• 12/31. The SEC reported that US securities markets, including Nasdaq, NYSE, & Amex, and major broker dealers will conduct tests over the weekend to detect any possible problems in their systems. At this point, no problems have been detected that would prevent the orderly opening of trading on January 3.

• 12/30. The DoJ released the text of a speech given by Marius Schwartz (Antitrust Div. Economics Director) about the Bells' entry into long distance.

• 12/28. AT&T and Covad filed a petition for review of the FCC's order granting Bell Atl. permission to provide interLATA long distance service in NY. It was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Dist. of Col.

• 12/28. The Pittsburgh City Council approved a cable agreement which requires AT&T to provide open access to its broadband cable facilities if AT&T provides, or is forced to provide, open access elsewhere.

• 12/28. Steve Forbes gave a speech at Nexl Network Systems on high tech issues. Quote: "I have proposed a permanent ban on all new domestic Internet taxes and international Internet tariffs. I strongly oppose any effort to impose a national tax system on the Internet ... It is also time to repeal the Gore Tax ..." See, Forbes press release.

• 12/28. The DVD Copy Control Assoc. (MPAA, BSA, and EIA) filed suit in Calif. state court in Santa Clara County against 71 people and web sites for distributing software that removes the anti copying feature of DVD media.

• 12/27. The defendants filed an interlocutory appeal of Judge Campbell's preliminary injunction order in IRI v. ULM, a case about contributory copyright infringement by web sites. Also, defense counsel reports that EFF will file an amicus brief.

• 12/27. Koskinen, Levitt, and heads of the NASD, NYSE, SIA, and ICI joined to assure investors that Wall Street will be ready for Y2K. SEC Chr. Arthur Levitt said "I am confident that the goal of 'business as usual' on January 3 will be realized." See, SIA press release.

• 12/27. The Nasdaq Stock Market announced that, as part of its Y2K plan, it will not make data changes for equity and debt issues and market participants on the Nasdaq system from 12/27/1999 through 1/3/2000.

• 12/27. The FCC issued its Order on Remand regarding deployment of wireline services offering advanced telecom capability. (CC Docket Nos. 98-147, 98-11, and 98-26.)

• 12/27. The FCC issued an Order (MS Word) denying ATT's motion to stay its Order granting Bell Atlantic permission to provide interLATA LD service in NY. Michael Glover, of Bell Atl., said this: "AT&T's stay request is just a last gasp effort to delay the inevitable long distance competition that it has tenaciously fought ..." See, statement. (CC Docket No. 99-295).

• 12/23. AT&T filed a motion with the FCC to stay the Order granting Bell Atlantic's 271 application to provide interLATA long distance service in NY. (CC Docket 99-295.)

• 12/22. Eric Thornton plead guilty to violation of the No Electronic Theft Act in federal court in Washington DC. This is only the second prosecution under this 1997 act. Thornton ran a web site which illegally provided unlicensed copies of software.

• 12/22. The FCC approved Bell Atlantic's section 271 application to provide long distance telephone service in New York state. See, 244 page Order in text, Word97, or PDF. (CC Docket No. 99-295.) See also, press releases of FCC and Bell Atl.

• 12/22. Bell South, which wants to provide LD service too, praised the FCC decision. See, press release.

• 12/22. MCI WC reacted by stating that its merger with Sprint should be approved by the FCC too. See, press release.

• 12/22. A dispute settlement panel of the WTO rejected a complaint by the European Union, and upheld the WTO consistency of Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. See USTR press release.

• 12/22. The FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (MS Word) regarding implementing the just enacted Satellite Home Viewer Imp. Act. (CS Docket No. 99-363.)

• 12/21. The West Hollywood City Council voted to impose an open/forced access requirement on broadband cable access. See, OpenNET press release.

• 12/21. USPTO Commissioner Todd Dickinson ordered the reexamination of a computer software patent which involves a method of extending computer processing of dates beyond the turn of the century. See, PTO press release.

• 12/21. The SEC and US Atty. for the SDNY filed civil and criminal charges against a former CEO of investment banking firm Keefe, Bruyette & Woods for insider trading. Two others, including a porn star, were also charged. See, SEC press release.

• 12/20. The DOJ filed its response to MSFT's objection to the amicus curiae participation of Lawrence Lessig.

• 12/20. Steve Forbes endorsed efforts by the American Family Association of Michigan to require public libraries to filter Internet access. See, press release.

• 12/20. Symantec and  Network Associates settled copyright, trade secret, and unfair competition lawsuits brought by Symantec against Network Associates and its predecessor McAfee. See, Symantec press release.

• 12/20. Cinnamon Rogers was named Dir. of Congressional Affairs at NTIA. She previously worked for Rep. Tom Manton, who retired at the end of the 105th Congress.

• 12/20. The USPTO launched the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system, which makes it possible for applicants to securely obtain information on their applications. See, press release.

• 12/17. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), the ranking minority member of the House Commerce Committee, wrote a letter to AT&T CEO Michael Armstrong, and a letter to FCC Chairman William Kennard, regarding open access.

• 12/17. The Clinton administration released a second draft of its proposed new encryption export regulations.

• 12/17. The EPIC released a survey of privacy policies which found that none of the top 100 shopping web sites adequately protects consumer privacy. EPIC also recommended new legislation. See, press release.

• 12/17. The USTR announced the results of more out-of-cycle Special 301 reviews. Hong Kong and Malaysia remain off the "Watch List," and Colombia and the Czech Republic remain on the list. See, press release.

• 12/16. The Wash. Utilities and Trans. Comm. (WUTC) approved the proposed merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE. See, press releases of WUTC and GTE.

• 12/16. The FTC created an Advisory Comm. on Online Access and Security and requested nominations for members. See, press release.

• 12/16. FCC Chr. Wm. Kennard gave a speech on open access. Quote: "There are two choices: we can rely on the market to facilitate openness; or we can try to regulate our way there. For now, I'm putting my faith in the marketplace."

• 12/15. NCTA CEO Robert Sachs gave a speech opposing regulation of cable broadband Internet access. Quote: "some of our competitors are trying to use government regulation and litigation to forestall cable’s deployment of high speed Internet and local phone services."

• 12/15. The SEC filed civil fraud charges against investors for manipulating the price of a thinly-traded stock by spreading false information on Internet message boards. See, SEC press release.

• 12/15. The Henrico (VA) County Council  voted to impose an open/forced access condition on the approval of the AT&T and MediaOne cable license transfer.

• 12/15. The FCC requested comment on the public interest obligations of DTV broadcasters. See, press release.

• 12/14. The USTA released its year end rating of the Congress and FCC. It gave grades of C, D, and incomplete on all criteria (promoting competition, reducing regulation, encouraging broadband deployment, and universal service).

• 12/13. Four Boston area governments filed a brief in support of their decisions regarding open access with the Mass. DTE.