Tech Law Journal Daily E-Mail Alert
June 14, 2002, 9:00 AM ET, Alert No. 451.
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Bush Announces Technology Agenda
6/13. President Bush gave a speech to a group of corporate executives in Washington DC in which he addressed a range of technology related issues, including broadband deployment, research and development spending, the R&D tax credit, trade promotion authority, and the Export Administration Act.
The Bush administration also released a document [PDF] titled "Promoting Innovation and Competitiveness: President Bush's Technology Agenda". See also, the White House web site's technology agenda web page.
Trade Promotion Authority. Bush told his audience that "Now, I'd like your help to convince both the members of the Senate and the House to reconcile their differences in the conference committee and get me a trade promotion authority as quickly as possible. And with that trade promotion authority, not only will I work to expand free trade throughout our hemisphere, my attitude is good foreign policy starts with a neighborhood which is democratic, free, prosperous, and strong. But I will work in other parts of the world to open up markets -- markets for high-tech products, markets for our agricultural people. And I'll be aggressive at it. I will. And if I find unfair trade practices, by the way, I'm going to enforce the law, the laws on the books."
The House passed its version of HR 3005, the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2001, by a roll call vote of 215 to 214, on December 6, 2001. See, TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 323, December 7, 2001. The Senate passed its vastly different bill last month. Differences will have to be worked out by a conference committee.
Export Administration Act. Bush stated that "We're also working to reform the Export Administration Act, known as the EAA. We've got a bill out of the Senate; we're working to get a bill out of the House. And I want you all to understand -- you've probably been told this already, but I want to tell you what else we've done. We've raised the control limits for computer systems, and I'm eliminating outmoded controls on computer chips. The idea is to understand the difference between national security and free trade. And I think we've brought some common sense to this issue."
S 149, the Export Administration Act, sponsored by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), was passed by the Senate on September 6, 2001 by a vote of 85 to 14. The Bush administration supports this bill. A much different bill was reported by the House International Relations Committee last summer. There has been no action since September 11 on these bills.
R&D Spending. The President stated that "We're also spending a lot of money on research and development, which I believe is a legitimate federal function. We spend a lot of money at the NIH, which is good for health care in America, and we're spending over about $100 billion in research and development for your fields."
R&D Tax Credit. Bush also said that "one of the things I hope Congress joins me on is making the R&D tax credit permanent, as well. You see, research has made a huge difference for product development." The Congress has been passing only temporary extensions of the R&D tax credit.
Technology and War. Bush stated that "It is fortuitous that America is on the cutting edge of high technology at this time in history, because of the nature of the war. In the old days, there would be columns of tanks and artillery moving here and airplanes flying there. And now we're facing sophisticated killers who hide in caves, who communicate in shadowy ways, and who are plenty lethal. And we're going to win the war because of our resolve and our determination and our love for freedom. But we're also going to win the war, thanks to the incredible technology and technological breakthroughs that we have achieved here in America."
Technology and Intelligence Gathering. Bush said that "I can envision a lot of new technologies that enable us to communicate with first responders, and to be able to communicate between the federal and state and local governments. As you probably have read, we've had a -- we can do a better job of gathering intelligence and sharing intelligence between different agencies of our government. All of this is going to require, by the way, in order to do so, new technologies within the FBI and the CIA, and the ability to communicate with each other, and the ability to filter out what information should go from one agency to the next, all aimed at protecting the homeland."
Bush Talks About Broadband Deployment
6/13. President Bush also spoke in vague terms about broadband deployment in his June 13 speech to corporate executives. He stated that "This country must be aggressive about the expansion of broadband". He reiterated his opposition to "access taxes on the Internet". He also said he is working to "eliminate hurdles and barriers to get broadband implemented". However, he did not identify any of these "hurdles or barriers", or what he is doing to eliminate them.
The Bush administration also addressed broadband in its 11 page agenda [PDF]. It lists numerous things in sections on broadband deployment, such as reforming education, reducing taxes, extending the moratorium on Internet access taxes, and promoting e-government. However, none of the cited initiatives are broadband specific.
President Bush did not propose any legislation. Nor did he state his position on any of the many pending broadband related bills pending in the House and the Senate.
