4/19. The House Commerce Committee's (HCC) Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection amended and approved HR 964, the "Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act", or SPY ACT.

The Subcommittee approved a manager's amendment [4 pages in PDF] offered by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) that makes 26 changes to HR 964 IH [31 pages in PDF] (as introduced on February 8, 2007). For a summary of the bill, see story in this issue titled "Summary of HR 964, the SPY ACT".

Rep. Rush, the Chairman of the Subcommittee, stated that "Too often, the average citizen is unaware of the litany of scams and con-jobs that infest the marketplace. We must stop the scourge of identity theft and related abuse. The Spy Act is a pivotal first step". See, HCC release.

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), the Chairman of the HCC, wrote in this same release that "As technology advances, it is imperative that the government remain aware and ahead of potentially damaging uses of that technology. Protecting Internet users from dangerous programs that steal consumers’ identities, invade their software or just plain harass them is a top priority".

Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), the ranking Republican on the HCC, wrote in his prepared statement that "The installation of spyware on your computer without your knowledge and without your consent is a little like sneaking into your home and planting a bug, and it's both widespread and wrong. When that spyware records and inappropriately shares the details of a consumer's life and Internet use, it goes beyond unacceptable and becomes dangerous."

He added that "We will continue an open process and will remain mindful of legitimate business concerns as the bill moves to the House floor."

Rep. Ed Towns (D-NY) introduced this bill on February 8, 2007. The 35 cosponsors include Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA), Rep. Rush, Rep. Dingell, and Rep. Barton. Notably, only two of the sponsors are members of the House Judiciary Committee (HJC), Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY). Both members of both the HCC and HJC.

Rep. Bono and Rep. Towns also introduced spyware related bills in the 108th and 109th Congresses that did not become law.

October 5, 2004, the House passed HR 2929 (108th Congress), also titled the "Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act", or SPY ACT, on a roll call vote of 399-1. See, Roll Call No. 495. HR 2929 was the HCC's spyware bill, and a predecessor to the present bill, HR 964. However, the Senate did not approve HR 2929 (108th). See, story titled "House Passes First Spyware Bill" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 991, October 6, 2004.

On January 4, 2005, Rep. Bono and Rep. Towns reintroduced their legislation as HR 29 (109th). This too was titled "Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act", or SPY ACT. The House approved the bill on May 23, 2005. However, the Senate did not approve it. See also, story titled "House to Vote on Spyware Bills" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,140, May 23, 2005; story titled "House Commerce Committee Approves Spyware Bill" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,092, March 10, 2005; story titled "House Subcommittee Marks Up Spyware Bill" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,080, February 22, 2004; and story titled "House Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on Spyware Bill" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,064, January 27, 2005.

Rep. Rush also said that "We must pass comprehensive data security legislation this year". On February 8, 2007, Rep. Rush and other members of the HCC introduced HR 958, the "Data Accountability and Trust Act", or DATA. This bill would, among other things, mandate disclosure of data security breaches.

Also, on February 7, 2007, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), the ranking Republican on the HJC, and other HJC Republicans, introduced HR 836, the "Cyber-Security Enhancement and Consumer Data Protection Act of 2007". This bill would, among other things, mandate disclosure of data security breaches.

4/19. The House Commerce Committee's (HCC) Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection amended and approved HR 964, the "Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act", or SPY ACT.

See, HR 964 [31 pages in PDF] as introduced on February 8, 2007, and manager's amendment [4 pages in PDF] approved on April 19, 2007. The following is a section by section summary of key provisions.

1. Introduction. § 1 contains only the title of the bill. HR 964 contains two sets of prohibitions. First, § 2 prohibits deceptive acts or practices related to spyware. Second, § 3 prohibits collection of certain information without notice and consent.

§ 4 provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). § 5 provides numerous exceptions. § 6 preempts certain state spyware related laws. (§ 7 of the bill as introduced required an annual FTC report. The manager's amendment deletes it.)

This version of the bill does not regulate the use of cookies. However, § 7 requires the FTC to write a report "regarding the use of cookies, including tracking cookies, in the delivery or display of advertising to the owners and users of computers." § 8 requires the FTC to write a report on information collection programs installed before the effective date. § 9 gives the FTC rule making authority.

§10 contains definitions. § 11 provides the effective date (12 months after enactment), applicability (only to programs installed after the effective date), and sunset date (December 31, 2013) of the bill.

The bill creates no private right of action. The bill contains no criminal prohibitions.

