| House to Vote on Tauzin
Dingell Bill |
| 12/12. House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) announced
that the House is scheduled to vote on HR
1542, the Tauzin Dingell bill, on Friday, December 14. The
House Rules Committee
has yet to adopt a rule governing debate, amendments, and
other items. |
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| FCC Announces NPRM on
Regulatory Framework for ILECs' Broadband Services |
12/12. The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) announced, but did not
release, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) initiating a
comprehensive examination of the regulatory framework for
incumbent local exchange carriers' (ILECs') provision of
broadband services.
The FCC issued a release
in which it stated that this NPRM seeks comments on what
changes the FCC should make in its regulatory requirements for
ILECs' broadband service, including "What the relevant
product and geographic markets should be for broadband
services", "Whether incumbent LECs possess market
power in any relevant market", and "Whether dominant
carrier safeguards or other regulatory requirements should
govern incumbent LECs' provision of broadband service."
This is Docket No. CC 01-337.
FCC Chairman Michael Powell
said in a statement
that "In this proceeding, the Commission will ask whether
potentially robust competition among multiple types of
broadband service providers suggests that we should avoid
subjecting incumbents to the same regulatory burdens that we
impose on these carriers with respect to their provision of
local telephone service. That is, we ask whether incumbent
LECs, which are so clearly dominant in the provision of local
phone service, must also be treated as dominant as they use
DSL and other technologies to provide high speed
telecommunications services in competition with cable modem
service providers and other types of platforms." Powell
added that "I for one have an open mind as to how these
questions should be answered."
See also, statement
by Commissioner Michael Copps. |
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| FCC Postpones Issuance of
UWB Report and Order |
12/12. The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) had originally included on
the agenda for its meeting of December 12 a First Report and
Order to provide for new ultra wideband (UWB) devices.
However, this item was removed from the agenda earlier in the
week. This is ET Docket No. 98-153.
Michael Gallagher, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce,
stated in a release
that "We appreciate the Federal Communications
Commission's (FCC's) recognition of the importance of
developing a unified government approach on Ultrawideband. We
will continue to work quickly and hard to achieve the proper
balance between protecting the national security and meeting
21st century technology needs." |
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| Economic Stimulus Bill and
Tech |
12/12. The Senate Republican High Tech Task Force wrote a
letter to House and Senate negotiators for the "economic
stimulus" package requesting that they include the
language contained in S 88,
the Broadband Internet Access Act of 2001. The group argued
that this bill would promote broadband deployment, stimulate
the economy, and close a "digital divide".
The Telecommunications
Industry Association (TIA) also wrote a letter
to House and Senate leaders asking that the "economic
stimulus" legislation include not only the language of S 88,
but also "a 30 percent depreciation deduction for capital
expenses on IT equipment and a five year net operating loss (NOL)
carry back provision."
S 88 is sponsored by Sen.
Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), and 64 other Senators. It would
provide tax credits for deployment of broadband facilities in
rural and underserved areas. Specifically, it would provide a
credit of 10% of the qualified expenditures incurred by the
taxpayer with respect to qualified equipment with which
"current generation" broadband services are
delivered to subscribers in rural and underserved areas. It
would also provide a credit of 20% of the qualified
expenditures incurred by the taxpayer with respect to
qualified equipment with which "next generation"
broadband services are delivered to subscribers in rural
areas, underserved areas, and to residential subscribers.
"Current generation" broadband services is defined
in the bill as the transmission of signals at a rate of at
least 1.5 Million bits per second (Mbps) downstream, and at
least 200,000 bits per second upstream. "Next
generation" broadband services is defined as at least 22
Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream. |
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| GAO Releases Report on
Computer Controls at FRB |
| 12/12. The GAO
released a letter
[PDF] to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
regarding "Federal Reserve Banks: Areas for Improvement
in Computer Controls". |
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| FTC Releases Further
Guidance on Privacy Provision of GLB |
| 12/12. The Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) published a document
titled "Frequently Asked Questions for the Privacy
Regulation: December 2001". The document states that its
purpose is "to assist financial institutions in complying
with the privacy provisions of the Gramm Leach Bliley Act (GLB
Act) and the Commission's financial privacy regulation."
This is a staff guidance. |
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| People and Appointments |
12/12. House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX)
announced that he will retire at the end of the 107th
Congress. See, statement.
12/7. James
Rogan was sworn in as head of the USPTO.
12/12. President Bush nominated Raymond
Orbach to be Director of the Office of Science at the
Department of Energy, which includes the Office
of Advanced Scientific Computing Research. Orbach is a
Professor of Physics and Chancellor of the University of California at
Riverside (UCR). He specializes in experimental and
theoretical condensed matter physics. See, White
House release and UCR
release.
