Newstand - April 2001
By Sabrina I. Pacifici, Published on April 2, 2001
| Breaking News | Other Sources for Breaking News | Tech Trends | CongressLine: Federal & State Legislative News |
Tech Terms Are Just a Few Clicks Away, April 29, 2001. Several useful online tech encyclopedias help users understand the jargon associated with using resources and applications on the Internet. Among them are Webopedia and TechEncyclopedia.
New York Times (reg. req'd)
By the Water Cooler in Cyberspace, Talk Turns Ugly, April 29, 2001. Thousands of message boards for individual companies have emerged over the last few years, creating a window on what some employees feel but never say publicly. Often the view through this window is rather ugly.
At Financial Web Sites, More than the Scores, April 29, 2001. With over 86 million Web users, financial and news related sites attract approximately 20 million users monthly.
Attorneys General Fear Tech Speed, April 28, 2001. At the National Association of Attorneys General Meeting the focus was online legal trends. The group is stymied by the inability of current laws to appropriately address quickly developing issues related to the Internet, including identity fraud, online child porn, the collection and sale of personal data, and online gaming.
Does Anti-Piracy Plan Quash the First Amendment? April 27, 2001. A high profile case on copyright and the first amendment is scheduled to be heard May 1, by the Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, in Manhattan. At issue is the software DeCSS that decrypts the information on encrypted DVDs, allowing users unauthorized access and distribution capability. Otherwise presented, the issues are construed as the denial of first amendment rights of fair use and the defense of digital copyright laws.
Search Engine Statistics: Database Relative Size, April 27, 2001. According to a study completed by Greg Notess on April 9, 2001, Google finds the most information most often, All the Web (Fast), is in second place, and MNS Search ranked a very close third.
Amazon Unit Settles Lawsuit, April 27, 2001. Alexa, Amazon's unit that tracks Web user activities, has settled a privacy lawsuit for $1.9 million and agreed to delete specific personal data from its database.
Newfoundland Music Web Sites Launched, April 27, 2001. Here's a new twist in the ongoing story of Web music and copyright issues. Just launched newfoundlandmusic.com is the first Web site where users can download and buy their favorite music by Newfoundland artists. Musicians and songwriters are paid for every download.
Marketing Gurus Clash on Internet Privacy Rules, April 27, 2001. Lester Wonderman, credited as the creator of direct marketing, is a fervent opponent of spam, and a supporter of the consumer opt-in/opt-out option to cookies and spam. Other industry members are against federal intervention by means of privacy legislation requiring providing consumers such a choice.
Net Researchers Hit Tough Times, April 27, 2001. Two heavyweight Web matrix companies, Jupiter Media and Harris Interactive, are cutting staff in response to decreased business demand.
Most Papers Charge for Some Content, April 26, 2001. A survey indicates that 82% of newspapers are charging for some portion of their content. However, revenues from these fees are not significant.
New York Times (reg. req'd)
Punching Holes in Internet Walls, April 26, 2001. Countries around the world are barring access to specific sites, as well as types of information, through the use of cyberspace censorship tools.
Ellis Island Web Sites Leaves Visitors Adrift, April 26, 2001. There really can be too much of a good things, as demonstrated by the amount of traffic that has inundated this site since its introduction. Consequently, 85% of potential users have been turned away from www.ellisislandrecords.org.
Web Sites Track Regulatory Changes, April 24, 2001. "With just a few clicks of a computer mouse, almost any rule can be tracked, information on it can be retrieved, and, in some cases, the comments on it read online - if you know where to go and are willing to visit more than one site." Eleven free, special-interest sites are reviewed.
No Charge Services, Products Remain Popular, Despite Ads, Privacy Concerns, April 23, 2001. This article lists links for many free Web services and products, including e-mail, security, graphics, postage, and newsletters.
Agencies Warned on Cookies, April 23, 2001. OMB reiterates ban on Web cookies.
FTC Launches International Internet Fraud Prevention Site, April 23, 2001. The site, econsumer.gov, seeks to resolve international e-commerce disputes by allowing worldwide users of the Internet to file online complaints via one centralized location. The site is accessible in four languages: English, Dutch, Spanish and French.
