| House Commerce Committee
Approves Dot Kids Bill |
4/10. The House
Commerce Committee approved HR
3833, the Dot Kids Implementation and Efficiency
Act of 2002. The Committee approved an amendment
in the nature of a substitute [PDF] by a unanimous voice
vote, and then approved the bill as amended by a unanimous
voice vote. The bill is sponsored by Rep. John Shimkus
(R-IL), Rep. Ed Markey
(D-MA), and others.
The bill would require the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications
and Information Administration (NTIA) to operate a .kids
second level domain within the .us country code domain.
Currently, the NTIA has contracted with NeuStar to act as the
registry of the .us country code. The amendment adds new
language to ensure that the new .kids.us domain will in fact
be safe for children. For example, it prohibits interactive
services, such as chat, instant messaging and e-mail, in the
new domain, unless the web site operator can certify that such
services can be offered in a manner that is consistent with
the content standards of the new domain.
Rep. John Dingell
(D-MI), the ranking Democrat on the Committee, said in his opening
statement that "In recent years there were several
unsuccessful attempts to create a kid friendly top level
domain similar to what we are considering today.
Unfortunately, these attempts were rebuffed by ICANN, the international
group responsible for assigning top level domain names. HR
3833 takes an innovative approach to dealing with ICANN's
recalcitrance. It simply sidesteps the ICANN process by
creating a second level domain name under the "dot
US" country code which will be entirely under the United
States' control."
The bill, as amended, would amend the NTIA Organization Act, 47 U.S.C.
§ 902, by assigning to the NTIA "responsibility for
providing for the establishment, and overseeing operation, of
a second- level Internet domain within the United States
country code domain in accordance with" the provisions of
the bill.
The bill further provides that "The NTIA shall require
the registry selected to operate and maintain the United
States country code Internet domain to establish, operate, and
maintain a second-level domain within the United States
country code domain that provides access only to material that
is suitable for minors and not harmful to minors".
The bill further provides a series of requirements for the
contract between the NTIA and the registry that maintains the
new domain. It requires "Rules and procedures for
enforcement and oversight that minimize the possibility that
the new domain provides access to content that is not in
accordance with the standards and requirements of the
registry" and "A process for removing from the new
domain any content that is not in accordance with the
standards and requirements of the registry."
The bill also requires that the registrar to enter into
written agreements with registrants "to prohibit two-way
and multiuser interactive services in the new domain, unless
the registrant certifies to the registrar that such service
will be offered in compliance with the content standards ...
and does not compromise the safety or security of
minors."
However, some of the requirements imposed by the bill would
not only tend to assure that the new domain is safe for
children, but also would tend to deter potential web hosts
from using the new domain. For example, registrars would be
required to enter into written agreements with all users of
the new domain "to prohibit hyperlinks in the new domain
that take new domain users outside of the new domain."
Thus, a web site in the new domain could not hyperlink to
children's web sites in the .com domain.
Secondly, the bill requires "Procedures and mechanisms to
promote the accuracy of contact information submitted by
registrants and retained by registrars in the new
domain." Thus, parents creating web sites might be
deterred from using the new domain, for fear that it would
require them to publish their (and their children's) home
phone number and address. |
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| House Commerce Committee to
Hold Hearing on Digital TV |
4/10. Rep. Billy
Tauzin (R-LA), the Chairman of the House Commerce Committee,
announced that the Telecom Subcommittee will hold a hearing on
digital television -- probably on April 25. He added that it
would be an "educational hearing". He made this
announcement at the conclusion of the Committee's mark up of
HR 3833, the Dot Kids Implementation and Efficiency Act.
Rep. Jane Harman
(D-CA) stated that, "it takes both sides. It takes
supply, and it takes demand. And, we do have to deal with this
very tough issue of how to protect intellectual property
rights, as we think about how to expand supply as well. And
getting the balance right is hard. This Committee is good at
dealing with hard things. Maybe that too could be the subject
of one of these briefings or interactive events."