Otherwise, Bush said that he is leaving broadband related policy to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a telecommunications regulatory agency. He stated that "I'm confident that the chairman and the board is focusing on policies that will bring high speed Internet service, will create competition, will keep the consumers in mind, but to understand the -- kind of the economic vitality that will occur when broadband is more fully accessible."
The following excerpt from Bush's speech is what he had to say pertaining to broadband:

"And so, which really leads me to an interesting question that I know is on your mind, and that is broadband technology. This country must be aggressive about the expansion of broadband; we have to. I used to travel around our state of Texas a lot. I saw some really innovative health programs. I remember going to the Texas Tech Medical Center, and seeing a fellow have his ear examined by a nurse practitioner in I think it was Alpine, Texas. And the picture was clear and the specialist was able to diagnose the disease.

We have virtual classrooms in Texas, virtual school districts in Texas, where we've hooked up a fairly wealthy school district with rural or poor school districts. It made a huge difference. It would have been a heck of a lot better if there had been broadband technology, however, to make the process move a lot quicker.

I get -- when I'm down at Crawford, I'm in constant contact with our administration. We've got secure teleconferencing capacity there. And it's pretty good. It can be better. It can be more real-time. It's an important part of life and it's time for us to be -- time for us to move, move with an agenda.

Hopefully, we're doing a pretty good job of working to eliminate hurdles and barriers to get broadband implemented. I've fought off -- or worked with Congress, is a better way to put it -- to prevent access taxes on the Internet. It ought to be a tax-free environment in order to encourage use. And, of course, a lot of the action is going to come through the FCC. I know that, you know that. And I'm confident that the chairman and the board is focusing on policies that will bring high speed Internet service, will create competition, will keep the consumers in mind, but to understand the -- kind of the economic vitality that will occur when broadband is more fully accessible."
Several groups praised Bush's comments regarding broadband. Jeffrey Eisenach of the Progress and Freedom Foundation (PFF) stated in a release that "President Bush left no doubt that FCC Chairman Michael Powell has his full support to move ahead on broadband deregulation ... Just as the Administration lent its support to the FCC's decision to lift ownership caps on wireless spectrum, the President has now personally given the green light to move forward on broadband."
Robert Cresanti of the Business Software Alliance (BSA) stated in a release the the "BSA commends President Bush's efforts in bringing the issues of broadband deployment, international trade and research and development funding to the fore ... The technology industry serves as an engine of growth for the U.S. economy, and it follows that the administration would make the health of this industry a priority. Policies that promote a safe and legal online world are policies that enhance the U.S. economy's expansion."
Walter McCormick, P/CEO of the U.S. Telecom Association (USTA) stated release that "We are delighted by the President's comments, which put him squarely on the side of the broad majority who want to see facilities based broadband deployment, the removal of hurdles to investment, and who support the leadership and vision of FCC Chairman Powell in the important broadband policy initiatives that he has underway." Actually, the President did not reference "facilities based" competition or deployment in either his speech or his 11 page agenda.
Similarly, Michael Boland, SVP for Legislative Affairs at Verizon, stated in a release that "There's a growing demand for a greater supply of broadband. Today the president joined that chorus and we're thrilled. We, too, have confidence that Michael Powell and the FCC commissioners will adopt the right policies to make billion dollar investments in broadband make sense again. The House has spoken, the president has spoken, and now it's time for the Senate to act."
Several Groups Criticize Bush for Lack of Digital Divide Policy
6/13. Several groups criticized the President's meeting with, and speech to, corporate executives on June 13. The Consumer Federation of America (CFA), Consumers Union (CU) and Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) stated in a release that "It has become increasingly clear that the Bush Administration is abandoning the federal government's decade long commitment to bridging the digital divide. After a year of public speculation over whether the White House was committed to expanding information age opportunity to all communities, the Administration has finally broken its silence and the news is not good."
These groups also stated that "the Bush Administration proposed eliminating two critically important community technology programs in the 2003 budget: the Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) administered by the Department of Commerce; and the Community Technology Center (CTC) initiative, a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Education."
"Now more than ever, federal leadership is crucial to ensure that urban, rural, and Indian tribal land residents have access to technology and can acquire the high tech job skills necessary to compete in the 21st Century economy," said Wade Henderson, Executive Director of the LCCR. " This will not happen ... with the public interest community being excluded from key meetings at the White House."