2. Prohibited Acts and Practices. § 2 provides that "It is unlawful for any person, who is not the owner or authorized user of a protected computer, to engage in deceptive acts or practices that involve any of the following conduct with respect to the protected computer:"

§ 2 then lists ten categories of deceptive acts or practices, including taking control of a computer, modifying settings related to a computer's access to the internet, collecting personally identifiable information through keystroke logging, and removing, disabling, or rendering inoperative a security, anti-spyware, or anti-virus technology.

§ 2 also prohibits certain phishing practices. It prohibits "Inducing the owner or authorized user of the computer to disclose personally identifiable information by means of a Web page that -- (A) is substantially similar to a Web page established or provided by another person; and (B) misleads the owner or authorized user that such Web page is provided by such other person."

§ 2 also prohibits "Inducing the owner or authorized user to provide personally identifiable, password, or account information to another person -- A) by misrepresenting the identity of the person seeking the information; or (B) without the authority of the intended recipient of the information."

§ 2 also prohibits "Inducing the owner or authorized user to install or execute computer software by misrepresenting the identity or authority of the person or entity providing the computer software to the owner or user."

3. Prohibition of Collection of Certain Information Without Notice and Consent. § 3(a) provides that "it is unlawful for any person -- (1) to transmit to a protected computer, which is not owned by such person and for which such person is not an authorized user, any information collection program, unless -- (A) such information collection program provides notice in accordance with subsection (c) before downloading or installing of any of the information collection program; and (B) such information collection program includes the functions required under subsection (d)".

Similarly, § 3(a) also provides that it is unlawful "to execute any information collection program installed on such a protected computer unless -- (A) before execution of any of the information collection functions of the program, the owner or an authorized user of the protected computer has consented ..."

§ 3(c) provides extensive detail on the meaning of "notice and consent".

4. FTC Enforcement. § 4 provides for enforcement by the FTC. Violations shall be treated as an unfair or deceptive act or practice violating a rule promulgated under Section 18 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, which is codified at 15 U.S.C. § 57a.

§ 4 provides that for "a person who engages in a pattern or practice that violates section 2 or 3" the FTC may seek penalties of "$3,000,000 for each violation of section 2" and "$1,000,000 for each violation of section 3".

5. Exceptions. § 5 provides numerous exceptions.

   A. Government Spyware. There is a sweeping exception that exempts from liability under this act any state or federal government conduct or order what would otherwise be a violation of the act. This exemption extends not only to law enforcement, agents of law enforcement, and national security. It also extends to any federal or state agency or department, and any court order or legal process.

   B. Good Faith Attempts to Remove Spyware. There is also immunity for any software maker or interactive computer service that acts in good faith to remove spyware. It provides that "No provider of computer software or of interactive computer service may be held liable under this Act on account of any action voluntarily taken, or service provided, in good faith to remove or disable a program used to violate section 2 or 3 that is installed on a computer of a customer of such provider, if such provider notifies the customer and obtains the consent of the customer before undertaking such action or providing such service."

This immunity could be abused. The manager's amendments addresses this. It adds the following language: "Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the liability of a provider of computer software or of an interactive computer service for any anti-competitive act otherwise prohibited by law."

Similarly, the bill provides that "A manufacturer or retailer of computer equipment shall not be liable under this Act to the extent that the manufacturer or retailer is providing third party branded computer software that is installed on the equipment the manufacturer or retailer is manufacturing or selling."

   C. Monitoring for Security Purposes. There is also a security exemption. That is, the act does not apply to "any monitoring of, or interaction with, a subscriber’s Internet or other network connection or service, or a protected computer, by a telecommunications carrier, cable operator, computer hardware or software provider, or provider of information service or interactive computer service, to the extent that such monitoring or interaction is for network or computer security purposes, diagnostics, technical support, or repair, or for the detection or prevention of fraudulent activities".

   D. Authorization of Use of Software. Nor does the act apply to "discrete interaction with a protected computer by a provider of computer software solely to determine whether the user of the computer is authorized to use such software".

6. Preemption. Section 6 of the bill provides that "This Act supersedes any provision of a statute, regulation, or rule of a State or political subdivision of a State that expressly regulates -- (A) unfair or deceptive conduct with respect to computers similar to that described in section 2(a); (B) the transmission or execution of a computer program similar to that described in section 3; or (C) the use of computer software that displays advertising content based on the Web pages accessed using a computer."

However, the bill also contains several clarifications and exceptions.

4/20. Federal Reserve Board (FRB) Governor Frederic Mishkin gave a speech titled "The U.S. Economic Outlook" at Bard College in the state of New York.

