INTERNET
U.S. Opens Online Portal to Rulemaking
Web Site Launched to Help Seniors Identify Drug Programs
Internet Fraud Grew in 2002, FTC Says
EDTECH
Computers 'Humanize' Teaching
DIGITAL DIVIDE
IT May Offer Solution To Poverty: Nepalese PM
OWNERSHIP
FCC Commissioner Hearing
INTERNET
U.S. OPENS ONLINE PORTAL TO RULEMAKING
Federal rulemaking procedures have already seen something of a boom in
comments filed via the Web over the last few years. The Bush Administration
took the next step this week with the launching of www.regulation.gov, which
enables individuals to find every proposed federal regulation and submit
their comments. "This will definitely open it up to people who find it
difficult to participate in the rulemaking process," said Neil R. Eisner,
assistant general counsel for the Dept. of Transportation. Some experts,
however, note that an increase in the number of participants will not
necessarily change the behavior of rule makers or democratize the regulatory
process.
[SOURCE: The Washington Post, AUTHOR: Cindy Skrzycki]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30469-2003Jan22.html)
WEB SITE LAUNCHED TO HELP SENIORS IDENTIFY DRUG PROGRAMS
Senior citizens can now use the Web to find more affordable prescription
medications. Launched by the National Council of Aging,
www.BenefitsCheckUp.org now allows families to obtain a personalized report
of discount drug programs for which an individual qualifies. The site
catalogs some 240 state and company-sponsored programs. "We know that
millions of seniors can't afford all the medications they need and far too
many are skipping doses or not filling prescriptions," said NCA president
James Firman.
[SOURCE: USA Today, AUTHOR: Associated Press]
(http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/internetlife/2003-01-22-site-health_x
.htm)
INTERNET FRAUD GREW IN 2002, FTC SAYS
Consumer complaints about Web scams were up in 2002, according to numbers
released yesterday by the Federal Trade Commission. Identity fraud claims
topped the list, accounting for 43% of the 380,000 reports. Howard Beales of
the FTC's consumer protection bureau said that the increase in complaints is
likely do to greater public awareness of the Commission's Consumer Sentinel
complaint database as well as increased involvement from local authorities.
Nevertheless, he said, it is clear that the percentage of scams conducted
via the Internet has grown.
[SOURCE: Yahoo! News, AUTHOR: Reuters]
(http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20030122/ts_nm/crime_fra
ud_consumers_dc)
DIGITAL DIVIDE
IT MAY OFFER SOLUTION TO POVERTY: NEPALESE PM
Nepal's Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand says information technology
could be the solution to poverty. "As poverty is the main characteristic of
the technologically unreached, promoting universal access to information and
communication technologies may be the solution," he said at the opening of a
six-day international seminar on Information and Communication Technology in
Kathmandu. The Prime Minister warned that failure to address the digital
divide would result in "further marginalisation as access to opportunities
for wealth creation are reduced or polarized."
[SOURCE: Australian Broadcasting Corporation Online]
(http://www.abc.net.au/news/justin/nat/newsnat-23jan2003-118.htm)
EDTECH
COMPUTERS 'HUMANIZE' TEACHING
Two members of the USA Today All-USA Teacher First Team are having great
success with using classroom computers to reach at-risk students. Marge
Christensen Gould, CEO of the LEARN Center at Catalina High Magnet School in
Tucson, has developed a simulated work environment to help at-risk literacy
students develop reading and job skills necessary to keep them in the work
force and out of the criminal justice program. Jim Green and his team at the
Continuing Education Academy in Tolleson, AZ boast computer course offerings
via NovaNET, such as virtual anatomy and chemistry labs. Both say computers
help to provide individualized, self-paced instruction, relieving the
pressure to keep up for students who've struggled in other classrooms.
[SOURCE: USA Today, AUTHOR: Tracey Wong Briggs]
(http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-01-22-ariz-teach_x.htm)
OWNERSHIP
FCC COMMISSIONER HEARING
USC will host a forum on proposed Federal Communication Commission changes
to current rules governing media ownership. FCC commissioners, including
Chairman Michael Powell, have been invited and are expected to participate,
along with leaders from industry, labor, and the academic community. The
forum, which is open to the public, will be held on Tuesday, February 18.
[SOURCE: USC Annenberg]
(http://ascweb.usc.edu/asc.php?pageID=110&story=137&upcoming=1)
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