House Judiciary Committee Debates Internet Gambling
6/13. The House Judiciary Committee resumed, but did not complete, its mark up of HR 3215, the Combating Illegal Gambling Reform and Modernization Act. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The Committee debated and narrowly rejected an amendment to Rep. Goodlatte's amendment offered by Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) regarding jai alai and dog racing. Then, the Committee recessed for the weekend.
The bill was introduced on November 1, 2001. See, bill as introduced [PDF]. It is sponsored by Rep. Goodlatte and 155 other Members of Congress. The Subcommittee on Crime amended and approved the bill on March 11. (See, TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 387, March 13, 2002.) On May 8, the full Judiciary Committee began its mark up, but only heard opening statements. The Committee has repeatedly noticed, and then postponed, meetings to mark up this bill. No date has been set for a continuation of the mark up.
Rep. Goodlatte stated at the June 13 meeting that the bill "is needed to update a 1961 law that is badly out of date, and to give law enforcement new tools to combat the 2000 offshore sites that are in everybody's living room and den, and are available for a multitude of different types of gambling."
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) spoke in opposition. He said, "if you don't like it, don't do it." He also said that "I am going to vote for any amendment that lets more people gamble; and then I am going to vote against the bill."
The Committee rejected by a vote of 15 to 15 an amendment offered by Rep. Wexler to Rep. Goodlatte's amendment in the nature of a substitute. The Wexler amendment provided an exception pertaining to jai alai and dog racing. Both are lawful businesses in the state of Florida, which Rep. Wexler represents. Had the amendment been adopted, it might have further encouraged other interests to seek their own carve outs in the bill.
The vote on the Wexler amendment broke down along party lines. All 15 "no" votes came from Republicans. 12 of the "yes" votes came from Democrats. 3 Republicans also voted "yes": Sensenbrenner, Hyde, and Coble. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a former federal prosecutor, voted "pass". Several Democrats who had been present earlier in the meeting, were absent for this vote.
Rep. Goodlatte stated after the hearing that he is confident that the bill will be approved by the Committee. In the 106th Congress, the Judiciary Committee approved another Internet gambling bill sponsored by Rep. Goodlatte. The full House then considered it under a suspension of the rules, meaning that it could not be amended, and required a 2/3 majority for passage. It fell just short of a 2/3 majority. The Senate has also twice passed Internet gambling bills. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) has led Senate efforts on this issue.
Expansion of the Wire Act. HR 3215 would amend 18 U.S.C. §§ 1081 and 1084, which contain the definitions and prohibition, respectively, of the Wire Act. The Wire Act currently criminalizes the use of "wire communications facilities" in interstate commerce for gambling. The Wire Act does not ban gambling. This is a matter of state law. HR 3215 expands the prohibition to cover all communications between states or with foreign countries. It maintains the principle that gambling is otherwise a matter of state law. Hence, under HR 3215, use of the Internet for gambling purposes would become illegal (if interstate or foreign).
The criminal prohibition of the Wire Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1084, currently provides that "Whoever being engaged in the business of betting or wagering knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers ... shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both." Since the current statute affects only wire communication facilities, and some Internet communications do not involve wires, it leaves open the possibility that some Internet gambling may not be illegal under the Wire Act.
HR 3215 provides that "whoever, being engaged in a gambling business, knowingly (1) for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce ..." or between the U.S. and abroad "... of bets or wagers ... shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both." Hence, it pertains to all communications, not just wire communications. Moreover, the maximum penalty for violation is increased from 2 to 5 years.
Also, HR 3215 would amend 18 U.S.C. § 1081, which currently defines ''wire communication facility'' as "any and all instrumentalities, personnel, and services (among other things, the receipt, forwarding, or delivery of communications) used or useful in the transmission of writings, signs, pictures, and sounds of all kinds by aid of wire, cable, or other like connection between the points of origin and reception of such transmission." As amended, it would provide that "communications facility" means "any and all instrumentalities, personnel, and services (among other things, the receipt, forwarding, or delivery of communications) used or useful in the transmission of writings, signs, pictures, and sounds of all kinds by aid of wire, cable, satellite, microwave, or other like connection (whether fixed or mobile) between the points of origin and reception of such transmission."