Rep. Tauzin responded. "There has been discussions --
extensive, bipartisan, round table discussions." He added
that "we may end up having to follow up the agreement
made by the industry with legislation, both to enforce the
agreements, and even to authorize the FCC in some
aspects." |
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| House CJS Subcommittee
Holds Hearing on FTC Budget |
4/10. The House
Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce,
Justice, State, and the Judiciary (CJS) held a hearing on the
proposed budget for the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) for FY2003. FTC Chairman Timothy
Muris said in his prepared
testimony that the FTC requests $176,599,000 and 1,074
full time employees.
This is an an increase over FY2002 of $20,617,000, but no
additional full time employees. Muris' testimony outlines the
activities of the FTC in both consumer protection and
antitrust enforcement.
Privacy. With respect to privacy, Muris stated that
"The FTC will pursue law enforcement efforts in the
following areas: Enforcing privacy promises, focusing on cases
involving sensitive information, transfers of information as
part of a bankruptcy proceeding, and the failure of companies
to meet commitments made under the Safe Harbor Program to
comply with the European Commission's Directive on Data
Protection. ... Enforcing the Children's Online Privacy
Protection Act (COPPA), which prohibits the collection of
personally identifiable information from young children
without their parents' consent. ... Bringing actions against
fraudulent or deceptive spammers. ... Challenging ``pretexting,´´
the practice of fraudulently obtaining personal financial
information, often by calling banks under the pretense of
being a customer. ... Enforcing the privacy protections of the
Fair Credit Reporting Act, which ensures the integrity and
accuracy of consumer credit reports and limits the disclosure
of such information to entities that have ``permissible
purposes´´ to use the information."
Muris also stated that the FTC is involved in two privacy
related rulemaking proceedings -- one involving proposed
amendments to the Telemarketing Sale Rule, and the other
pertaining to safeguarding consumers' financial information
pursuant to the Gramm Leach Bliley Act.
He also stated that the FTC will conduct workshops and other
educational activities, including the training of law
enforcement officials about identity theft, collecting
information about identity theft with the FTC's new ID Theft
Affidavit, and continuing "to explore and monitor the
privacy implications of new and emerging technologies through
workshops, reports, and other public meetings."
Finally, he testified that the FTC "will continue
aggressively to monitor the Internet to ferret out frauds and
schemes." He added that "A growing number of these
high tech schemes exploit the design and architecture of the
Internet."
Antitrust: merger enforcement. With respect to the
FTC's competition authority, Muris stated in his prepared
testimony that "Merger enforcement will continue as a
major focus of the competition agenda for FY 2003. Stopping
mergers that lessen competition ensures that consumers will
have the benefit of lower prices and greater choice in their
selections of goods and services." He added that the
recently increased Hart Scott Rodino Act (HSR) filing
threshold, coupled with economic conditions, have reduced the
number of HSR filings by approximately two thirds from their
peak.
Antitrust: agreement with Antitrust Division. Muris
also stated that the FTC "has been working with the Antitrust Division at the
Department of Justice to establish procedures to make the HSR
merger review process more efficient and transparent. The FTC
has focused on several areas for streamlining". He cited
the agreement reached by Muris and Assistant Attorney General
for Antitrust Charles
James to allocate matters between the two agencies.
Sen. Ernest Hollings
(D-SC), the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee's
CJS Subcommittee, has opposed this agreement. In addition, two
FTC Commissioners submitted testimony criticizing the deal.
Commissioner Sheila Anthony stated in her prepared
testimony that "I support the Commission's testimony
before this Subcommittee, except that part which discusses the
clearance procedures for merger investigations. While
``streamlining the merger review process´´ is a laudable
goal that deserves our attention, I am not convinced that the
approach agreed to by Chairman Muris and Assistant Attorney
General Charles James fully maximizes the unique makeup,
experience, and institutional assets of the Commission."
See also, Commissioner Mozelle Thompson's prepared
testimony.
