6/5. Verizon, which owns a majority interest in Verizon Wireless (VZ), announced in a release that VZ "has entered into an agreement with Alltel Corporation and Atlantis Holdings LLC, an affiliate of private investment firm TPG Capital and GS Capital Partners, to acquire Alltel Corporation in a cash merger".

Verizon added that VW "will acquire the equity of Alltel for approximately $5.9 billion".

This transaction requires approvals from the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Antitrust Division and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

On February 4, 2008 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its annual report to the Congress on the state of competition Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS) industry. The report concluded that "there is effective competition in the CMRS market" and that "No single competitor has a dominant share of the market". See, story titled "FCC Releases Report on Wireless Competition" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,713, February 7, 2008.

The FCC also found that the concentration in the U.S. mobile telephone market, as measured by the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), was 2674 at the end of 2006. Pursuant to the Horizontal Merger Guidelines issued by the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a market with an HHI score of over 1800 is considered to be concentrated. See, Chapter 1.5 of these Guidelines.

Gigi Sohn, head of the Public Knowledge, stated in a release that "If the deal goes through, two companies, Verizon and AT&T, will control about 150 million of the 260 million wireless customers in the U.S. Verizon will have about 80 million alone. With Sprint in a weakened condition, this deal will speed the unfortunate trend of giving consumers fewer, rather than more, choices in telecommunications services, while giving a few companies more control over the lives of consumers."

Sohn added that "Should the Justice Department approve, the FCC should impose conditions that would require that the combined network be open to outside applications and devices, extending the policy the Commission started in the recent spectrum auctions. The Commission should also make clear that, as Public Knowledge asked in our pending complaint against Verizon, text messaging is protected by the Communications Act, and that actions such as Verizon's denial of text-messaging short codes to NARAL will not be permitted."

The PK and other groups filed a Petition for Declaratory Ruling [33 pages in PDF] with the FCC on December 11, 2007. See, story titled "Public Knowledge Asks FCC to Declare that Blocking and Refusing to Carry Text Messages Violates Title II" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,686, December 11, 2007. See also, story titled "Martin Discusses Complaints Against Comcast and Verizon Wireless" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,728, March 10, 2008.

Verizon stated also that "Alltel serves more than 13 million customers in markets in 34 states. This includes 57 primarily rural markets that Verizon Wireless does not serve."

Verizon also stated that "The transaction puts the Alltel markets and customers on a path to advanced 4th generation services as Verizon Wireless deploys LTE technology throughout its network over the next several years. Alltel’s customers also will reap the benefits of Verizon Wireless’ Open Development initiative, which welcomes third-party devices and services to use the Verizon Wireless network."

6/3. The House passed HR 4791 [LOC | WW], the "Federal Agency Data Protection Act", by voice vote.

This bill states that its purpose is to "protect personally identifiable information of individuals that is maintained in or transmitted by Federal agency information systems".

This bill would authorize the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), among other things, to establish "minimum requirements regarding the protection of personally identifiable information maintained in or transmitted by mobile digital devices, including requirements for the use of technologies that efficiently and effectively render information unusable by unauthorized persons".

This bill would also require certain public disclosures of data breaches at federal agencies that involve the disclosure of personally identifiable information, including notice to affected individuals.

This bill would also require agencies to "develop and implement a plan to ensure the security and privacy of information collected or maintained by or on behalf of the agency from the risks posed by certain peer-to-peer file sharing programs".

Rep. Lacy Clay (D-MO), Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's Subcommittee of Information Policy, Census and National Archives, introduced this bill on December 18, 2007.

He stated in the House on June 3 that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has "found that pervasive weaknesses continue to exist primarily because agencies fail to maintain secure IT networks. As a result, GAO concluded that Federal financial data are at risk of unauthorized modification or destruction, sensitive information at risk of inappropriate disclosure, and critical operations at risk of disruption."

He continued that this bill "would secure our agencies' IT access and require an annual audit of agency programs. The bill would also establish a comprehensive definition for ``personally identifiable information´´ and mandate that agencies notify individuals when their personal information is accessed in a data breach."

This bill is based upon an earlier bill, HR 2124 [LOC | WW], also titled the "Federal Agency Data Breach Protection Act", that was introduced on May 3, 2007, by Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA).

Rep. Davis stated that "despite the volume of sensitive information held by agencies -- tax returns, military records, health records, to name a few -- there currently is no requirement that agencies notify citizens whose personal information may have been compromised. We need to ensure the public knows when its sensitive personal information has been lost or compromised."