Mishkin (at right) said that "Demand for high-tech equipment appears to have picked up early this year after leveling off in the final quarter of 2006. Demand for computers, which was likely boosted by the introduction of the Windows Vista operating system, seems to be advancing at a healthy pace."

He continued that "Technological innovations -- such as circuitry that boosts computer performance and lowers energy consumption -- appear to be generating demand to upgrade equipment in data centers."

Also, he said that "major U.S. cable companies are forecasting a step-up in capital spending, and telecommunications carriers are planning a further expansion of fiber-optic networks."

Mishkin also discussed productivity. "During the first three years of the current expansion, output per hour in the nonfarm business sector rose 3 percent per year; in the past two years, it has decelerated to 2 percent. I suspect that this slowdown does not represent a fundamental weakening in the longer-run trend, but is rather a normal cyclical transition from an above-trend rate of increase to a more sustainable rate."

He said that "From early 2003 to early 2006, real gross domestic product (GDP) rose at an annual rate of 3-1/2 percent". However, since the spring of 2006 "the expansion of the U.S. economy appears to have been undergoing a transition to a more moderate and sustainable pace." He predicted "a continued moderate rate of economic expansion".

4/23. Todd Cranford joined the law firm of Patton Boggs as Of Counsel. He was previously Democratic Senior Counsel to the House Financial Services Committee. Before that, he worked for the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Enforcement Division.

4/20. President Bush named Thomas Bossert to be Special Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Senior Director for Preparedness Policy. He was previously Director of Infrastructure Protection Policy on the Homeland Security Council. See, White House release.

4/20. President Bush named Elizabeth Dial to be Special Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs. She was previously Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Commerce. See, White House release.

4/19. A grand jury of the U.S. District Court (DColo) returned a verdict of guilty against Joseph Nacchio in the Department of Justice's (DOJ) insider trading case against the former CEO of Qwest Communications. The gist of the allegations is that Nacchio traded shares of Qwest while knowing that the company was unlikely to continue to meet its announced earnings. The jury returned a verdict of guilty of 19 counts of insider trading, but acquitted Nacchio on 23 other counts.

4/20. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a report [10 MB in PDF] titled "The FTC in 2007: A Champion for Consumers and Competition". See also, FTC release.

4/18. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) [53 pages in PDF] in its proceeding titled "In the Matter of Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2007". This NPRM is FCC 07-55 in MD Docket No. 07-81. The deadline to submit initial comments is May 3, 2007. The deadline to submit reply comments is May 11, 2007.

4/17. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice [4 pages in PDF] that requests comments regarding the "status of children's television programming, and compliance with the Children's Television Act" and the FCC Commission's rules. Initial comments will be due 30 days after publication of a notice in the Federal Register. Such publication has not yet occurred. Reply comments will be due 45 days after such publication. This Public Notice is DA 07-1716 in MM Docket No. 00-167.

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The House will meet at 12:30 PM for morning hour, and at 2:00 PM for legislative business. It will consider several non-technology items under suspension of the rules. See, Rep. Hoyer's weekly calendar [PDF].

The Senate will meet at 2:00 PM for morning business. It will then resume consideration of S 761, the "America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act".

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Day one of a two day workshop hosted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) titled "Proof Positive: New Directions in ID Authentication". See, FTC release and notice in the Federal Register, February 26, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 37, at Pages 8381-8383. Location: FTC, Satellite Building Conference Center, 601 New Jersey Ave., NW.

12:15 - 1:30 PM. The Federal Communications Bar Association's (FCBA) Wireless Committee will host a luncheon panel discussion titled "Perspectives on the International MVNO Market". The speakers will include Esther Nunes (Pinheiro Neto-Advogados), a representative of Deloitte Touche, and others. See, registration form [PDF]. The price to attend is $15. The deadline for registrations and cancellations is 12:00 NOON on April 19. Location: Wiley Rein, main conference room, 1776 K St., NW.

12:30 - 2:00 PM. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will host an event titled "The Doha Development Agenda: Is Time Running Out on U.S. Leadership?". The speaker will be Pascal Lamy, Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The price to attend is $65. See, notice. Location: U.S. Chamber, 1615 H St.,  NW.

1:30 PM. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Deborah Majoras will hold a new conference to announce the release a report of the President’s Identity Theft Task Force. Press contact: 202-514-2007. Location: FTC Conference Center, 601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.