Westlaw Wireless Enhancements, April 23, 2001. Now available: access to all Westlaw content in full text; search Westlaw databases using terms and connectors or natural language search; e-mail the results anywhere; e-mail a link to a document, search results or KeyCite result to one or more people instantly, and Keycite® any Citation.
West Group Announces New West LegalEdcenter Content, Distribution Partnerships, April 23, 2001. West Group today announced new continuing legal education (CLE) partnerships to expand the library of CLE materials available at West LegalEdcenter (TM) and create the most comprehensive collection of CLE programming, credit tracking and reporting tools, and links to online research materials available on the Web.
Making the Budget and Appropriations Process Work for You, April 23, 2001. This three-hour seminar focuses on the legislative and appropriations process, and promises to have you "speaking budget" like a seasoned professional. There are two dates: Thursday, May 3, 2001, (2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.) and Tuesday, June 5, 2001 (8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.). For details and registration, please see: http://federal.gallerywatch.com/services/budget-seminar.htm
New York Times (reg. req'd)
Yahoo to Unveil New Broadcast Site, April 23, 2001. In an effort to attract both more visitors and advertisers, Yahoo is opening an new entertainment area to aggregate sales of audio, video and multimedia content.
Internet Initiative Targets Online Security, April 23, 2001. "Hoping to ease consumer fears about buying on the Internet, three prominent business organizations joined Monday in an initiative to create an international seal that online companies can use to show they adhere to voluntary standards."
Dot-Com Refugees Find Welcome in Porn Industry, April 23, 2001. Displaced dot-com employees and nervous Hollywood technicians have found an unlikely shelter from the economic downturn: the porn industry.
Technical and Legal Approaches to Unsolicited Electronic Mail, April 20, 2001. This article appears in 35 U.S.F.L. Rev. 325 (2001). It is authored by Chicago based law professor David Sorkin, and the full text is available in PDF at this url: http://www.spamlaws.com/articles/usf.pdf.
Legal Face-Off Silences Net Radio Dispute, April 20, 2001. The dispute involves royalty fees when commercials are re-aired. This issue has effectively silenced streaming audio previously available from hundreds of radio stations.
FTC Announces Settlement with Web Sites that Collected Children's Personal Data Without Parent's Permission, April 19, 2001. The first anniversary of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) was marked by settlements with three Web operators for violations of the Act. The sites involved were; www.girlslife.com; Bigmailbox.com and www.insidetheweb.com. They illegally collected personally identifying information from children under 13 years of age without parental consent. Copies of the consent decrees, exhibits and complaints (all in PDF), are also available at this link.
If Computer Cookies Bother You, Here's How to Control Them, April 19, 2001.
Web Intelligence, April 18, 2001. How rumors, leaks, and news online have transformed the Internet's impact on business.
Almost 100 Million People Look for Health Information Online, April 18, 2001. A new nationwide Harris poll indicates that 100 million adults go online, averaging three times each month, using portals or search engines, to obtain health care information.
New York Times (reg. req'd)
Really Plugged-In People Reveal Really Useful Web Sites, April 18, 2001. A range of practical as well as just plain fun web sites are highlighted.
Why Paper is Still Better Than Plastic, April 17, 2001. The author tests several e-book readers, reviews the fee-based download process required to obtain materials, and concludes that for now books still have the edge.
Task Force Maps Out Peer-to-Peer Plan, April 17, 2001. "By extending the technology that popularized Napster.com for sharing music files, statisticians at more than 100 agencies are sharing their databases and maps on every subject from agriculture to transportation." Examples are FedStats.gov and MapStats.gov.
The Wall Street Journal and Clickability Inc. Announce Online Partnership, April 17, 2001. Subscribers to WSJ.com can now store and organize articles they have saved, as well as e-mail copies of articles to non-subscribers. Caveat: there is always a hidden price in any offer of this kind, and in this case, Clickability will collect and report on user activities concerning usage of the save and email functions.
Companies Can Now Include the Copyright and Registered Trademark Symbols in their DOT.com Domain Names, April 17, 2001. "WorldNames, Inc. (www.worldnames.net) a leader in multilingual Internet domain registration and infrastructure services today announced that it is now accepting pre-registrations for domain names in .com, .net and .org that can use hundreds of previously forbidden symbols, including (c), (R) and E (Euro sign)(1)."