Skill Versus Chance. On March 12, the Crime Subcommittee amended the bill's definition of "bets or wagers". The language of this amendment, which is also in the June 13 version, amends the Wire Act to provide that "bets or wagers" is "the staking or risking by any person of something of value upon the outcome of a contest of others, a sporting event, or a game predominantly subject to chance, not skill, upon an agreement or understanding that the person or another person will receive something of greater value than the amount staked or risked in the event of a certain outcome". (Emphasis added.) The words "not skill" have been added to the language of the bill as introduced. Hence, games based on skill, such as fantasy sports leagues, would thus not be covered by the Wire Act.
Illegal Gambling Funding. HR 3215 also criminalizes "the transmission of a communication in interstate or foreign commerce ... which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers". Also, like HR 556, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act, sponsored by Rep. James Leach (R-IA), HR 3215 would prohibit the use of credit, electronic funds transfers, and checks in connection with illegal gambling.
Enforcement. In addition to criminal penalties, HR 3215 would allow federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to obtain injunctions against violation of the act. It also provides that "any common carrier, subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission" may be enjoined from providing service to entities in violation of the act, and gives such carriers immunity from suit for discontinuing such service.
Internet Service Providers. The amendment in the nature of a substitute offered on June 13 changes the bill on the matter of ISPs, or interactive computer services, as they are called in this bill. The new language is as follows: "Relief granted under paragraph (1) against an interactive computer service (as defined in section 230(f) of the Communications Act of 1934) shall -- (A) be limited to the removal of, or disabling of access to, an online site violating this section, or a hypertext link to an online site violating this section, that resides on a computer server that such service controls or operates; except this limitation shall not apply if the service is violating this section or is in active concert with a person who is violating this section and receives actual notice of the relief; (B) be available only after notice to the interactive computer service and an opportunity for the service to appear are provided; (C) not impose any obligation on an interactive computer service to monitor its service or to affirmatively seek facts indicating activity violating this section; (D) specify the interactive computer service to which it applies; and (E) specifically identify the location of the online site or hypertext link to be removed or access to which is to be disabled."
The bill contains a notice and take down provision, which enables law enforcement authorities to obtain a court order compelling an ISP to take down a gambling web site, and a hyperlink to gambling web site. Previous versions of the bill had language protecting ISPs. What is new about the June 13 version is that ISPs are entitled to notice and an opportunity to appear.
Rep. Goodlatte described this new language at the June 13 meeting. He said that "this change makes clear that injunctions issued against interactive computer services to take down illegal gambling web sites, or web sites containing hypertext links hosted by the ISP, would issue only after notice and a hearing, would specify that the service to which the order applies, and provide enough information so that the interactive computer service could locate the site, or hypertext link. These are the banner ads that you see all over the computer when you go online linking you to these offshore sites. Law enforcement, upon notice and due process would, under this language, be able to, upon an order of the court, require that the links be broken."
State Lotteries. An amendment adopted on March 12 also changed the bill as introduced on the subject of state lotteries. It includes a technical amendment which allows states to operate intrastate Internet lotteries with servers out of state. This language, which is maintained in the June 13 version, is as follows: "Nothing in this section prohibits ... the interstate transmission of information relating to a State-specific lottery between a State or foreign country where such betting or wagering is permitted under Federal, State, tribal, or local law and an out-of-state data center for the purposes of assisting in the operation of such State-specific lottery."
Information Exchanged Between Pari Mutuel Wagering Facilities. The amendment in the nature of a substitute offered on June 13 also contains a new exception in the definitional section. It provides that "The term ‘information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers’ means information knowingly transmitted by an individual in a gambling business for use in placing, receiving, making, or otherwise enabling or facilitating a bet or wager and does not include ... information that is exchanged between or among 1 or more pari-mutuel wagering facilities licensed by the State or approved by the foreign jurisdiction in which the facility is located, and any support services, wherever located, if the information exchanged is used exclusively for the pooling or processing of bets or wagers made by or with the facility or facilities under each State's applicable law."