1:00 - 2:30 PM. The Alliance for Public Technology (APT) will host a panel discussion titled "Achieving Universal Broadband: Policies for Stimulating Deployment and Demand". The speakers will include David Lazarus (office of Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)), Mark McElroy (ConnectKentucky), and Kenneth Peres (Communications Workers of America). RSVP to apt at apt dot org or 202-263-2970. See, notice. Location: S-115, Capitol Building.

5:00 PM. The House Rules Committee will meet to adopt a rule for consideration of HR 362, the "10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act". Location: Room H-313, Capitol Building.

Day one of a three day conference hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) titled "Interoperability Week". See, notice. Location: NIST, Red Auditorium, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD.

Extended deadline to submit initial comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in its proceeding titled "In the Matter of Effects of Communications Towers on Migratory Birds". This NPRM [40 pages in PDF] is FCC 06-164 in WT Docket No. 03-187. The FCC adopted this NPRM on November 3, 2006. It released it on November 17, 2006. See, notice of extension [PDF].

The House will meet at 10:30 AM for morning hour, and at 12:00 NOON for legislative business. It will consider HR 362, the "10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act", and HR 363, the "Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act", subject to rules. See, Rep. Hoyer's weekly calendar [PDF].

? TIME? The Forum on Technology & Innovation may hold a forum. Location?

8:30 - 11:00 AM. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) will host an event titled "The 9/11 Legislation and the Private Sector". The speakers will include Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. For more information, contact arasmussen at csis dot org. See, notice. Location: Senate Room, Capitol Hilton, 1001 16th St., NW.

8:30 AM - 12:30 PM. Day two of a two day workshop hosted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) titled "Proof Positive: New Directions in ID Authentication". See, FTC release and notice in the Federal Register, February 26, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 37, at Pages 8381-8383. Location: FTC, Satellite Building Conference Center, 601 New Jersey Ave., NW.

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) will meet. The co-chairs of the PCAST subcommittee on networking and information technology are scheduled to lead a discussion on the findings of the PCAST review of the Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program. See, notice in the Federal Register, April 10, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 68, at Page 17908. Location: Room 100, Keck Center of the National Academies, 500 5th St., NW.

10:00 AM. The House Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet will hold a hearing titled "Digital Future of the United States: Part IV: Broadband Lessons from Abroad". The witnesses will be Paul Swain (Member of the Parliament of New Zealand), Ed Richards (United Kingdom's OFCOM), Shin Hashimoto (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation), Greg Wyler (Terracom Communications), George Ford (Center for Advanced Legal and Economic Public Policy Studies). Press contact: Jodi Seth or Carrie Annand at 202-225-5735. Location: Room 2322, Rayburn Building.

10:00 AM. The Senate Commerce Committee (SCC) will hold a hearing titled "Communications, Broadband and Competitiveness: How Does the U.S. Measure Up?". The witnesses will be Brian Mefford (ConnectKentucky), Ben Scott (Free Press), Adam Drobat (Telcordia Technologies), Jack Wolf (Qualcomm), Jeffrey Eisenach (Criterion Economics), and Scott Wallsten (Progress and Freedom Foundation). See, notice. Location: Room 253, Russell Building.

CANCELLED. 12:00 NOON - 1:30 PM. The Federal Communications Bar Association's (FCBA) FCC Enforcement Practice Committee will host a brown bag lunch titled "Enforcement in Communications: A State Perspective". The speakers will include Mary Ellen Burns (Senior Counsel, New York State Attorney General's Office), Chana Wilkerson (Maryland Office of People's Counsel), and others. For more information, contact Christi Shewman at christi dot shewman at fcc dot gov. Location: Skadden Arps, conference center, 700 14th St., NW.

12:00 NOON - 2:00 PM. The DC Bar Association will host a panel discussion titled "The Orphan Works Dilemma: What is it and can it be fixed?". The speakers will be Maria Pallante (Deputy General Counsel, Copyright Office), Allan Adler (Association of American Publishers), and Victor Perlman (American Society of Media Photographers). See, notice. The price to attend ranges from $10-$30. For more information, call 202-626-4363. Location: DC Bar Conference Center, B-1 Level, 1250 H St., NW.

12:00 NOON. The President's Export Council will hold a meeting by teleconference to discuss its draft recommendation to the President regarding trade promotion authority (TPA). See, notice in the Federal Register, April 10, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 68, at Page 17838.

Day two of a three day conference hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) titled "Interoperability Week". See, notice. Location: NIST, Red Auditorium, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD.