However, he continued that "I do not believe H.R. 4791 does enough. Most of the provisions contained in this bill are a grab bag of vague requirements, additional mandates, and misplaced priorities. It casts dynamic concepts in stone. And it gives agency personnel more boxes to check."

For example, he argued that there should be incentives for agencies to improve IT security, such as funding rewards and penalties.

6/3. The House passed HR 4106 [LOC | WW], the "Telework Improvements Act of 2008", by voice vote.

This bill provides that each federal agency, within 180 days, "shall establish a policy under which employees shall be authorized to telework". The bill defines "telework" as "a work arrangement under which an employee regularly performs the duties and responsibilities of such employee's position, and other authorized activities, from home or another worksite removed from the employee's regular place of employment".

Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) introduced this bill on November 7, 2007. He stated in the House that "Telework has a number of benefits for both agencies and employees. A happy workforce is a productive workforce, and giving employees the opportunity to telework can help boost productivity by cutting down on commuting time, reducing absenteeism, and allowing for greater organizational flexibility. Improving telework can also help reduce pollution, traffic congestion, and the significant financial burdens that Federal employees face from high gas prices."

Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) stated that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) "have some of the most robust telework policies in the Federal Government" and "are perfect examples of how agencies can utilize telework to recruit and retain a first-rate workforce".

He said that the "USPTO and DISA have retained workers, despite having a workforce that is in high demand elsewhere. The private sector is still far ahead of the government in terms of embracing telework as a recruiting tool. We must catch up if we want to compete."

Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), whose district includes many current and potential government agency teleworkers, praised the bill. He also discussed some of the changes made during mark up by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

He said that "the reported version includes stronger language regarding the protection of information being accessed through remote networks. This IT security language is important to reassure the general public that, as we promote the use of telework in federal agencies, the government is taking necessary steps to make sure personal information is safeguarded."

He also said that "the reported version requires agencies to further integrate telework into their continuity of operations planning by making sure mission critical personnel are prepared to telework in the event of a major disaster, such as a terrorist attach or an outbreak of the pandemic flu."

6/4. Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), gave a speech at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in which he discussed, among other topics, productivity, technology, and economic performance.

"As Adam Smith pointed out in 1776, in the long run, more than any other factor, the productivity of the workforce determines a nation's standard of living." And, he said, productivity follows from technological innovations that are "translated into successful commercial applications".

He said that while productivity has been growing, the benefits have not been uniform; technological innovation and trade create dislocations for some people. He argued that the appropriation response is not to limit innovation or trade, but rather to address these dislocations.

Bernanke (at right) stated that "From 1948 to 1973, output per hour of work grew by nearly 3 percent per year, on average. But then, for the next 20 years or so, productivity growth averaged only about 1-1/2 percent per year, barely half its previous rate. Predictably, the rate of increase in the standard of living slowed as well".

Then, "Productivity growth revived in the mid-1990s", said Bernanke. "Since 1995, productivity has increased at about a 2-1/2 percent annual rate."

He then offered his analysis of the causes of technological innovation and productivity growth. "While private-sector initiative was the key ingredient in generating the pickup in productivity growth, government policy was constructive, in part through support of basic research but also to a substantial degree by promoting economic competition."

He elaborated that "Beginning in the late 1970s, the federal government deregulated a number of key industries, including air travel, trucking, telecommunications, and energy. The resulting increase in competition promoted cost reductions and innovation, leading in turn to new products and industries."

"It is difficult to imagine that we would have online retailing today if the transportation and telecommunications industries had not been deregulated. In addition, the lowering of trade barriers promoted productivity gains by increasing competition, expanding markets, and increasing the pace of technology transfer."

He also said that "Even though average economic well-being has increased considerably over time, the degree of inequality in economic outcomes over the past three decades has increased as well."

He continued that "new technologies and increased international trade can lead to painful dislocations as some workers lose their jobs or see the demand for their particular skills decline". He argued that "hindering the adoption of new technologies or inhibiting trade flows would do far more harm than good over the longer haul. In the short term, the better approach is to adopt policies that help those who are displaced by economic change."

This speech was similar to other speeches by Bernanke, and his predecessors at the FRB. See, Bernanke's August 31, 2006 speech, and story titled "Bernanke Gives Another Speech on ICT and Productivity Growth" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,444, September 7, 2006, and January 19, 2005 speech and story titled "FRB's Bernanke Addresses Productivity Growth and Information Technology" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,061, January 24, 2005.