Industry Wants to Opt-Out of Opt-In, April 16, 2001. "Harvard Law School, faced with competition on the outside and alienation on the inside, is quietly undergoing its most far-reaching changes in a century, to make itself less forbidding and more diverse."
New York Times (reg. req'd)
Harvard Law is Trying to Be More Appealing, April 16, 2001. "Harvard Law School, faced with competition on the outside and alienation on the inside, is quietly undergoing its most far-reaching changes in a century, to make itself less forbidding and more diverse."
The Power of Knowledge Management, April 16, 2001. This is a series of articles on strategies behind implementing KM solutions in law firm and corporate environments. One article specifically addresses firms that are categorized as introverts or extroverts. Other articles review KM solutions in the legal departments of Compaq, Johnson & Johnson, and Schlumberger (oil field services).
Two Sites for Researching Tax Law, April 16, 2001. This is a review of the fee-based tax web sites from CCH and Tax Analysts (and the Tax Analysts CD service, OneDisc).
New York Times (reg. req'd)
Double Fold: The Case for Saving Old Books and Newspapers, April 15, 2001. Author Nicholson Baker's new book, Double Fold, is subtitled, Libraries and the Assault on Paper. With libraries increasingly turning to microfilm, CDs and scanning as a means to archive printed materials ranging from newspapers to books and magazines, millions of dollars of historical and often rare items are being destroyed. Also see this interview with the bibliophile.
Wall Street Journal (fee-based)
E-Libraries Hoping to Profit From Term Paper Blues, April 15, 2001. A growing number of companies, such as ebrary, are collecting academic texts with an eye toward providing Web access to an audience of 15 million college students. The current market for such services is currently estimated at $250 million per year, and growing. Fees are charged when students print pages, and cut and paste text in word processing documents.
Child Privacy Law Means Options are Fewer for Kids on the Web, April 13, 2001. Many web sites have shut down services including email accounts and chat rooms to comply with the privacy law that will have its one year anniversary on April 21.
FBI's Reliance on the Private Sector Has Raised Some Privacy Concerns, April 13, 2001. Government agencies, including the FBI and IRS, are increasingly collecting personal data on citizens. Databases of data on U.S. citizens are not primarily maintained and operated by the government. Choicepoint, Inc. is a fee-based provider of public records information identified as a major vendor of public records data to the government, as well as the private sector. Privacy advocates are concerned that the collection and availability of wide ranging personal data violates the Privacy Act.
GAO: Digital Docs Raise Questions, April 16, 2001. On March 30, 2001 the Government Accounting Office (GAO) released an 86 page study (in PDF), Electronic Dissemination of Government Publications, in which it evaluated the impact of providing government documents to the public in electronic format only, as well as the feasibility of transferring the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) to the Library of Congress (LC).
Edgar to Usher In New Era of XML, April 13, 2001. On "Friday, April 20, every publicly traded company will need to transmit documents to the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system -- better known to the world as EDGAR -- using Extensible Forms Description Language (XFDL) rather than Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML). As opposed to HMTL or plain old ASCii files, XFDL is an open protocol for securely sending and receiving legally-binding XML documents."
Keeping Content in Check: A Technical and Financial Look at Outsourcing Web Development, April, 2001. This article provides a good 10 step guide to major issues that should be involved in the outsourcing decision making process.
Online Self Publisher Closes Its Doors, April 13, 2001. Themestream.com and Kozmo.com both bowed to financial pressures and closed their sites.
Publishing: Look Under "M" for Mess, April 16, 2001. This article examines Encyclopedia Britannica's rough ride trying to choose a winning strategy between free and fee-based models on the Web.
FirstGov Looks to E-Gov Fund, April 13, 2001. The government information Web portal (www.firstgov.gov) is seeking increased funding for staff, enhancements and overall operations.
Florida Wants Privacy Czar, April 12, 2001. Gov. Jeb Bush, unlike President Bush, has endorsed recommendations for a state chief privacy officer. A bill creating the position is before the legislature.