Rep. Goodlatte offered this explanation. He said that the June 13 version "has a provision that was in the last bill, that was omitted from this bill, dealing with a term called common pool wagering. It is a common practice as a book keeping matter when taking wagers on pari-mutuel contests to include those wagers in a wagering pool established specifically for that contest, and to pay any wagers out of the same pool. The transmission of information in regard to common pools is a purely technical activity. The current Wire Act permits the transmission of information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on a sporting event or contest from a state where it is legal into a state where it is also legal."
Transfer of Information. The June 13 version of the bill also adds a new paragraph (d) to the 18 U.S.C. § 1084 (which contains the criminal prohibition of the Wire Act) regarding the transfer of information. Rep. Goodlatte stated that "To address the concern that authority be restored to the states to control their own borders with the regard to the enforcement of their gambling statutes, a new paragraph (d) was added to the bill which provides that the interstate transmission of bets of wagers is permitted under certain enumerated conditions. This provision, however, does not authorize the transmission of bets or wagers between a state and a foreign country regardless of the legality of such bet or wagering in the foreign country."
House Judiciary Committee Approves Homeland Security Information Sharing Act
6/13. The House Judiciary Committee amended and approved HR 4598, the Homeland Security Information Sharing Act, a bill to provide for the sharing of homeland security information by Federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies with state and local entities.
The bills provides that "The President shall prescribe procedures under which relevant Federal agencies determine (A) whether, how, and to what extent homeland security information may be shared with appropriate State and local personnel, and with which such personnel may it be shared; and (B) to the extent such information is in classified form, whether, how, and to what extent to declassify (or remove classified information from, as appropriate) such information, and with which such personnel may it be shared after such declassification (or removal)."
The Committee approved an amendment offered by Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC), as amended by an amendment offered by Rep. Mark Green (R-WI). This amendment (as amended) provides that "the procedures prescribed ... shall establish conditions on the use of information shared ... (A) to limit the redissemination of such information; (B) to ensure that such information is not used for an unauthorized purpose; (C) to ensure the security and confidentiality of such information; (D) to protect the constitutional rights of any individuals who are subjects of such information; and (E) to provide data integrity through timely removal and destruction of obsolete or erroneous names and information."
The Committee also approved an amendment offered by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) that would allow, but not require, the sharing of information acquired in federal grand jury investigations. Rep. William Delahunt (D-MA) opposed the amendment. He stated that "we are diminishing the concept of what a grand jury is about", and that this provision "is ripe for abuse". Rep. Weiner pointed out that there are already civil liabilities for improper release.
Friday, June 14
The House is in recess until Monday, June 17.
The Supreme Court is in recess until Monday, June 17.
Flag Day.
CANCELLED. The FCC's Network Reliability and Interoperability Council (NRIC) will hold a meeting. The next meeting of the NRIC will be on Friday, September 13. See, cancellation notice [PDF].
Saturday, June 15
Deadline for the FCC to submit its annual report to Congress regarding progress made in achieving the objectives of the Open Market Reorganization for the Betterment of International Telecommunications Act (ORBIT Act), 47 U.S.C. § 646. See, FCC notice [PDF].
Monday, June 17
The House will meet at 12:30 PM.
The Supreme Court will return from recess.
2:00 - 3:30 PM. The FCC's International Bureau will hold a public forum to discuss issues and policies pertaining to the international satellite network coordination process and the domestic regulatory aspects of the International Telecommunication Union's satellite network filing process. Location: FCC, 445 12th Street, SW, Room TW-C305.
Deadline to submit comments to the FCC regarding its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the consequences of the FCC's classification of cable modem service as an information service. This is CS Docket No. 02-52. See, FCC release [PDF] and notice in Federal Register.
Tuesday, June 18
8:30 - 10:00 AM. The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) will host a press breakfast titled "Telecommunications and Media Issues" with former FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott Roth and other AEI scholars. RSVP to Veronique Rodman at telephone 202 862-4871 or vrodman @aei.org. Location: AEI, 1150 17th Street, NW, 11th Floor Conference Room.
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. The Global Internet Project (GIP) will host a conference titled Spam: Can It Be Stopped? Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Orson Swindle will give the opening keynote address at 9:20 AM. See, agenda. Location: Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA.