See also, October 24, 2002 speech by former FRB Vice Chairman Roger Ferguson titled "Productivity Growth: A Realistic Assessment", and story titled "FRB Vice Chairman Addresses Impact of Computer and Software Technology on Productivity Gains" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 535, October 25, 2002. And see also, October 23, 2002 speech by former FRB Chairman Alan Greenspan, and story titled "Greenspan Addresses Productivity Gains and Technological Innovation" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 534, October 24, 2002.

5/28. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (OUSTR) announced and described a complaint that it has filed with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the European Union (EU).

This complaint (a request to initiate dispute settlement consultations) pertains to EU duties imposed upon cable and satellite boxes that can access the internet, flat panel computer monitors, and certain computer printers that can also scan, fax and/or copy.

This complaint alleges that these EU duties violate the WTO Information Technology Agreement [18 pages in PDF]. See also, the WTO's web page titled "Information Technology Agreement".

Japan has also filed a complaint with WTO against the EU.

Susan Schwab, head of the OUSTR, stated in a release that these duties are "protectionist gimmicks" that "discourage technological innovation". See also, second release.

She wrote in statement [PDF] that "The EU claims that this equipment has evolved beyond the technology subject to the ITA. However, if ITA participants only provided duty-free treatment to products with the technology that existed at the time the ITA was concluded, very few ITA products would be eligible for duty-free treatment today."

6/5. The Senate confirmed Paul Schneider to be Deputy Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). See, DHS release and statement by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MI).

5/28. Stephen Smith was named Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). See, USPTO release.

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The House will not meet.

The Senate will meet at 9:00 AM. It will then resume consideration of S 3036 [LOC | WW], the "Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008".

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Day three of a three day meeting of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board (ISPAB). See, notice in the Federal Register, May 14, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 94, at Page 27797. Location: George Washington University, Cafritz Conference Center, Room 310 (Elliott Room), 800 21st St., NW.

12:00 NOON. The Cato Institute will host an event titled "Globalization and the World's Rising Living Standards". The speaker will be Johan Norberg, author of the book [Amazon] titled "In Defense of Global Capitalism". See, notice and registration page. Lunch will be served. This event will be webcast by Cato. Location: Room B-338, Rayburn Building.

2:00 PM. The Senate Government Affairs and Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing titled "National Security Bureaucracy for Arms Control, Counterproliferation, and Nonproliferation Part II: The Role of the Department of State". The witnesses will be Patricia McNerney and Linda Taglialatela of the Department of State. See, notice. Location: Room 342, Dirksen Building.

Effective date of the Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services final rule regarding electronic prescriptions. See, notice in the Federal Register, April 7, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 67, at Pages 18917-18942.

Deadline to submit reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to the Media Bureau's public notice (DA 08-752) regarding changes to its annual reporting forms that request certain employee data from multichannel video programming distributors (FCC Form 395-A) and broadcasters (FCC Form 395-B). See, notice in the Federal Register, April 21, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 77, at Pages 21346-21347.

Deadline to submit reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) regarding changes to its Schedule of Regulatory Fees. This NPRM is FCC 08-126 in MD Docket No. 08-65. See, notice in the Federal Register, May 28, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 103, at Pages 30563-30591.

The House will meet at 12:30 PM.

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Day one of a two day meeting of the Judicial Conference of the United States' Committee on Rules and Practice and Procedure. See, notice in the Federal Register, March 25, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 58, at Pages 15777-15778. Location: Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, Mecham Conference Center, One Columbus Circle, NE.

11:30 AM. Patrick Ross and Lucinda Dugger (Copyright Alliance) will host a conference call to announce an "initiative for artists and creators". To participate, call 1-800-351-4894. The passcode is 29012. RSVP to Gayle Osterberg at gayle at 133publicaffairs dot com to receive pre-conference copies of releases.

5:00 PM. Deadline to submit comments to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in response to it notice of proposed rulemaking regarding its Digital To Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. The NTIA proposes to waive the eligible household and application requirements for individuals residing in nursing homes or other senior care facilities. See, notice in the Federal Register, April 24, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 80, at Pages 22120-22124. See also, NTIA web page with hyperlinks to comments.

