INTELLECUAL PROPERTY
Court Upholds Copyright Extension
EDTECH
Lack of Cash Squeezes School Tech
TELECOM POLICY
Senators Add Wi-Fi to Broadband Debate
FCC Should Junk All Ownership Rules, Say Fox, NBC, and Viacom/CBS
Symposium to be Held on the State of Telecom Policy
INTELLECUAL PROPERTY
COURT UPHOLDS COPYRIGHT EXTENSION
In a 7-2 decision handed down yesterday, the US Supreme Court ruled that
Congress has unfettered power to determine the lengths of copyright
ownership. The case, Eldred v. Ashcroft, solidifies the Sonny Bono Copyright
Term Extension Act of 1998, which extended protections from 50 to 70 years
after the author's death or 95 years from the date of publication of an
anonymous or corporate work. The court rejected arguments that the act
should be subject to First Amendment scrutiny. Dissenting Justices Stevens
and Breyer opined that the act did little more than create a windfall for
corporate copyright holders and did not encourage an increase in creative
works.
[SOURCE: The Washington Post, AUTHOR: Charles Lane]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63196-2003Jan15.html)
EDTECH
LACK OF CASH SQUEEZES SCHOOL TECH
Designed to bring next-generation, high-speed Internet to the state's
schools, the broadband Digital California Project (DCP) faces over $1
million in budget cuts this year in the wake of Gov. Gray Davis' massive
budget reductions. The cuts mark one of the deepest education funding
slashes in the state's history, with some $5 billion lost over the next 18
months. The reductions won't just hit education IT spending, however --
California schools may be forced to lay off employees and halt teacher
training if the measures are approved. Thus far, DCP has wired 55 counties,
with plans to add two more this year. The program may seek federal grants
and private donations in order to continue operations.
[SOURCE: Wired News, AUTHOR: Kendra Mayfield]
(http://www.wired.com/news/school/0,1383,57193,00.html)
TELECOM POLICY
SENATORS ADD WI-FI TO BROADBAND DEBATE
Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and George Allen (R-VA) introduced the
Jumpstart Broadband Act yesterday. The bill calls for the allocation of
additional unlicensed spectrum for wireless Internet technology, or Wi-Fi.
The legislation is designed to transcend the challenges of building
wire-based infrastructure in underserved rural and urban areas where cable
and DSL providers do not operate. "Our legislation will build confidence
among consumers, investors and innovators in the telecommunications and
technology industries to eventually make the broadband dream a reality,"
said Allen.
[SOURCE: CNET News, AUTHOR: Richard Shim]
(http://news.com.com/2100-1033-980890.html?tag=fd_top)
FCC SHOULD JUNK ALL OWNERSHIP RULES, SAY FOX, NBC, AND VIACOM/CBS
A joint statement filed by media giants Fox, NBC/Telemundo and Viacom/CBS
argues that the FCC's rules governing media ownership are no longer
necessary in the public interest. Their argument is based on assumptions
that the variety of media outlets such as magazines, TV/radio, cable and the
Web reduces the need for regulation, further arguing that most Americans get
their news and information through "interpersonal communications." On the
topic of media diversity, the coalition argued that anti-trust laws and
market forces would ensure multiple viewpoints. According to the Center for
Digital Democracy, the filing demonstrates how media companies have shunned
their responsibility to the public interest.
[SOURCE: Center for Digital Democracy]
(http://www.democraticmedia.org/news/washingtonwatch/foxOwnershipFiling.html
)
SYMPOSIUM TO BE HELD ON THE STATE OF TELECOM POLICY
Academics, policymakers and telecom executives will be meeting in Washington
DC next month to discuss the current state of telecom policy and explore new
regulatory options. The symposium, sponsored by Michigan State University,
will held on February 27th.
[SOURCE: Quello Center for Telecommunication Management & Law]
(http://www.law.msu.edu/quello/)
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