market-Driven Approach to E-Commerce
Source: New York Times (CyberTimes)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/05/cyber/articles/15commerce.html
Author: Jeri Clausing
Issue: E-Commerce/International Regulation
Description: The White House plans to announce today that Japan has endorsed
the administrations "market-driven and tax-free" approach to electronic
commerce. Like those favored by the European Union, the approach includes
its stance against privacy regulations. This endorsement is important
because it is the first time that a large group of Japanese agencies has
committed to a non-regulated approach to such a wide economic arena. "One of
the major issues that we have had with Japan is that their economy is
heavily regulated," said Ira Magaziner, President Clinton's top advisor on
Internet issues and e-commerce. "The fact that the Japanese are taking a
market-oriented approach, that they are agreeing to the free flow of
information, for example, that they agree not to impose custom duties, that
they are agreeing to a market-oriented approach on digital signatures, all
of these things are a commitment not to regulate this industry, which I
think coming from the Japanese is very significant."
Title: Commission Proposes Streamlining Equipment Approval Procedures to
Increase Speed
to Market and Reduce Barriers to International Trade
Source: FCC (GEN. Docket 98-68)
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/News_Releases/1998/nret80
06.html
Issue: E-Commerce
Description: The FCC proposed to further streamline the equipment
authorization process by enabling designated private parties in the United
States to approve equipment as an alternative to certification by the
Commission. Products could be tested by private bodies in the United States
for compliance with the technical requirements of EC member countries. The
Commission has
proposed a set of certification criteria in accordance with the current
rules and in conjunction with a set of specific out-of-band emission
proposals that are being evaluated under a separate Commission proceeding.
If enacted, these proposals should speed the equipment approval process,
thereby promoting economic growth and spurring creation of new jobs in the
telecommunications industry.
** Telephony **
Title: Commission Proposes Ways to Improve Telecommunications Relay
Services, Extend Services to More People With Disabilities
Source: FCC (CC Docket No. 98-67)
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/News_Releases/1998/nrcc8036.html
Issue: Disabilities
Description: The Commission today proposed ways to enhance the quality of
existing telecommunications relay services (TRS) and expand those services
for better use by the 2.5 million Americans with speech disabilities. TRS
enables people with hearing and speech disabilities to communicate with
people who use voice telephones.
** Arts **
Title: Smithsonian Wired
Source: Wall Street Journal (W10_
http://wsj.com/
Author: Kate Flatley
Issue: Arts
Description: Anyone who has surfed a museum Web site knows that most online
exhibitions are simply reproductions of the actual physical exhibit or
museum collection. The Smithsonian Institutions Smithsonian Without Walls
(SWW) project is designed to provide the viewer with a new approach to that
expected convention. SWW aims to create exhibitions that can only be viewed
and experienced online. The overall goal is to make the exhibit a more
educational and personalized experience than what one might have at a
traditional museum show. You can check out SWW's recent exhibition at:
http://www.si.edu/revealingthings
** Antitrust Frenzy **
Title: Microsoft, Signaling Concessions, Averts Suits for Now
Source: Wall Street Journal (A3,A11)
http://wsj.com/
Author: John R. Wilke & David Bank
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Microsoft Corp. announced yesterday that it will delay the
shipping of its Windows 98 operating software until Monday as to give the
two sides (Microsoft and the Justice Dept.) more time to work out an
agreement. The federal and state prosecutors agreed not to file their
antitrust lawsuits while the discussions continued over the weekend.
Title: Microsoft Agrees to Talks at 11th Hour
Source: Washington Post (A1,A11)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-05/15/114l-051598-idx.html
Author: Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Microsoft agreed to delay the release of its Windows 98
software less than three hours before the noon deadline set by the Justice
Dept. and 20 state attorneys general for taking the software giant to court.
Several sources close to the matter said that Microsoft offered to
compromise on key issues in the planned suits. Top attorneys for both sides
will begin their negotiations today.
Title: Ever a Pragmatist, Microsoft Compromises
Source: New York Times (C1,C4)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/05/biztech/articles/15microsoft-side
.html
Author: Steve Lohr
Issue: Antitrust
Description: Microsoft's last-minute gesture toward the Justice Dept. speaks
volumes about the company's business approach. "Microsoft is extremely
tough-minded and willing to act on the edge of brinkmanship, but pragmatic
at its core," said David Yoffie, a Harvard Business School professor. It
appears clear that the company decided that some concessions could be made
to the government without posing any real threat to its profitable business.
Microsoft's current approach is very similar to the stance it took in 1994
when after "fierce resistance" it reached a settlement with the Justice
Dept. via last-minute negotiations. "It was unmistakably clear to Microsoft
then, just as it is now, that if we didn't get a resolution, we'd sue them,"
recalled Robert Litan, then a senior Justice Dept. official who worked on
the consent decree. "This time, the stakes are much higher," said Litan, who
is now the director of economic studies at the Brookings Institution. "Now,
the battle is over who owns the keys to the Internet and not just the
operating system."
*********
Farewell and Thank you to "Ol' Blue Eyes" for a lifetime of good music and
song. We'll be singing and dancing to your tunes from here to eternity.