12:00 NOON. The FTC will host an event titled Workshop on Merger Remedies. See, FTC release. Location: Room 332, FTC, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.
2:30 - 4:30 PM. The Department of State's (DOS) International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC-D) will hold a meeting. This Committee advises the Department on policy, technical and operational issues with respect to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). For more information, and security restrictions, see notice in Federal Register. Location: Room 1406, DOS.
Day one of a four day conference titled "INET 2002: Internet Crossroads: Where Technology and Policy Intersect". See, conference information page. Location: Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA.
Wednesday, June 19
The FCC has scheduled Auction 31 and Auction 44, pertaining to spectrum in the 700 megahertz band. On May 24, 2002, the FCC announced that Auction 31 is postponed until January 14, 2003, but that Auction 44 will proceed on June 19, 2002. See, FCC notice of postponement.
10:00 AM. The Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Science, and Transportation Communications will hold a hearing to examine future sufficiency and stability of the Universal Service Fund. Location: Room 253, Russell Building.
11:30 AM. The Congressional Wireless Caucus will hold a press conference. The scheduled speakers include Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Rep. Chip Pickering (R-MS), and Rep. Al Wynn (D-MD). Press contact: Kimberly Kuo at 202 736-3202 or Kkuo@ctia.org. Location: Rayburn Building Foyer.
12:30 PM. The Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers will hold a luncheon meeting. For reservations or more information, contact Noel Luddy at luddyen @aol.com or 301 299-2270. The price to attend is $35. Location: Wyndham City Center Hotel, 1143 New Hampshire Ave., NW.
1:45 PM. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing on proposed legislation authorizing funds for the National Science Foundation, focusing on math and science research, development, and education. Location: Room 430, Dirksen Building.
6:00 - 8:00 PM. The FCBA will host a Continuing Legal Education program titled "TELRIC at the Crossroads: The Supreme Court Decision in Verizon v. FCC". The scheduled panelists are Bradford Ramsay (General Counsel of the NARUC), Lawrence Sarjeant (SVP/GC of the USTA), and John Windhausen (President of the ALTS). Location: Capitol Hilton, 1001 16th St., NW.
7:00 - 8:00 PM. The National Press Club CyberCocktail Lecture Series will host an panel discussion titled "The State of ePR". It will be followed by a cocktail reception at 8:00 - 9:30 PM. The participants will be Rod Kuckro (Bandwith), Lori Barnes (Public Relations Society of America), Mike Fulton (Golin Harris), Steve Ginsberg (Reuters), Mike McMearty (WTOP), Rick Rudman (Vocus), and Danny Selnick (PR Newswire). The price to attend for non members is $10. To make reservations, call 202 662-7501 or email lauraf @press.org. Location: Ballroom, National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor.
Day two of a four day conference titled "INET 2002: Internet Crossroads: Where Technology and Policy Intersect". See, conference information page.
Thursday, June 20
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. The NIST will host an event titled NIST Nanotechnology Open House. Location: NIST, Gaithersburg, MD.
9:30 AM. The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing to examine the President's proposal to create a Department of Homeland Security.
Day three of a four day conference titled "INET 2002: Internet Crossroads: Where Technology and Policy Intersect". See, conference information page.
The FCC's Technological Advisory Council will hold a meeting. Location: FCC, 445 12th St., SW., Room TW-C305.
Qwest Files Long Distance Applications
6/13. Qwest Communications filed Section 271 applications with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide in region interLATA services in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska and North Dakota. Qwest also announced that "Over the summer and fall, Qwest plans to file similar applications for long distance authority in the nine other Western states where it provides local communications." See, Qwest release.
Jim Lewis, WorldCom's SVP for Public Policy, stated in a release that "Qwest is asking far too much, way too soon. The fact is tests show Qwest's region wide local phone systems are not ready to perform at commercial volumes." He also asserted that Qwest charges its competitors "exorbitant rates" to access its phone network. He concluded that "It's now up to the Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission to force Qwest to fix its problems before it gets into long distance."
People and Appointments
6/13. Thomas Horton was appointed Senior EVP and CFO of AT&T. He was previously SVP and CFO of  AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines. He succeeds Charles Noski as CFO. Noski will leave AT&T when its merger with Comcast is complete. See, AT&T release.
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