Deadline to submit comments to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in response to its request for comments regarding its interim final rule [48 pages in PDF] that extends the period of Optional Practical Training (OPT) from 12 to 29 months for qualified F-1 non-immigrant students. This rule change compensates in a limited way for the Congress's failure to enact legislation to increase the annual cap on the number of H1B visas. See, story titled "DHS Extends OPT to 29 Months As Congress Sits on H1B Reform Proposals" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,742, April 7, 2008, and notice in the Federal Register, April 8, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 68, at Pages 18944-18956.

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Day one of a two day meeting of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT) titled "NIST's Roles in the Innovation Ecosystem". See, notice in the Federal Register, May 6, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 88, at Page 24950. Location: NIST, Administration Building, Employees Lounge, Gaithersburg, MD.

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Day two of a two day meeting of the Judicial Conference of the United States' Committee on Rules and Practice and Procedure. See, notice in the Federal Register, March 25, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 58, at Pages 15777-15778. Location: Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, Mecham Conference Center, One Columbus Circle, NE.

9:00 AM. The House Judiciary Committee's (HJC) Subcommittee on Immigration will hold a hearing titled "Electronic Employment Verification Systems: Needed Safeguards to Protect Privacy and Prevent Misuse". See, notice. The HJC will webcast this hearing. Location: Room 2141, Rayburn Building.

9:30 AM. The House Commerce Committee's (HCC) Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet will hold a hearing titled "Status of the DTV Transition: 252 Days and Counting". This hearing will be webcast by the HCC. Location: Rooom 2123, Rayburn Building.

9:30 AM - 12:00 NOON. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC ) will host an event titled "International Roundtable on Interactive Data for Public Financial Reporting". See, notice. Location: SEC, 100 F St., NE.

6:00 - 8:15 PM. The Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) will host an event titled "Judicial Year in Review". The speakers will be Sam Feder (Jenner and Block), Ian Gershengorn (Jenner & Block), Andrew McBride (Wiley Rein), Joseph Palmore (Federal Communications Commission) and Richard Welch (FCC). This event qualifies for continuing legal education (CLE) credits. See, notice. Location: Wiley Rein, 1776 K St., NW.

CANCELLED. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC) will meet.

9:00 - 11:45 AM. Day two of a two day meeting of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT) titled "NIST's Roles in the Innovation Ecosystem". See, notice in the Federal Register, May 6, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 88, at Page 24950. Location: NIST, Administration Building, Employees Lounge, Gaithersburg, MD.

12:00 NOON - 2:00 PM. The DC Bar Association will host a program titled "Entertainment Law in Review". The price to attend ranges from $20 to $30. The speaker will be Stan Soocher (University of Colorado at Denver). For more information, contact 202-626-3463. See, notice. Location: DC Bar Conference Center, B-1 Level, 1250 H St., NW.

2:00 PM. The House Judiciary Committee's (HJC) Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property (SCIIP) will hold a hearing on HR 4789 [LOC | WW], the "Performance Rights Act". See, stories titled "Bills Introduced in House and Senate to End Terrestrial Broadcasters' Performance Right" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,690, December 18, 2007, and "Paper Advocates Performance Right for Recording Artists" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,724, February 27, 2008. The HJC will webcast this hearing. See, notice. Location: Room 2141, Rayburn Building.

2:30 PM. The Senate Commerce Committee (SCC) will hold a hearing titled "Impact and Policy Implications of Spyware on Consumers and Businesses". This hearing will also pertain to S 1625, the "Counter Spy Act". See, notice. Location: Room 253, Russell Building.

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

6:00 - 8:00 PM. The Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) will host an event titled "FCBA Spring Reception". See, registration form [PDF]. Prices vary. Location: Washington Hilton Hotel, 1919 Connecticut Ave., NW.

EXTENDED FROM APRIL 14. Extended deadline to submit reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its Report on Broadcast Localism and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The FCC adopted this item on December 18, 2007, and released the text on January 24, 2008. It is FCC 07-218 in MB Docket No. 04-233. See, notice in the Federal Register, February 13, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 30, at Pages 8255-8259. See also, FCC's Public Notice [PDF] (DA 08-393). See also, Public Notice [PDF] (DA 08-515) extending deadlines.

Deadline to submit oppositions to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to a petition for reconsideration [42 pages in PDF] in the FCC's universal service and access charge reform proceedings (CC Docket No. 96-45, CC Docket No. 96-262, and WC Docket No. 06-122). See, notice in the Federal Register, May 27, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 102, at Page 30393.