Delaware Portal Revamped, April 11, 2001. Work on the state's new site (www.delaware.gov) is being done by Accenture, with a goal to provide a portal that offers enhanced information and services to citizens.
Oral Argument in New York Times v. Tasini, April 11, 2001. The text is a 43 page document in PDF.
Virtual Web Browser Offers Portability, Privacy, April 10, 2001. Orangatango is offering a beta version of a browser that purports to allow users to surf privately, encrypt e-mail, prevent spam, access bookmarks and passwords from anywhere, while still allowing users access to Javascript and Flash.
Also see an article from the April 11, 2001 issue of USA Today: Browser Dodges Annoying E-Mail, Cookies.
xrefer: An Xcellent British Dot-Com, April 10, 2001. xrefer.com is UK site that is highly recommended for serious researchers who long for the days of Dialog's well organized hierarchy of cross referenced data that spanned numerous databases. With more than 50 ready reference sources, this site supplies an abundance of cross references and cross links.
Electronic Monitoring of Employees by Employers, April 10, 2001. "This article addresses federal law in this area, examines effective workplace policies, and looks at a recent court decision holding that employers may retrieve stored employee e-mail messages."
Is U.S. History Becoming History? April 9, 2001. Since 1985, the federal government has been using e-mail and word processing systems to conduct business. However, there has been no formal effort to archive data collected through these applications, and there is now a huge hole where a paper trail should be.
Digitizing Archives Not So Easy, April 9, 2001. While millions of books at the Library of Congress are unusable due to severe deterioration, there are no accurate long term studies supporting the wholesale transfer of hard copy to electronic formats. Electronic formats are likewise subject to damage, instability and loss. The pursuit of preserving our countries historical records poses a challenging and increasingly critical dilemma.
Eyes on the Spies, April 9, 2001. Practical ways to stop the three most common methods used to monitor your activity on the Web.
Useful Knowledge About Search Engine Spam, April 9, 2001. Ever heard of spamdexing? The term refers to spamming search engines as an unethical or unprofessional techniques to try to improve search engine rankings. This useful article provides insights to prevent unintended spamdexing, and help you maximize your chances of being indexed by search engines.
New York Times (reg. req'd)
Internet Critic Takes on Microsoft, April 9, 2001. DaveNet, an e-mail and Web-based newsletter, is the creation of software designer David Winer, who has a big bone to pick with Microsoft. He accuses them of "seizing control of the industry standards-setting process to the benefit of the company's broad-based Internet initiative, called .Net."
How to E-Mail Like a C.E.O, April 8, 2001. E-mail continues to be the dominate means of digital communication, with over 6 billion messages being exchanged daily. This article offers an interesting look at how rank, authority, and status are conveyed in the manner in which emails are written, their content, and in timely, or tardy responses.
Fighting Back When Someone Steals Your Name, April 8, 2001. Identity theft is so prevalent, that the FBI now classifies it as the fastest growing white collar crime in the country. Government and corporations are beginning to respond to the challenges faced by victims with a variety of protection plans.
Legal Victory for Internet Advertising Industry, April 6, 2001. In a blow to privacy advocates, a Manhattan U.S. District Court judge dismissed a class action case against DoubleClick concerning the collection of personal data via cookies.
Wall Street Journal Tech Center
Microsoft is Forming A Group to Build to Subscription Service, April 6, 2001. MSN is planning a new fee-based service that will include products such as Encarta and Money.
Hasta La Vista to Alta Vista?, April 6, 2001. This article traces the troubled history of the once shining star of the search engine world. CMGI has put the company on the block, and its future is looking dim. Thanks to Donna Cavallini for this link.
XRefer.com Developing Online Library Reference Services, April 5, 2001. The portal plans to launch a fee-based service this fall, for libraries in all sectors, that includes networked, password based access to more than 50 resources on topics including business, reference titles, art, science, and literature, as well as encyclopedias, dictionaries and thesauri.
IT-Literate Lawyers Unleashed to Help Cybercrime Disputes, April 3, 2001. The Communications Management Association (CMA) has created an Institute for Communications Arbitration and Forensics (ICAF), with over 500 members. The institute will arbitrate issues such as hacking, technical negligence, firewall mis-configurations, network related security issues and breaches.
