DIGITAL DIVIDE
Wariness Leads to Motivation in Baltimore Free-Computer Experiment
(NYT)
Groups Challenge Descriptive Services For Blind (USA)
POLICY
Tech Issues Should Weather Senate Power Shift Well (Newbytes)
INTERNET
EC Launches Site To Fight Child Porn, Cybercrime (Newbytes)
DIGITAL DIVIDE
WARINESS LEADS TO MOTIVATION IN BALTIMORE FREE-COMPUTER EXPERIMENT
Issue: Digital Divide
The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Housing Authority of
Baltimore have developed a program to give public housing residents free
computers. The $1.7 million program, called Hope VI, was launched when the
highly wired when the Edgar Allan Poe Homes complex opened in 1999, as
federal and city officials vowed to "close the digital divide" between rich
and poor. Residents must take a 20-hour basic course in computing as a
prerequisite for receiving a Dell computer fully installed in their
apartments. While the Department of Housing has established about 800
computer learning centers over the last six years, Poe is the first program
to provide free machines to residents - the computers are actually supplied
as an appliance and do not become the residents' property.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Francis X. Clines]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/24/technology/24BALT.html)
(requires registration)
GROUPS CHALLENGE DESCRIPTIVE SERVICES FOR BLIND
Issue: Television
Federal Communications Commission voted last year to require broadcasters to
offer the nation's 8 million to 12 million visually impaired people the
equivalent of closed-captioning for the deaf. Called descriptive video
service (DVS), it allows a user to turn on a second audio track in which a
narrator describes visual action. TVs made since 1993 have the capability,
also sometimes used for Spanish language dubbing. But recently, the National
Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the Motion Picture Association of America
(MPAA) and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association challenged
the order in court. The groups say the FCC exceeded its authority, and by
compelling speech, violated the First Amendment. Advocates for the blind
disagree. "It equalizes the playing field," says Charles Crawford of the
American Council of the Blind. "You can enjoy TV like anyone else rather
than trying to guess what you saw."
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Paul Davidson]
(http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/2001-05-23-descriptive-tv.htm)
POLICY
TECH ISSUES SHOULD WEATHER SENATE POWER SHIFT WELL
Issue: Policy
Today, Republican Sen. James Jeffords from Vermont is expected to announce
his decision on whether to leave his party and declare himself an
Independent, a move that would shift the balance of power in the Senate to
the Democrats. A Democratic majority could have an impact on technology
policy decisions, though industry experts are not quick to predict the
outcome. Information Technology Association of America President Harris
Miller said it is too early to call how the Senate will land on technology
legislation and if there will be a major power struggle, but said that
debate in this arena tends to be bipartisan. "Some business groups in town
are probably pulling their hair out, but I'm certainly not uncomfortable
working with Senate chairmen who are Democrats," said Miller. "On the other
hand it is going to make the Senate somewhat unwieldy." Electronic privacy
may change most drastically if Ranking Democrat Ernest "Fritz" Hollings
(D-SC) is promoted to Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee over John
McCain (R-AZ). Hollings supported legislation last year opposed by the tech
industry that would impose more stringent regulations to protect privacy.
[SOURCE: Newsbytes, AUTHOR: Robert MacMillan and David McGuire]
(http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/166061.html)
INTERNET
EC LAUNCHES SITE TO FIGHT CHILD PORN, CYBERCRIME
Issue: Internet
The European Commission has launched the Web site saferinternet.org to
protect minors from illegal and objectionable content on the Internet. The
EC Web site is encouraging an "Awareness Exchange" of information and
discussion on how to shield kids from pedophiles, cybercrime and racism on
the Web. The EC is promoting the site as part of its "action plan" to fight
illegal content and activities online. The site offers information on
filtering and ratings software, news from around the world, and hotlines for
reporting illegal Web fraud schemes and child porn, and links for
organizations to apply for EC funding to fight Internet crime.
[SOURCE: Newsbytes, AUTHOR: Staff]
(http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/166090.html)
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