INTERNET & SOCIETY
Getting a Handle on the Internet's Choose-Nots (SJM)
Net Changing The Ways Young People Connect (SJM)
E-Asean Group To Address Regional Digital Divide (Bangkok Post)
POLICY
GOP High-Tech Agenda Emphasizes Government 'Don'ts' (Newsbytes)
INFRASTRUCTURE
Global Crossing Completes Fiber Network (Newsbytes)
WIRELESS
F.C.C. Says Competition Thriving in Wireless Industry (NYT)
INTERNET & SOCIETY
NET CHANGING THE WAYS YOUNG PEOPLE CONNECT
Issue: Internet & Society
The Internet is fundamentally changing the way young Americans handle
personal relationships, define their culture and learn about the wider
world, according to comprehensive new survey of online usage by teens. The
report by Pew Internet & American Life Project, released Wednesday,
estimates about 17 million Americans ages 12 to 17 use the Internet, or 73
percent of that age group. By comparison, 56 percent of adults are online.
Among the most striking findings is the degree to which the Internet is
beginning to challenge the telephone as a means of communicating among
teens. Three of four online teens use instant messaging technologies that
allow real-time conversations over the Internet. The study also found that
the Internet has created a new area for dispute between parents and their
teens. Two-thirds of parents think content on the Internet is at least as
worrisome as that on TV.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury, AUTHOR: Mary Anne Ostrom and Contact Tracy
Seipel]
(http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/svtop/teens062101.htm)
E-ASEAN GROUP TO ADDRESS REGIONAL DIGITAL DIVIDE
Issue: Digital Divide
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), an alliance of 10 Asian
nations, is addressing digital divide issues and promoting the use of
information technology in their countries through its the e-Asean working
group. The e-Asean initiative is fostering cooperation in IT agreements
between Asean members Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Former director of the
Secretariat Office of Thailand's National Information Technology Committee
(NITC) Dr. Pichet Durongkaveroj will be appointed the new chairman of
e-Asean. Pichet is expected to emphasize the success of e-Thailand projects
-- such as SchoolNet, which provides free Internet for education -- to other
Asean members.
[SOURCE: Bangkok Post, AUTHOR: Karnjana Karnjanatawe]
(http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/167092.html)
GETTING A HANDLE ON THE INTERNET'S CHOOSE-NOTS
Issue: Digital Divide
A much talked about new survey by the international research firm Ipsos-Reid
has taken a first step in identifying the have-nots and choose-nots of the
digital age. The study, released a week ago, found about one-third of the
people in the developed world who could use the Internet choose not to.
"They see no compelling reason to be on the Web. The hype and the promise of
the Internet clearly hasn't impressed them -- not yet, at least,'' said
Brian Cruikshank, who heads
Ipsos-Reid's global technology practice. Overall, the Ipsos-Reid study found
only 6 percent of the world's population is currently on the Net. In
developing regions the lack of telecom infrastructure and the prohibitive
cost of online access are still major barriers.
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury, AUTHOR: David Plotnikoff]
(http://www0.mercurycenter.com/premium/business/docs/modem21.htm)
POLICY
GOP HIGH-TECH AGENDA EMPHASIZES GOVERNMENT 'DON'TS'
Issue: Policy
The Republican political agenda "e-Contract with High-Tech America" was
renewed today by the House Republican leadership, pledging less government
intervention than in prior e-Contracts. House Majority Leader Dick Armey
(R-TX) said, "Sometimes the best thing for the government to do when the
private sector is prospering is for the government to stay out of the way
and reduce government barriers to change." Armey and other GOP leaders
outlined priorities in their agenda, including making K-12 education more
modern, granting trade promotion authority to the president and extending
the Internet tax moratorium. Armey took a neutral position on the
Tauzin-Dingell broadband deregulation bill which is threatened by defeat in
Senate committee. "One of the principles of the contract is we should always
be prepared to be slow and careful and thorough, that we always risk a
situation where the harm from the wrong decision can outweigh the possible
benefits of the right decision," said Armey. "So we will take our time and
work our way through that, but understand there are merits on both sides of
the broadband issue."
[SOURCE: Newsbytes, AUTHOR: Brian Krebs]
(http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/167073.html)
INFRASTRUCTURE
GLOBAL CROSSING COMPLETES FIBER NETWORK
Issue: Internet
The core structure of a fiber optic cable network 100,000 miles long
stretching around the globe to reach 27 countries and four continents has
been completed by provider Global Crossing Ltd. Over 200 cities in Europe,
North American, South America and Asia are networked. The company remains
fully funded for its efforts, which took less than four years to complete,
due income of $3 billion in after-tax proceeds on the sale of the Incumbent
Local Exchange Carrier and recovery of expenses from sales contracts.
Currently, Global Crossing is extending the core network to Asian countries,
connecting Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines to the global network,
which is due to be completed early next year.
[SOURCE: Newsbytes, AUTHOR: Martin Stone]
(http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/167106.html)
WIRLESS
F.C.C. SAYS COMPETITION THRIVING IN WIRELESS INDUSTRY
Issue: Wireless
According to a report issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
on Wednesday, competition in the wireless telecommunications sector is
thriving, while costs continued to fall, dropping 25 percent last year. Now
more than 90 percent of consumers have a choice of at least three wireless
carriers, up from 78.3 percent in 1997. "Competition and deregulation have
resulted in lower prices and increased diversity of service,'' said Tom
Sugrue, the head of the FCC wireless bureau. At the same time, the industry
and FCC is grappling with a rise in complaints ranging from consumers not
being able to place a call to calls being dropped in the middle of a
conversation, Sugrue said.
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Reuters]
(http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/technology/tech-telecoms-wireles.html)
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