Online Won't Replace Real Law Books, Say Lawyers, April 2, 2001. "According to a recent survey, 67 percent of attorneys anticipate the libraries in their firms will decrease in size but only 3 percent expect them to be eliminated entirely within the next 10 years."
New York Times (reg. req'd)
Patent Applications on Web Sends Inventor to Drawing Board, April 2, 2001. "A few weeks ago, the Patent and Trademark Office altered its Web page devoted to searching the patent database to make way for new links that permit searches of patent applications that are published 18 months after filing. So far, only 84 applications have been published, but the significance is much greater."
Compressed Data: Law Newsletter Has to Speak Beyond Filters, April 2, 2001. Tech Law Journal is a newsletter whose focus is on legislative and regulatory issues that impact the electronic realm, including government, academia and industry. As a means of bypassing filtering software used by these organizations, the sites' author purposefully misspells words that would deny readers access to his publication.
Movie Industry Frowns on Professor's Software Gallery, April 1, 2001. Professor Touretzky defends the project (www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/DeCSS/Gallery/), which features submissions from like-minded programmers and academics, saying it grew out of his long-standing interest in free-speech issues.
Senate Committee May Move Net Tax Bill Next, Thursday, April 30, 2001. Senate Commerce Committee members are close to a potential agreement on varying approaches to Internet taxation, and unified legislation could come up for approval in the committee as soon as Thursday.
Congressional Offices Prefer Snail, Mail, April 30, 2001. More than 70 million emails were sent to Congress last year, but personal letters still garner more attention.
Congress Mulls Internet Sales Tax, April 29, 2001. Congress' General Accounting Office has estimated that uncollected sales taxes on Internet purchases could cost the states $12.5 billion in 2003.
Senators Show No Taste for Spam, April 27, 2001. The Senate bill, Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Porn and Marketing (CAN SPAM) Act, is gathering bi-partisan support. This support arises as a response to many factors, including this statistic: half of the estimated 80 million emails to Congress last year were spam! This has helped those on the Hill turn a more sympathetic ear to the fervent opposition to spam voiced by constituents.
FTC Supports Senate Spam Bill, April 26, 2001.
Plan to Put Broker Disciplinary Records Online Gains, April 26, 2001. Rep. Oxley co-sponsors a bill that would shield NASD from liability for incorrect data.
House Panel Clears Broadband Deregulation Bill, April 26, 2001. Rep. Oxley co-sponsors a bill that would shield NASD from liability for incorrect data.
Bills to Extend Net-Tax Moratorium Debut in Congress, April 26, 2001. "The House telecommunications subcommittee voted to approve the controversial bill after a six-hour debate in which members suggested at least 16 changes, only four of which were approved."
Marketers Back Senate Anti-Spam Bill, April 26, 2001. The Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Mail Act of 2001, introduced by Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), now has the support of prominent interactive media companies, including 24/7 Media.
Internet Access Bill Hits Stiff Opposition, April 26, 2001. "Providers of high-speed Internet access on telephone lines objected Wednesday to a House bill that would ease restrictions on local phone companies, letting them provide Internet access nationwide without requiring them to share their networks with competitors."
Congress: DSL Competition in Jeopardy, April 25, 2001. Several Congressmen say the Broadband Deployment Act could lead to the death of the competitive DSL industry.
Telecom-Consumer Group Rips Broadband Deregulation Bill, April 23, 2001. The leaders of 12 national organizations that have formed a group called "Voices for Choices" stridently oppose legislation that they claim would "remonopolize" broadband providers.
See also: Statement of Barbara Dooley, President, Commercial Internet eXchange Association.
Broadband Deregulation on Bill on Fast Track, April 23, 2001. A draft of the Broadband Deployment Act is at: http://energycommerce.house.gov/107/drafts/broadband.pdf
Killing Privacy with Legislation, April 23, 2001. There may be some 50 bills in the 107th Congress that deal with privacy, but gridlock prevails.