Antitrust: nonmerger enforcement. Muris continued that
"The FTC will continue the trend, begun last year, to
devote more resources to nonmerger enforcement. In FY 2001,
the agency opened 56 nonmerger investigations, more than
double the number of such investigations begun in the previous
year, when deadline sensitive HSR merger investigations
siphoned away resources allocated for nonmerger work. Thus far
in FY 2002, the agency has opened 15 nonmerger investigations.
The major focus of our nonmerger work will concern activities
among competitors, reflecting the broad consensus in antitrust
policy that horizontal arrangements that fix prices or
restrict output are the ones most likely to harm
consumers."
Antitrust: intellectual property. Muris also addressed
the FTC's current review of antitrust law and intellectual
property. He stated that "Our economy increasingly has
become more knowledge based; for some companies, patent
portfolios represent far more valuable assets than
manufacturing or other physical facilities. Thus, an
increasing number of the FTC's competition matters require the
application of antitrust law to conduct relating to
intellectual property. Both antitrust and intellectual
property law share the common purposes of promoting innovation
and enhancing consumer welfare. On occasion, however, there
have been tensions in how to manage the intersection between
the doctrines, as well as questions about how best to spur
innovation through competition and intellectual property law
and policy. The FTC and DOJ currently are holding a series of
hearings on competition and intellectual property law and
policy to help understand the interplay between intellectual
property and antitrust law. Issues to be addressed in the
hearings include standard setting, cross licensing and patent
pools, unilateral refusals to deal, proliferation of patents,
and the changing scope of patents. In addition to the
hearings, we continue to pursue antitrust investigations
involving issues concerning intellectual property." |
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| Panel Discusses E-Learning |
4/10. The Congressional
Internet Caucus Advisory Committee hosted a luncheon panel
discussion on the use of e-learning. The participants included
Sen. Conrad Burns
(R-MT) and Rep. Johnny
Isakson (R-GA), who focused on the use of e-learning for
educational purposes.
Rep. Isakson was the Vice Chairman of the Web-based Education
Commission, which issued a report
titled "The Power of the Internet for Learning: Moving
from Promise to Practice" in December 2000. Former Sen.
Bob Kerrey (D-NE) was the Chairman.
Rep. Isakson is also the sponsor of HR 1992,
the Internet Equity and Education Act of 2001, a bill that
would make it easier to obtain federal financial aid for web
based education programs. This bill was approved by the House Education Committee
on August 1, 2001. Rep. Isakson is a member of the Committee.
He said that "Most of the insolvable problems of public
education in America are within reach of solution by the use
of the web and the Internet." He cited examples of
Internet based education in Ethiopia, in Bosnia, and in rural
Georgia.
"So, the promise of e-learning is great. We in Congress
have a lot to do," said Rep. Isakson. "We have got
to deliver on database protection. We have got to deliver on
copyright laws in a digital world. We have got to deliver on
protection of intellectual property, or you won't have
anything on the Internet worth a damn, because anything that
is worthwhile, without protection for intellectual property
rights, would not be rapidly disseminated. But the web offers
great promise to us upon the single most important thing for
the future of our country and our children, and that is the
advancement of education of every single American
citizen."
Sen. Burns stated that "Distance learning was my
motivation for becoming involved in communications in the
first place. Through distance learning, Americans in
Manhattan, Montana have the same opportunities available to
them as Americans in Manhattan, New York."
A panel of industry speakers focused on the use of e-learning
by corporations and the government to train workers. This
panel included Rich Moran (Accenture),
Daniel Hamburger (Indeliq),
Greg Priest (SmartForce),
and retired Brig. Gen. Frank Anderson (Defense Acquisition University).
Greg Priest stated that "there are things that could be
done that would be very helpful." He cited legislation
that provides "for more tax incentives for companies to
do learning activities." He also said that Department of
Education Title IV regulations with respect to eligibility for
federal funds is an issue. He stated that "There are
limitations on the ability to get Pell Grants, and those kinds
of funds, based on your physical presence on campus." He
stated that that "puts inhibitions in the way of degree
related material." |
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| Rep. Isakson Addresses
E-Learning, IPR and Broadband |
4/10. Tech Law Journal spoke with Rep. Isakson following the
Congressional Internet Caucus panel discussion on e-learning.