The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business. There are no technology related items on the calendar. See, Rep. Hoyer's weekly calendar [PDF].

8:30 AM. The Center for Democracy and Technology's (CDT) Advisory Committee to the Congressional Internet Caucus will host an event titled "Location Meets Social Networking: A Wireless Policy and Practices Dialogue". See, notice. Location: Renaissance Hotel at Metro Center, 999 9th, NW.

9:00 AM. Day one of a two day meeting of the Department of Commerce's (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee (ISTAC). The April 25 meeting is open to the public. The agenda includes "Processor Technology Roadmap", "Information System Technology in the Military Critical Technologies List (MCTL)", and "Commercial Encryption Technology". See, notice in the Federal Register, April 3, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 63, at Page 15862. Location: Room 3884, 14th Street between Constitution and Pennsylvania Ave., NW.

9:30 AM. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may hold an event titled "Open Meeting". See, agenda [PDF]. Location: FCC, Commission Meeting Room, 445 12th St., SW.

10:00 AM. The Senate Commerce Committee (SCC) will meet in executive session. See, notice. Location: Room 253, Russell Building.

10:00 AM - 12:00 NOON. The House Science Committee (HSC) will meet to mark up several bills, including HR 1867, bill to authorize appropriations for FY 2008, 2009, and 2010 for the National Science Foundation (NSF), and HR 1868, a bill to reauthorize the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Location: Room 2318, Rayburn Building.

10:00 AM. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) may hold an executive business meeting. See, notice. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.

1:00 PM. The House Homeland Security Committee's (HHSC) Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology will hold a hearing titled "Addressing the Nation’s Cybersecurity Challenges: Reducing Vulnerabilities Requires Strategic Investment and Immediate Action". The witnesses will be Daniel Geer (Geer Risk Services), James Andrew Lewis (Center for Strategic and International Studies), Douglas Maughan (Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate), Sami Saydjari (Cyber Defense Agency, LLC). Location: Room 1539, Longworth Building.

6:00 - 8:30 PM. The Federal Communications Bar Association's (FCBA) Communications Law, Copyright & Digital Rights Management Committee will host a continuing legal education (CLE) seminar titled "Everything You Wanted To Know About Copyright Law But Were Afraid To Ask". See, registration form [PDF]. The price to attend ranges from $50-$125. The deadline to register is 5:00 PM on April 23. Location: Wiley Rein, 1776 K St., NW.

Day three of a three day conference hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) titled "Interoperability Week". See, notice. Location: NIST, Red Auditorium, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD.

TIME? Day two of a two day meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). Location?

The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business. There are no technology related items on the calendar. See, Rep. Hoyer's weekly calendar [PDF].

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. The Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) will host an event titled "Intellectual Property: Driving Global Growth". The speakers will include Chris Israel (U.S. Coordinator for International Intellectual Property Enforcement), Michael Keplinger (Deputy Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization), Vivek Wadhwa (Duke University), Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), Jon Dudas (head of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office), former Rep. Patricia Schroeder (now head of the Association of American Publishers), and Sam Pitroda (CEO of C-SAM and Chairman of the India Knowledge Commission). RSVP to Sonia Blumstein at 205-620-2087 or soniab at ipi dot org. Lunch will be served. Location: Hyatt Regency Washington, 400 New Jersey Ave., NW.

9:00 AM - 3:30 PM. The President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) will meet. See, notice in the Federal Register, December 29, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 250, at Page 78451. Location?

9:00 AM. Day two of a two day meeting of the Department of Commerce's (DOC) Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS) Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee (ISTAC). The April 26 meeting is closed to the public. The agenda is undisclosed. See, notice in the Federal Register, April 3, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 63, at Page 15862. Location: Room 3884, 14th Street between Constitution and Pennsylvania Ave., NW.

10:00 AM - 12:00 NOON. The Department of State's (DOS) International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC) will meet "to prepare advice on U.S. positions for responses to: ITU letter of March 14, 2007 to Members of the Council regarding organizational changes within the General Secretariat and the Bureaux of the Sectors of the Union, ITU DM-07/1008 to the entire ITU membership regarding ITU's role on international public policy issues pertaining to the Internet and the management of Internet resources, and ITU DM-07/1003 to the entire ITU membership regarding the planning schedule for the fourth World Telecommunications Policy Forum on convergence and emerging policy issues". See, notice in the Federal Register, April 13, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 71, at Page 18722. Location: AT&T, 1120 20th St., NW.