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

10:00 AM. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) may hold an executive business meeting. The agenda includes consideration of Helene White and Raymond Kethledge to be Judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals (6thCir), and Stephen Murphy to be a Judge of the U.S. District Court (EDMich). See, SJC notice and story titled "President Bush and Senate Democrats Reach Compromise on 6th Circuit Nominees" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,747, April 15, 2008. The SJC rarely follows its published agendas. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.

11:00 AM. The House Judiciary Committee's (HJC) Subcommittee on Immigration will hold a hearing titled "The Need for Green Cards for Highly Skilled Workers". The HJC will webcast this hearing. See, notice. Location: Room 2237, Rayburn Building.

TIME? The House Appropriations Committee's (HAC) Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, & Science will meet to mark up the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill. Location?

TIME? The Center for Democracy and Technology's (CDT) Net Caucus will host an event titled "Safe Computing Open House for Constituents". Location?

5:30 - 8:00 PM. The DC Bar Association will host a program titled "The Trademark Office Speaks". The speakers will be Christina Hieber (Associate Solicitor), Lynne Beresford (Commissioner for Trademarks), and David Sams (Chief Administrative Trademark Judge, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board). For more information, contact 202-626-3463. The price to attend ranges from $50 to $65. See, notice. Location: Hotel Monaco, 700 F St, NW.

Deadline to submit comments to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's(NIST) Computer Security Division (CSD) regarding its SP 800-123 [54 pages in PDF] titled "Guide to General Server Security (Draft)".

Deadline to submit comments to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Computer Security Division (CSD) regarding its SP 800-66 Rev1 [109 pages in PDF] titled "An Introductory Resource Guide for Implementing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule (Draft)".

6/5. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a revised agenda for its event on June 12, 2008. This agenda states that the FCC will first hold a hearing on early termination fees. Then, it may adopt an order regarding Skype's 2007 petition [36 pages in PDF] titled "Petition to Confirm a Consumer’s Right to Use Internet Communications Software and Attach Devices to Wireless Networks". This is RM-11361. The agenda also states that the FCC may adopt a Report and Order (R&O) regarding the National Do-Not-Call Registry. This is CG Docket No. 02-278. The agenda also states that the FCC may adopt a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding "the Provision of Speech-to-Speech, a form of Telecommunications Relay". This is CG Docket No. 03-123. The agenda also states that the FCC may adopt a R&O and Further NPRM regarding "Ten-Digit Numbering Plan for Internet-Based TRS". This is CG Docket No. 03-123 and WC Docket No. 05-196. See also, story titled "FCC to Hold Meeting and Hearing on June 12" in TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,774, June 2, 2008. This event is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM. However, most of the FCC's recent events titled "Open Meeting" have not been held at the time announced by the FCC.

6/5. Trade representatives of the US, EU, Japan, and other nations met in Geneva, Switzerland on June 3-4, 2008, to discuss the proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (OUSTR) stated in a release that "The main focus of the discussion was border measures, particularly how to deal with large-scale intellectual property infringements".

6/5. The House passed HR 5940 [LOC | WW], the "National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2008", by a vote of 407-6. See, Roll Call No. 383. Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) introduced this bill on May 1, 2008. He stated in a release that "The promise of nanotechnology is enormous, but potential downsides need to be addressed from the beginning in a thorough, transparent process" He continued that "The federal interagency nanotechnology research program has not yet put in place a well designed, adequately funded, and effectively executed research program focused on the environmental and safety aspects of nanotechnology."

6/4. The House passed HR 5893 [LOC | WW, the "Library of Congress Sound Recording and Film Preservation Programs Reauthorization Act of 2008", by voice vote.

6/4. The House Commerce Committee's (HCC) Subcommittee on Health held a hearing titled "Discussion Draft of Health Information Technology and Privacy Legislation". See also, HCC memorandum [6 pages in PDF], draft bill [89 pages in PDF], and statement by Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the HCC.

5/16. Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and 21 other members of the House, including both Democrats and Republicans, submitted a comment [3 pages in PDF] to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in response to it notice of proposed rulemaking regarding its Digital To Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. They wrote that "Seniors could suffer real consequences if their TVs will not operate past February 17, 2009, including isolation from society, anxiety, or mental or physical decline. Since seniors are more likely to be unfamiliar with new technology, and to have physical, financial or transportation barriers that would prevent them from purchasing and installing a converter box, we continue to be concerned about how NTIA is addressing those barriers." However, they proposed no solutions, or rules. The deadline to submit comments is 5:00 PM on June 9, 2008. See, notice in the Federal Register, April 24, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 80, at Pages 22120-22124.