He stated that, currently, "the courts are having to
interpret laws written for a paper and pencil world in a
digital age." Hence, Congress should step in and pass
legislation to provide "adequate protection, for maximum
dissemination, of quality content. Otherwise, the Internet,
and all of its promise, is going to be relegated in large part
to pormography, games, office pools on athletic events, and
stuff like that." He stated that "until we deal with
the intellectual property, and the copyright, and the database
protection, you are inhibiting the dissemination of
information. And you are inhibiting the full promise of web
based learning."
He discussed efforts to date to pass a distance learning bill,
such as that sponsored by Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and supported by Rep. Howard Coble
(R-NC), as well as efforts to pass various database protection
bills. He stated that "there is a school of thought that
we need to deal with this in a comprehensive, rather than a
piecemeal manner. And, that may be the reason, but I can't
particularly address why the Leahy bill hasn't come up in the
House. I can tell you, and this is not a criticism of my
colleagues, but this is a general statement, the level of
understanding of the importance of dealing with this
expeditiously does not exist. Until we deal with the
intellectual property, and the copyright, and the database
protection, you are inhibiting the dissemination of
information. And you are inhibiting the full promise of web
based learning."
Sen. Leahy's bill is S 487,
the Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act of
2001, also known as the TEACH Act. This bill, which passed the
Senate on June 7, 2001, by unanimous consent, would extend the
distance learning exemption to infringement contained in Section
110 of the Copyright Act to Internet technologies. It was
approved by the House Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and
Intellectual Property on July 11 of last year. The full House
has not yet voted on it.
Rep. Isakson also elaborated on the need for database
protection. He said that "when people currently can
transfer data off the web and re-label it and put it on their
own site, it is the same thing as breaking in your office and
stealing your files. And, in a digital world, we have to be
able to provide reasonable protection on the re-use, or the
conversion, of information, and the re-branding of it."
Rep. Isakson stated that he has been working with Rep. Coble
in an effort to pass a database protection bill. He added that
"there are those that think that everything ought to be
on the Internet, and everything ought to be free. Well, in the
absence of protection right now, about the only protection
that an institution like Riverside
Publishing, or one of the major educational publishing
companies has, is by selling site licenses, a very cumbersome
process. There are a number of lawsuits right now ... and law
will be established through cases, but I think Congress really
ought to move as quickly as it can to put down a framework in
law that passes with good debate and good insight."
He said that it would probably be impossible to pass a single
comprehensive bill, "because it creates too many
opportunities to loose the whole thing over one thing. But, I
certainly think we need to have a comprehensive approach.
Database protection, copyright, and intellectual property
rights are all closely linked, in one way or another."
Rep. Isakson also stated that the absence of widespread
broadband Internet access holding back e-learning. He
discussed the current regulatory framework affecting cable and
phone companies, and then launched into a discussion of
broadband via satellite. He stated that "satellite
broadband to me is going to be a major solution once they are
launched, because that it is wireless broadband, so you don't
have the heavy cost of infrastructure. It is cheaper to
provide satellite access, as expensive as a satellite and a
launch is, than it is to lay cable. And in a state like
Montana, or in rural Georgia, you can't get enough subscribers
in the rural areas to pay for the cost, or amortize the cost
of the cable. But with wireless access, wireless broadband by
satellite ... you can take broadband access to the most remote
village in Africa. And, I think is a major part of the
broadband solution." |
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| FRB Governor Addresses
Banking and Technology |
4/8. Federal
Reserve Board (FRB) Governor Edward
Gramlich gave a speech
titled "Community Reinvestment Act at Twenty Five"
at the Consumer Bankers' Association Community Reinvestment
Act Conference, in Arlington, Virginia.