12/12. President Bush announced his intent to appoint the
following people to the Presidents Council
of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST): Charles
Arntzen (ASU), Norman
Augustine (Princeton), Carol
Ann Bartz (P/CEO of Autodesk), Kathleen Behrens, Erich
Bloch, Stephen Burke (President of Comcast), Gerald Clough
(President of Georgia Tech), Michael
Dell (Ch/CEO of Dell), Raul Fernandez, Marye Anne Fox
(Chancellor of North Carolina State University), Martha Gilliland
(Provost of Tulane), Ralph Gomory
(President of the Sloan Foundation), Bernadine Healy, Robert
Herbold (EVP of Microsoft), Bobbie Kilberg (President of
the Northern Virginia Technology Council), Walter
Massey (Princeton), Gordon
Moore (Chairman Emeritus of Intel), Kenneth
Nwabueze (CEO of SageMetrics), Steven
Papermaster, Luis
Proenza (President of the University of Akron), George
Scalise (President of the Semiconductor Industry
Association), and Charles
Vest (President of MIT). The PCAST is an advisory
committee created by President Bush by Executive
Order 13226. It is Chaired by Floyd Kvamme.
See, White
House release.
12/11. The Senate confirmed John Bates to be a U.S.
District Judge for the District of Columbia, Kurt
Engelhardt to be a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern
District of Louisiana, and Julie Robinson to be a U.S.
District Judge for the District of Kansas. |
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| Rep. Boehlert Addresses
Cyber Security |
12/12. Rep.
Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), the Chairman of the House Science Committee,
gave an address
to an Information Technology
Association of America (ITAA) conference titled
"Developing Cyber Security Solutions in the e-Gov
Era". Rep. Boehlert used the occasion to discuss HR
3394, the "Cyber Security Research and Development
Act", which is sponsored by Rep. Boehlert and Rep. Ralph Hall
(D-TX), the ranking Democrat on the Committee. It would
authorize the funding of new research and education programs
pertaining to cyber security.
Rep. Boehlert stated that "HR 3394 is designed to attract
current researchers into the field of cyber security and to
create a cadre of students who will become the next, we hope
more numerous, generation of researchers. And the bill is
designed to promote risky research that can get beyond the
current paradigms in cyber security design". |
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| Senate Finance Committee
Approves Trade Promotion Authority Bill |
12/12. The Senate
Finance Committee approved its
version [75 pages in PDF] of HR 3005,
the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2001, by a
vote of 18 to 3.
The Committee will meet again on Thursday, December 13, to
complete action on this bill. The Committee voted early
because Sen. Robert Byrd
(D-WV), the leading opponent of free trade in the Senate,
invoked a rarely used rule to shut down the meeting. Sen. Charles Grassley
(R-IA), the ranking Republican on the Committee, stated
afterwards that Sen. Byrd "invoked a Senate rule that
prohibits committees from meeting two hours after the Senate
convenes. Because of the time limit, Finance Committee members
voted to approve the trade promotion authority legislation
subject to amendment. It is uncertain whether or not
amendments will become part of the bill before it is taken up
by the full Senate."
The three negative votes were cast by Sen. Jay Rockefeller
(D-WV), Sen. Kent Conrad
(D-ND), and Sen.
Robert Torricelli (D-NJ). One of the votes in favor was
cast by Sen. Tom Daschle
(D-SD), the Senate Majority Leader. Whether he will promptly
schedule this bill for a vote in the full Senate is a separate
question. Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans, who has been
lobbying Members of Congress on this bill, said in a release
that "I hope Senator Daschle's support in Committee means
the Senate will vote on TPA as soon as possible." |
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| Thursday, Dec 13 |
Day one of a two day conference titled the "19th Annual
Institute on Telecommunications Policy & Regulation".
See, schedule, below. Location: International Trade Center.
9:15 AM - 4:30 PM. The International
Trademark Association will host a CLE program titled
"Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) Practice for
Advanced Practitioners Forum." The price to attend is
$395. See, brochure
and agenda.
Location: Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis
Highway, Arlington, VA.
10:00 AM. The Senate
Judiciary Committee will hold a business meeting. The
agenda includes confirmation of judicial and U.S. Attorney
nominees. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.
10:00 AM. The House
Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet
and Intellectual Property will hold the second part of a two
part hearing titled "The Digital Millenium Copyright Act:
Section 104 Report." The witnesses will be Marybeth
Peters (Register of Copyrights), Marvin Berenson (Broadcast Music Inc.), Jonathan
Potter (Digital Media
Association), and Gary Klein (Consumer
Electronics Association). Location: Room 2141, Rayburn
Building.