Legislation Put Forward to Protect Personal Privacy, April 23, 2001. Wisconsin lawmakers are proposing legislation to protect their citizen's personal data on the Web, but at the same time, state agencies are creating more databases with such information.
Web Filtering Law Goes into Effect, April 20, 2001. The controversial new law requiring all schools and libraries receiving federal "e-rate" funding to install Internet content filters, took effect April 20.
Senate Judiciary Chair Outlines High-Tech Agenda, April 18, 2001. Senator Orrin Hatch's priorities are securing online copyrights and privacy protection.
Bill to Permit Gambling Sites on Internet Pushed in Nevada, April 18, 2001. Nevada casinos may be the first in the nation to launch Internet gambling sites under legislation moving easily through the state Legislature.
Privacy Momentum Slows on Capital Hill, April 19, 2001.
Privacy Advocates Say Amended Spam Bill Lacks Teeth, April 17, 2001. Junkbusters and The Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-mail (CAUCE) are two of the privacy advocates that have vowed to fight the amended version House Resolution 718, the spam bill that these groups, and many legislators agree, has been stripped of its teeth.
Offline Auto Dealers Push for Legal Protection, April 16, 2001. Auto dealers are trying to protect their businesses from encroachment by e-commerce sites by lobbying for strict state franchise laws.
Verisign-ICANN Deal Now in Gov't Hands, April 17, 2001. A contractual agreement between ICANN and Verisign has been submitted to Commerce.
Audit of Gov't Agency Web Sites Reveals Privacy Violations, April 17, 2001. It would appear that when citizens visit 64 federal agency Web sites, their personal data is routinely collected in violation of federal law.
Reports from the agencies are available in hard copy as follows:
Information Technology: Treasury Web Sites Substantially Comply With OMB
Privacy Policies and Data Collection Standards, OIG-01-044, Feb. 17, 2001.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, Audit of the
Collection of Personally Identifiable Information Through ED Internet
Sites (Control Number ED-OIG/A11-B0002), Feb. 20, 2001.
US Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General, Office of Audit
Services, Audit Report, Internet Privacy, DOE/IG-0493, Feb. 2001.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Office of Inspector General,
Feb. 16, 2001, Collection of Personally Identifiable Information on NASA's
Web sites.
National Archives and Records Administration, Feb. 16, 2001 letter to Sen.
Campbell. RE: Public Law 106-554, Section 646- Collection of Personally
Identifiable Information by Federal Internet Web Sites aka cookie
legislation.
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Feb. 16, 2001, Office of the Inspector
General, "Review of NRC's Web Site Privacy Policy: Internet
Cookies."
US Railroad Retirement Board Office of Inspector General, Feb. 16, 2001,
"RRB-OIB Report on Collection of Internet User Information Pursuant to the
FY 2001 Consolidated Appropriations Bill, HR 4577."
US Securities and Exchange Commission, Feb. 16, 2001, Report on Collection
of Personally Identifiable Information.
Tennessee Valley Authority, Feb. 16, 2001, Re: Consulting Review Report
2001-909-T- TVA's Compliance with PL 106-554 - The Treasury and General
Government Appropriations Act, 2001.
US Department of Transportation, Feb. 26, 2001, Office of Inspector General
Audit Report, Report on Web Privacy, Rep. No. FI-2001-034.
Feds Flunk Publishing 101, April 16, 2001. A report from the Web Based Education Commission (established by Congress), titled The Power of the Internet for Learning, will finally be released in hard copy three months behind schedule. The url for the report in PDF or text format is: http://interact.hpcnet.org/webcommission/index.htm
'New Democrats Group' Calls for Balanced Privacy Laws, April 13, 2001. The Progressive Policy Institute wants Congress to pass legislation that would put users in the driver's seat by allowing them to opt-out of providing personal data to Web sites.
McCain: Compromise Possible in Internet Tax Debate, April 13, 2001. "McCain and others on the Commerce Committee are working to reach a consensus on a proposal that can be put in place before the Internet tax moratorium expires in October. The moratorium was first put in place in October 1998."
Congress Gets Busy on Internet Sales Taxes, April 12, 2001. The two primary proposals under consideration to simplify Web sales taxes are S. 288 and H.R. 1410. With over 7,000 various sales tax rates currently in effect throughout the country, legislation may have a chance of succeeding this Congress.