"The financial services landscape has altered
dramatically over the past twenty five years," said
Gramlich. In particular, "advances in technology have
redefined nearly every aspect of the industry -- from loan
underwriting to product delivery -- with computers revising
the role of staff and facilities in ways that were
unimaginable two decades ago. Credit scoring models have
provided a mechanism for realizing loan processing and
production efficiencies as well as for engaging in systematic
risk based pricing. The Internet has enabled the collection of
deposits and the disbursement of loans without bricks and
mortar premises." |
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| Martin and Copps Criticize
FCC Media Bureau's EchoStar Two Dish Order |
4/10. Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Commissioners Kevin Martin
and Michael
Copps issued a joint
statement criticizing the FCC Media Bureau's April 4 Declaratory
Ruling and Order [21 pages in PDF], which declared that EchoStar's
two dish plan violates the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement
Act of 1999 (SHIVA). They stated, "We fear that the
Bureau Order will allow EchoStar to continue its two-dish
policy – albeit with better notice – in a manner that
continues to make some local broadcast signals inaccessible to
consumers as a practical matter."
EchoStar, which is also known as the Dish Network, provides
direct broadcast satellite (DBS) television service. EchoStar
has placed some local stations in particular markets on
"wing slot" satellites. As a result, some EchoStar
subscribers are required to use a second satellite dish
antenna to receive and view these local stations.
The SHVIA grants EchoStar, and other DBS carriers, a royalty
free copyright license that enables them to make secondary
transmissions of a broadcast station's signals into that
station's local designated market area (DMA) without obtaining
authorization from copyright holders. In exchange, the SHIVA
requires that if a satellite carrier carries one local
broadcast station in a local market pursuant to this license,
it must carry all qualified local broadcast stations in the
market upon request. This is the "carry one, carry
all" rule.
The SHIVA also provides, at 47
U.S.C. § 338(d), that "the satellite carrier shall
retransmit the signal of the local television broadcast
stations to subscribers in the stations' local market on
contiguous channels and provide access to such station's
signals at a nondiscriminatory price and in a
nondiscriminatory manner on any navigational device, on-screen
program guide, or menu."
Martin and Copps wrote that "In passing SHVIA, Congress
ensured that a satellite carrier choosing to offer any local
broadcaster would be required to carry all local stations in a
nondiscriminatory fashion. The Bureau Order found that
EchoStar’s actions discriminated against some signals, in
violation of the statutory nondiscrimination requirement. Yet
the Bureau Order also found that more effective notice of this
discrimination would be sufficient to remedy EchoStar’s
actions and bring its two-dish plan into compliance. We
believe the nondiscrimination requirements of the statute,
Congressional intent, and Commission rules all demand
more." |
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| Gateway to Campaign Against
Hollings Bill |
| 4/10. Computer maker Gateway
announced that it will wage a publicity campaign against S 2048,
the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act, a
copy protection bill sponsored by Sen. Ernest Hollings
(D-SC) and others. Gateway stated that it will "take a
stand with consumers on the digital music debate, launching
the first mainstream marketing campaign by a technology
company supporting consumers' right to enjoy digital music
legally." Gateway added that is will employ TV, radio,
web and in store advertising. See, Gateway
release. |
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| AT&T Appoints New
Directors |
| 4/10. AT&T announced
the election of Frank Herringer and Tony White
to its board of directors. Herringer is Chairman of
Transamerica Corporation, a financial services company. White
is Chairman, President and CEO of Applera Corporation,
formerly PE Corporation, a provider of products, services and
information in life sciences. See, AT&T
release. |
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| House Passes Digital
Technology Corps Act |
4/10. The House amended and passed HR
3925, the Digital Technology Corps Act of 2002, on
a voice vote. This bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Tom Davis
(R-VA), would create an information technology worker exchange
program between the federal government and the private sector
to promote the development of expertise in IT management.