10:00 AM. The Senate
Finance Committee will meet to complete its consideration
of its
version [75 pages in PDF] of HR 3005,
the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2001. The
Committee approved the bill by a vote of 18 to 3 on December
12, but may pass further amendments. Location: Room 215,
Dirksen Building.
10:00 AM. The Federal Election
Commission (FEC) will meet. The agenda includes adoption
of a request for public comments on proposed voluntary
guidelines for computer based voting systems. This item
is scheduled for 10:45 AM. See, FEC release.
Location: FEC, Commission Meeting Room, 999 E. St., NW, 9th
floor.
2:00 PM. The Progressive
Policy Institute (PPI) and the NanoBusiness Alliance
will jointly host a panel discussion on the public policy
implications of emerging science and business of nanotechnology.
The panelists will be Rob Atkinson (PPI), Mark Modzelewski (NanoBusiness
Alliance), Mike Roco (National Nanotechnology Initiative),
Steve Johns (Ardesta Capital),
Meyya Meyyapan (NASA
Ames Center for Nanotechnology), Steve Wilson (NYU Center
for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology), Stephan
Maebius (Foley and Lardner Law), and Josh Wolfe (Lux Capital). Location:
Capitol Building, Room SC4.
2:00 PM. House Science
Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert
(R-NY) will hold a "Year-end Q&A". This will be
an on the record question and answer session on Committee
business, accomplishments and plans for next year. Location:
Room 2318, Rayburn Building.
6:00 PM. The FCBA will
hold its 15th Annual FCBA Chairman's Dinner. The reception
begins at 6:00 PM; dinner begins at 7:30 PM. Location:
Washington Hilton & Towers, 1919 Connecticut Ave., NW. |
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|
19th Annual Institute on
Telecommunications Policy & Regulation:
First Day: Dec 13 |
| 9:00 AM. Welcome by Margaret Tobey (FCBA). |
| 9:10 AM. Overview by Henry Rivera, Clark Wadlow, and Richard
Wiley. |
| 9:15 AM. Congressional Keynote by Rep. Billy Tauzin
(R-LA), Chairman of the House Commerce Committee. |
| 9:50 AM. Keynote by FCC Commissioner Kathleen
Abernathy. |
| 10:40 AM. Wireline Telephone Tutorial by Dorothy Attwood
(FCC). |
| 11:10 AM. Panel: Developments in Wireline Telephony. The
moderators will be Sue Blumenfeld and Henry Rivera. The
panelists will be Lauren Belvin, James Cicconi, Kyle Dixon,
Russell Frisby, Andrew Levin, and Jo Anne Sanford. |
| 12:15 PM. Luncheon Speaker: Charles James (DOJ Antitrust
Division). |
| 1:45 PM. Wireless Tutorial: Thomas Sugrue (FCC). |
| 2:15 PM. Panel: Developments in Wireless Telecommunications.
The moderators will be Karen Brinkmann and Clark Wadlow. The
panelists will be Diane Cornell, Brian Fontes, Michael
Kennedy, Jay Kitchen, Luisa Lancetti, and Peter Tenhula. |
| 3:30 PM. Internet Tutorial by Robert Pepper. |
| 4:00 PM. Panel: Internet Developments. The moderators will
be Laura Sherman and William Wiltshire. The panelists will be
Mark Cooper, Jack Krumholtz, Jill Lesser, Ira Parker, Orson
Swindle, and Howard Waltzman. |
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| Friday, Dec 14 |
The House has tentatively scheduled a vote on HR
1542, the Tauzin Dingell bill.
8:30 - 10:00 AM. The American
Enterprise Institute (AEI) will host a press breakfast on
"The Role of the FCC in Restricting the Ownership of
Licenses". Harold
Furchtgott Roth and other AEI scholars will speak. RSVP to
Veronique Rodman at 202 862-4871 or vrodman@aei.org. Location:
AEI, 1150 17th Street, NW, 11th Floor Conference Room.
Day two of a two day conference titled the "19th Annual
Institute on Telecommunications Policy & Regulation".
See, schedule, below. Location: International Trade Center. |
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|
19th Annual Institute on
Telecommunications Policy & Regulation:
Second Day: Dec 14 |
| 9:00 AM. Tutorial on FCC Legal Issues by Jane Mago and John
Rogovin. |
| 9:45 AM. Tutorial on International Issues by Donald Abelson
and David Gross. |
| 10:45 AM. Debate: The 1996 Telecommunications Act: A Failure
or a Success? The moderator will be Peter Shields. The
debaters will be Jeffrey Eisenach and David Leach. |
| 11:30 AM. Panel: Telecommunications Future. The moderators
will be Michele Farquhar and Richard Wiley. The panelists will
be Scott Cleland, Peter Fannon, Dale Hatfield, William
Kennard, Scott Marcus, and Alexandra Wilson. |
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