Communications-Related Headlines for January 6, 2002

INTERNET
More Cities Set Up Wireless Networks
The Internet and Campaign 2002
Overall Results of Digital State Survey Show Washington Wins

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Supreme Court Withdraws Stay In Dvd Copying Case

INTERNET

THE INTERNET AND CAMPAIGN 2002
More Americans turned to the Internet for election coverage in 2002 than in
the previous midterm election, according to a study from the Pew Internet &
American Life Project. While the volume of Internet users has of course
increased in four years, the percentage of users seeking election
information increased from 15% to 22%. Most voters sought news from major
national and local news outlets on the Web, seeking information on
candidates' voting records and positions on key issues. The study also found
that people under 30 years of age sought election information online more
than any other age group.
[SOURCE: Pew Internet & American Life Project]
(http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/reports.asp?Report=82&Section=ReportLeve
l1&Field=Level1ID&ID=360)

MORE CITIES SET UP WIRELESS NETWORKS
The city of Long Beach, Calif. plans to be one of the first cities to make
free wireless Internet access available in its downtown area. As part of an
effort to attract visitors and companies to the business district, the city
will install the increasingly popular standard known as Wi-Fi, which lets
personal computers and other hand-held devices connect to the Internet at
high speeds. It is being supported in part by equipment donations from a
group of companies, with the city underwriting the $2,500 annual cost of an
Internet connection. "You can think of these as urban renewal projects,"
said Douglas H. Klein, the chief executive of Vernier Networks, one of the
companies that will supply equipment for the service in Long Beach.
[SOURCE:New York Times, AUTHOR: John Markoff]
(http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/06/technology/06WIFI.html)
(requires registration)

OVERALL RESULTS OF DIGITAL STATE SURVEY SHOW WASHINGTON WINS
Washington's excellence in digital government has earned it the Sustained
Leadership Award from the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and The
Progress & Freedom Foundation (PFF). The award identifies states that have
made the most progress in their digital government efforts as measured by a
multi-stage survey conducted by CDG and PFF. This first phase examined
digital government's evolution between 1997 and 2002 and has yielded
interesting data on the increased use of digital archives, document imaging
systems, Internet access for public employees and electronic social
services. Rounding out the top five performers were Kansas, Wisconsin,
Arizona and Maryland.
[SOURCE: Center for Digital Government, AUTHOR: Melinda Dinin]
(http://www.centerdigitalgov.com/center/highlightstory.phtml?docid=37089)

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

SUPREME COURT WITHDRAWS STAY IN DVD COPYING CASE
Retreating from a move made just last week, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day
O'Connor dissolved a stay against former Webmaster Matthew Pavlovich, the
defendant in a DVD copyright case in search of a venue. The case is on
appeal to the high court after the California Supreme Court ruled that the
DVD Copy Control Association could not bring suit against Pavlovich in that
state. The association may reconsider its appeal in light of O'Connor's
action.
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Associated Press]
(http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2003-01-03-dvd-case_x.htm)

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