The bill provides that "On request from or with the
agreement of a private sector organization, and with the
consent of the employee concerned, the head of an agency may
arrange for the assignment of an employee of the agency to a
private sector organization or an employee of a private sector
organization to the agency".
The House approved approved by voice vote an amendment offered
by Rep. Nydia
Velazquez (D-NY) to provide that of assignments made under
bill from agencies to private sector organizations in each
year, at least 20% are to small businesses. The House also
approved by voice vote an amendment offered by Rep. Davis to
insert clarifying provisions, and to add reporting
requirements.
However, the House rejected an amendment offered by Rep. Henry Waxman
(D-CA) by a vote of 204-219. this amendment would have
inserted provisions providing for protection of trade secrets,
and provisions for a Federal Information Technology Training
Program. It was rejected on an almost straight party line
vote, with all but one Republican, only four Democrats voting
to defeat the amendment. See, Roll
Call No. 83. Two of the votes against came from Rep. Zoe Lofgren
(D-CA) and Rep. Ellen
Tauscher (D-CA), both from the Silicon Valley area. A
third came from Rep.
Jane Harman (D-CA). |
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| Thursday, April 11 |
The Supreme Court of the U.S. is on recess until Monday,
April 15.
The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business.
9:30 AM. The House
Financial Services Committee will hold a meeting to mark
up several bills, including HR
3763, the Corporate and Auditing Accountability,
Responsibility, and Transparency Act of 2002, and HR
3764, a bill to authorize appropriations for the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC). Location: Room 2128, Rayburn Building.
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM. The Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) and the Antitrust Division of the
Department of Justice will continue their joint hearings
titled Competition and Intellectual Property Law and Policy
in the Knowledge Based Economy. See, agenda.
Location: Room 432, FTC, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.
10:00 AM. The House
Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Courts, the
Internet, and Intellectual Property will hold an oversight
hearing titled The U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office: Operations and Fiscal Year
2003 Budget. Location: Room 2141, Rayburn Building.
10:00 AM. The House
Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce,
Justice, State, and the Judiciary will hold a hearing on the
proposed budget for FY 2003 for the Office of Homeland
Security. Location: Room 2359, Rayburn Building.
10:00 AM. The House
Ways and Means Committee's Subcommittee on Trade will hold
a hearing on normal trade relations with Russia.
Location: Room 1100, Longworth Building.
10:00 AM. The Senate
Judiciary Committee has scheduled an executive business
meeting. Location: room 226, Dirksen Building.
11:00 AM. The Cato Institute
will host a book forum on Free
Trade under Fire [Amazon], by Douglas Irwin,
Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College. The speakers will
be Irwin, Robert Litan (Brookings) and Steve Clemons (New
America Foundation). Lunch will follow. See, CATO notice.
Location: 1000 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.
12:00 NOON - 1:30 PM. The Business
Software Alliance will host its 5th Annual "Talking
Technology" forum luncheon and technology exhibition.
Mark Forman, Associate Director for Information Technology and
E-Government with the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB), will speak. RSVP to Jeri
Clausing at 202 530-5127 or jeric
@bsa.org. Location: Reserve Officers Association, One
Constitution Avenue, NE.
2:30 PM. The Senate
Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on several pending
judicial nominations, including Jeffrey Howard (to be a
judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit),
Percy Anderson (C.D. Calif.), Michael Baylson (E.D. Penn.),
William Griesbach (D. Wisc.), Joan Lancaster (D. Minn.),
Cynthia Rufe (E.D. Penn.), and John Walter (C.D. Calif.).
Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building. |
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| Friday, April 12 |
The House will not be in session.
10:00 AM - 12:00 NOON. The American
Enterprise Institute (AEI) will hold a panel discussion
titled Is Open Source the Future of Software? The
participants will be Robert Hahn
(AEI Brookings), James Bessen
(Research on Innovation), David
Evans (NERA), Lawrence
Lessig (Stanford University), and Brad Smith (Microsoft).
See, AEI online
registration page. Location: 1150 17th St., NW.