UCITA: Legalized Lieing, April 11, 2001. Texas is considering passage of UCITA (Uniform Computer Information Transaction Act) following its passage in Maryland and Virginia. However, there is some fierce opposition in the legislature, where the Act has been called "The Microsoft Bill."
House Bill Would Give States Net-Sales Tax Ability, April 10, 2001. H.R. 1410 would create a "national compact" for states allowing them collect sales taxes on goods and services that their citizens purchase from vendors outside the state. This bill is similar to the Internet Tax Moratorium and Equity Act.
Congress Should Focus on Gov't and Consumer Privacy, April 10, 2001. In a letter to House Majority Leader Armey (http://www.epic.org/privacy/epicrespondstoarmey.html) EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center) supports the contention that government should protect citizens from both private and public sector abuses to privacy rights.
New York Times (reg. req'd)
Bill Seeks to Force Municipalities into a Statewide Voter Database, April 10, 2001. Connecticut is on its way to approving legislation requiring every town and city in the state to link their voter registration data to a centralized database.
Fears on Privacy Law Spur Warning by Armey, April 9, 2001. Armey warns colleagues to go slowly on privacy legislation.
Congress Copes with Deluge of Constituent, Special-Internet E-Mail, April 8, 2001. "The House was hit with more than 50 million e-mails last year -- up from about 2 million in 1998. The Senate absorbed nearly 27 million messages in 2000, 15 times as many as in '96."
New Laws Not Likely to Stop E-Mail Spam, April 6, 2001. Even backers of anti-spam legislation say it is unlikely to have a big impact in stopping the flow of unwanted e-mail.
Net Sparks Call For Privacy Laws, April 6, 2001. The First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University conducted a survey, along with the American Society of Newspaper Editors. The survey "found that people were as concerned about privacy as they were about such issues as health care and the future of Social Security."
Congressman Vows to Fight Cuts to Tech Grants, April 6, 2001. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) is strongly opposed to Bush's position to cut the Technology Opportunities Budget by 65%.
Wall Street Journal Interactive
Congress Criticizes IRS for Not Fighting Internet Fraud More Aggressively, April 6, 2001. Web-based tax scams and cons are proliferating. Cyberspace tax fraud is estimated to cost the government $300 billion a year.
Democratic Leaders Unveil High-Tech Agenda, April 5, 2001. Senator Daschle and Rep. Gephardt's ambitious agenda includes: a plan to link every American home to the Web via broadband access within the decade; to fully fund the federal E-rate program that subsidizes Internet access for schools and libraries; double civilian R&D funding; and make the R&D development tax credit permanent.
Crackers Often Gained Gov't 'Root Access' in 2000, April 5, 2001. According to a GAO report, there were over 155 incidents in 2000 (representing perhaps 20% of all actual incidents) in which federal agency computers were cracked.
House Panel Debates Usefulness of One Privacy Law vs. Many, April 4, 2001. "The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, which has been examining the adequacy of privacy laws in the U.S., turned its attention to the 30 federal statutes and many more state rules covering the issue and asked the question: Would businesses and consumers be better off with one comprehensive law?"
Experts Defend Controversial Patents to Congress, April 4, 2001. "Experts told a U.S. House panel on Wednesday that the Patent and Trademark Office's controversial practice of awarding patents to business processes has been improved by internal reforms and should not be stopped."
Congress Discusses Napster Issue, April 4, 2001.
Opinion Split on Web Privacy, April 3, 2001.
Sabrina I. Pacifici
From beSpacific.com 
beSpacific
- GPOS Federal Digital System Reaches 500 Million Retrievals
- World Report on Child Labour
- Pew - Parents, Children, Libraries, and Reading
- Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues
- Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement
- Interview: Telling the Life Story of Ginkgo, the Oldest Tree on Earth
- New GAO Reports - Capitol Preservation Fund, CMS, Medicaid
- Mountaintop Mining: Background on Current Controversies
- CRS - Iraq: Politics, Governance, and Human Rights
- Pew - A Demographic Portrait of Mexican-Origin Hispanics in the United States