12:00 NOON - 1:30 PM. The Alliance for Public Technology (APT), National Caucus and Center on Black Aged (NCBA), and Benton Foundation will host a brown bag lunch titled "Achieving Universal Broadband: Healthcare, Independent Living and Seniors". The speakers will be Karyne Jones (head of the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged) and Jenifer Simpson (American Association of People with Disabilities). See, notice. Location: NCBA, Suite 800, 1220 L St., NW.

1:15 - 5:00 PM. The President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) will hold a partially closed meeting. The first hour of the meeting, which will be open, will be a discussion of the work of the Emergency Communications and Interoperability Task Force (ECITF), and a discussion of and vote on the International Task Force (ITF) Report. The rest of the meeting, which will be closed to the public, will be a discussion of Global Infrastructure Resiliency (GIR) and Cyber Security. See, notice in the Federal Register, April 6, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 66, at Page 17176. Location: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 1615 H St., NW.

2:00 PM. The House Judiciary Committee's (HJC) Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property will hold a hearing on HR 1908, "The Patent Reform Act of 2007". The witnesses will be John Thomas (professor at Georgetown University Law Center), Gary Griswold (3M Innovative Properties), William Tucker (Research and Administration and Technology Transfer, University of California), Antony Peterman (Dell), Kevin Sharer (Amgen). Location: Room 2141, Rayburn Building.

5:00 - 8:00 PM. The Congressional Caucus on Intellectual Property Promotion and the Prevention of Piracy, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and George Washington University Law School will host a World Intellectual Property Day event. The speakers will include Carlos Gutierrez (Secretary of Commerce), Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), Rep. Dianne Watson (D-CA), and Michael Keplinger (Deputy Director General of WIPO). There will also be showcases provided by the Recording Industry Association of America, Motion Picture Association of America, Association of American Publishers, Entertainment Software Association, Business Software Alliance, and Software & Information Industry Association. For more information, contact Frank Pietrucha at 202-253-7376 or Suzanne Stoll at 202-955-7999. Location: Rayburn Foyer, Rayburn Building.

6:30 - 8:30 PM. The Federal Communications Bar Association's (FCBA) Young Lawyers' Committee will host an event titled "Happy Hour". For more information, contact Erin Boone at erin dot boone at t-mobile dot com or 202-654-5919, or Nguyen Vu at nvu at wbklaw dot com or 202-383-3371. Location: Hard Rock Café, 999 E St., NW.

Day one of a two day visit by Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, to Washington DC and Camp David. See, White House release.

Rep. Hoyer's weekly calendar [PDF] states that "no votes are expected in the House".

2:00 - 3:30 PM. The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) will host a panel discussion on the book [Amazon] titled "Terror in the Balance: Security, Liberty, and the Courts". The speakers will include the authors, Eric Posner (University of Chicago) and Adrian Vermeule (Harvard Law School), and Louis Michael Seidman (Georgetown Law Center) and Michael Greve (AEI). See, notice. Location: AEI, 1150 17th St., NW.

Deadline to submit comments to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in response to its notice in the Federal Register regarding hash algorithm requirements and evaluation criteria. The notice states that the "NIST has decided to develop one or more additional hash functions through a public competition, similar to the development process for the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)." This notice is a prelude to this competition. The NIST has drafted, and seeks comment on, minimum acceptability requirements, submission requirements, and evaluation criteria for candidate algorithms. The NIST does not yet want competition candidate algorithms. See, Federal Register, January 23, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 14, at Pages 2861-2863, and notice in NIST web site.

Day two of a two day visit by Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, to Washington DC and Camp David. See, White House release.

12:15 - 1:30 PM. The Federal Communications Bar Association's (FCBA) Wireless Committee will host a luncheon panel discussion titled "Meet the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief". The speaker will be Fred Campbell. See, registration form [PDF]. The price to attend is $15. The deadline for registrations and cancellations is 12:00 NOON on April 26. Location: Latham & Watkins, 10th floor, 555 11th St., NW.

An annual US-EU summit will be held in Washington DC. President Bush will meet with European Council President Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. See, White House release.

6:00 - 8:15 PM. The DC Bar Association will host a continuing legal education (CLE) seminar titled "The Ethics of E-mails". The speaker will be Thomas Spahn (McGuire Woods). The price to attend ranges from $80 to $115. For more information, call 202-626-3488. See, notice. Location: DC Bar Conference Center, 1250 H St NW B-1 Level.

Deadline to submit applications and nominations for membership on the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC). See, notice in the Federal Register, March 15, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 50, at Page 12264.