INTERNET
Microsoft Is Ready to Supply a Phone in Every Computer (NYT)
AOL teams up on Internet project in China (SJM)
ICANN Conducts Survey on Whois (EPIC)
Study Shows 429 Million Net Users In 27 Countries (Newsbytes)
FILTERING
Web Filtering Law Does Not Violate Free Speech - DoJ (Newsbytes)
BROADBAND
Consumer Group Stops Lobbying Broadband Bill (CNET)
INTERNET
MICROSOFT IS READY TO SUPPLY A PHONE IN EVERY COMPUTER
Issue: Internet/Telephony
Microsoft is preparing to include both high-quality telephone and directory
features in Windows XP, which is scheduled to be commercially available on
Oct. 25. Microsoft's new software plans to exploit the next generation of
the Internet, offering computer-based telephony with better-quality voice
than before and with more powerful features than the traditional phone. That
new power has some of the company's competitors worrying that Microsoft will
to steal revenue from the telecommunications industry in the same way it
undermined competitors like Netscape in the software business - by adding
free features to its operating system. Consumer advocates are also concerned
about the Microsoft voice strategy. They say that both Microsoft and AOL
are creating proprietary platforms for new voice services that will limit
competition and hurt consumers. "This is extremely troublesome from the
point of view of market competition," said Gene Kimmelman, co-director of
Consumers Union's Washington office. "Consumers are not well served by two
enormous fortresses. There needs to be more openness rather than less."
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: John Markoff]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/12/technology/12SOFT.html)
AOL TEAMS UP ON INTERNET PROJECT IN CHINA
Issue: Internet
America's biggest media company has teamed up with China's largest computer
maker in a $200 million joint venture that could reshape the Internet
landscape in the world's most populous country. The partnership between AOL
Time Warner and Legend Holdings gives AOL, access to what may be the world's
most coveted Internet market.. "The Internet can't fulfill its destiny
without China's full participation,'' said AOL Time Warner Chief Executive
Officer Gerald Levin said. Chinese censors, who monitor Internet chat rooms
and block offensive transmissions, have blocked many American news sites,
including CNN and Time magazine, both owned by AOL Time Warner.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury, AUTHOR: Michael S. Dorgan]
(http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/depth/aolch061201.htm)
ICANN CONDUCTS SURVEY ON WHOIS
Issue: Internet
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is
conducting an online survey of the Internet community's views on Whois
privacy issues. The Whois database allows any Internet user to find out who
has registered a particular domain name and provides contact information for
that person. EPIC sent Congress a letter
(http://www.epic.org/privacy/internet/ICANN_privacy.html) regarding concerns
about Whois earlier this year.
[SOURCE: Electronic Privacy Information Center]
(http://www.epic.org/)
STUDY SHOWS 429 MILLION NET USERS IN 27 COUNTRIES
Issue: Internet
The Nielsen/NetRatings' Global Internet Trends report found that 27 nations
and about 429 million people have Internet access, as of the first quarter
of 2001. The report also found that the percentage of North American
Internet users, currently at 41%, is shrinking. The study concluded that
Europe, the Middle East and Africa make up 27% of users, followed by the
Asia-Pacific region at 20%, with 4% in Latin America. Service to homes in
the U.S. is at 50%, followed by Asia-Pacific at 33% and Europe at 25%.
According to Nielsen researcher Richard Goosey, "Over the next 12 months,
another 9 percent of European households and 12 percent of Asia-Pacific
households plan on acquiring Internet access."
[SOURCE: Newsbytes, AUTHOR: Dick Kelsey]
(http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/166705.html)
FILTERING
WEB FILTERING LAW DOES NOT VIOLATE FREE SPEECH - DOJ
Issue: Filtering
According to the U.S. Justice Department, a new law requiring schools and
libraries that receive the government "e-rate" subsidy to install Internet
filtering software does not violate free speech. According to the brief
filed on Friday, "Any library that accepts CIPA's conditions retains the
discretion to tailor access by patrons to any and all Web communications
that meet local community standards and to do so in a manner that complies
with the First Amendment." In other words, the law gives communities the
authority to determine how the technology should be used and what should be
filtered. In addition, the Justice Department claims that the law falls
under Congress' broad powers over spending federal money.
[SOURCE: Newsbytes, AUTHOR: Brian Krebs]
(http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/166706.html)
BROADBAND
CONSUMER GROUP STOPS LOBBYING BROADBAND BILL
Issue: Broadband
Consumers Union said on Friday it would stop lobbying against legislation
that would allow local telephone giants to offer long-distance data services
without opening their local networks to rivals, despite its continued
opposition to the measure, sponsored by Reps. Billy Tauzin and John Dingell
and. The organization, which was in the rare position of being on the same
side as long-distance and cable behemoth AT&T Corp. , said it was pulling
out because of recent price hikes by high-speed Internet, phone and cable
providers. "Given the recent actions by industry players on both sides of
the Tauzin-Dingell bill, we are choosing to remove ourselves from this
debate for now," said Consumers Union spokesman David Butler.
[SOURCE: Cnet, AUTHOR: Reuters]
(http://investor.cnet.com/investor/news/newsitem/0-9900-1028-6228473-0.html)
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