10:00 AM - 12:00 NOON. The National
Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS)
will hold an open business meeting. See, notice
in Federal Register. Location: Conference Room, NCLIS Office,
1110 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 820.
The Federal Communications Bar
Association (FCBA) will host a luncheon. The speaker will
be Nancy
Victory, Director of the NTIA. April 9 was the
deadline to RSVP to Wendy Parish at wendy @fcba.org.
Deadline to submit comments to the FCC regarding
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. The next FCC Orbit Act report is due
to Congress on June 15, 2002. See, FCC
notice [PDF]. |
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| Monday, April 15 |
| Extended deadline to submit comments to the FTC
regarding proposed changes to its Telemarketing Sales Rule.
See, notice
in Federal Register. See also, FTC release. |
|
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| Tuesday, April 16 |
9:30 AM. The Senate
Commerce Committee will hold a hearing to examine the Technology Administration
and the NIST,
including the Advanced Technology Program. Location: Room 253,
Russell Building.
10:00 AM. The Senate
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold
a hearing to examine medical privacy issues. Location:
Room 216, Hart Building.
6:00 - 8:15 PM. The FCBA will
host a CLE seminar titled U.S. Spectrum Policy: Convergence
or Co-Existence? This is Part II of a two part series.
6:30 - 8:30 PM. The IP Law Forum of the Women's Bar
Association of DC and the IP Section of the District of
Columbia Bar will host a panel discussion and reception titled
"What Judges Want: Effective Advocacy in Technology
Cases". The speakers will be Judge Paul Michel of the U.S. Court of Appeals (FedCir),
Judge Yvette Kane of the U.S. District Court (WDPenn), and
Judge Marvin Garbis of the U.S. District Court (DMd). The
price to attend is $40. For more information, contact the WBA
at 202 639-8880. Location: Auditorium, The Hirshhorn Museum,
7th Street and Independence Ave., SW. |
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| Wednesday, April 17 |
10:00 AM. The House
Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce,
Justice, State, and the Judiciary will hold a hearing on the
proposed budget for FY 2003 for the SEC. Location:
Room H-309, The Capitol.
9:00 AM. Oral argument on cross motions for summary judgment
in Swedenburg
v. Kelly, a constitutional challenge by a Virginia winery
and wine consumers to New York State's liquor control law,
which prohibits out of state wineries from selling directly to
New York residents, including via the Internet. Location: U.S.
District Court, Southern District of New York, New York, NY.
9:30 AM - 12:00 NOON. The U.S. International
Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC), which advises
the Department of State on
policy and technical issues with respect to the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU), will meet to prepare for the June 2002
meeting of the Telecommunication Sector Advisory Group (TSAG).
Location: Alliance for
Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), 1200 G
Street NW, Suite 350.
10:00 AM. The Federal Election
Commission (FEC) will hold a hearing regarding voting
system standards. See, notice
in Federal Register.
12:15 PM. The FCBA's
Mass Media Committee will host a brown bag lunch. The speaker
will be Jane Mago, FCC General Counsel. RSVP to: kdole @npr.org. Location: 1st
Floor, NPR, 635 Mass Ave., NW.
12:15 PM. The FCBA's
Online Communications Committee will host a brown bag lunch.
The speaker will be Scott
Marcus, Senior Advisor for Internet Technology at the Federal Communications Commission's
(FCC) Office of Plans and
Policy. The title will be "Broadband, When? -- A View
from OPP". RSVP to Scott Harris at sharris
@harriswiltshire.com. Location: Wiley Rein & Fielding, 1776
K St., NW, 4th Floor Conference Room.
2:00 PM. The House
Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce,
Justice, State, and the Judiciary will hold a hearing on the
proposed budget for FY 2003 for the FCC. Location:
Room H-309, The Capitol.
2:00 - 3:00 PM. The FCBA's
International Practice Committee will host an event titled
"Today's International Issues". The speaker will be Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) Commissioner Michael Copps.
RSVP to Scott
Harris. Location: FCC, 445 12th Street, SW. |
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