| This Week@Cisco in Government Affairs |
| Cisco's E-Update keeps you up to date on the major policy news of the week. Focusing on broadband, education and e-government areas, but covering high-tech and telecom in general, the E-Update is a great source of information for policymakers. Click EUpdate to become a subscriber.
If you have high-tech public policy news or announcements that you think other e-update subscribers would be interested in, please send them to john.earnhardt@cisco.com. There are over 1300 subscribers to Cisco Government Affairs' eUpdate. CISCO GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS WEBSITE - Please visit www.cisco.com/gov to view our worldwide government affairs website. You can reach any member of the team at: http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/govtaffairs/contact/. Also see Q&A with Laura Ipsen, Vice President of Worldwide Government Affairs, as she reviews the issues that Cisco is focusing on: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/media_info/public_policy_overview.html |
| TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK |
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CISCO GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS HAS ENTERED THE BLOGOSPHERE!!! – Note from John Earnhardt, Policy Communications at Cisco Government Affairs - I recently overheard someone comment that they really think that this internet thing is taking off - which now compels me to make the same comment about blogging. Cisco’s Worldwide Government Affairs blog is the first external blog at Cisco – believe it or not. We are a small team dispersed from California to DC to Brussels to Paris to Beijing and the only way we can really leverage our expertise, analysis and insight is through the internet. We can only do so many meetings, attend so many conferences and present so much. The blog will be an attempt to give you some insight from a policy expert’s point of view on what he or she finds interesting or compelling from a policy standpoint on a regular basis. Our bloggers are, of course, speaking for themselves and not for Cisco, but their background, experience and access make them compelling enough figures, I think. So, check out our new blog. Let us know what you think. Post some comments. I think this blogging thing might take off. Our first blogger is Adam Golodner, Director of Global Security Policy, and he will be blogging on…security. |
| This Week@WASHINGTON, DC |
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PENTAGON SEEKS MORE IT MONEY—Major Defense Department computer and communications programs will see significant increases in President Bush's 2006 budget request. DHS PRIVACY OFFICE EYES TECH— Homeland Security Department officials released DHS' first annual privacy report to Congress, outlining work done in numerous areas, including technology. FCC LETS SBC DIAL DIRECT TO GET NET PHONE NUMBERS— The nation's top utility regulator has made it easier and cheaper for SBC Communications and other Internet phone service providers to get 10-digit phone numbers--another federal boost for the mushrooming broadband phone industry. FBI SHUTS DOWN E-MAIL TIP LINE— CBS News has learned the FBI has been forced to shut down part of the e-mail system it uses to communicate to the outside world because of a security. breach http://www2.cbs5.com/topstories/topstories_story_035104745.html |
| This Week@EMEA |
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SPEECH - Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission responsible for Information Society and Media – “i2010: The European Commission’s new programme to boost competitiveness in the ICT sector.” http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction. SPEECH – Neelie Kroes, Member of the European Commission in charge of Competition Policy – “Effective Competition Policy – a Key Tool for Delivering the Lisbon Strategy.” http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/ SPEECH - Janez POTOCNIK, European Commissioner for Science and Research, “The Future of R&D as a factor for European Competitiveness” - http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/66 EU PARLIAMENT DEMANDS PATENT RESTART— The battle to prevent software patents being introduced in Europe received a major boost when the Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) of the European Parliament (EP) demanded that the Computer Implemented Inventions Directive (CIID) be rewritten. WI-FI TAKES OFF AT AMSTERDAM AIRPORT SCHIPHOL—iPass Inc today announced it has formed a partnership with Attingo B.V. to bring the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol into the iPass Global Broadband Roaming network..http://www.stockhouse.com/news HOW BIG CAN BROADBAND BE?— In the UK business market, the potential for broadband has not yet fully been recognised. However, the demand for broadband is increasing and organisations are beginning to see how it can benefit their business. UK-BT WILL SPLIT RATHER THAN FACE WRATH OF OFCOM— BT Group yesterday offered to ringfence its local network into a separate business unit in a bid to head off Ofcom's threat to break it up unless it gives rival telecoms operators better access. EMIRATES’AIRLINE GOES WIRELESS—Emirates Airlines has ordered Boeing's Terminal Wireless technology, allowing it to send broadband data to and from airplanes from touchdown to takeoff. AFRICA SEEKS ROLE IN INTERNET GOVERNANCE— African stakeholders are pushing for a more effective role for the continent's user community in the governance of global information infrastructures. AFRICA RECORDS 11M SUBSCRIBERS IN SIX-MONTHS – Africa's subscriber base grew by 10.2 per cent in second quarter of 2004 and 52.4 per cent in the 12 months to end-June 2004, making it the fastest growing mobile region in the world. NAMBIA’s REGIONS WILL HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO GEOGRAPHY— The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) within the National Planning Commission (NPC) intends to introduce an Internet web-based Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to all the 13 regions. GHANA- ICT REGULATORS SHOULD LEGALIZE VOIP, SAYS ICT EXPERT— Although, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has come to stay as one of the newest technology in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) world, African communications authorities have failed to legalise it for the benefit of improved technology and lower prices. GABORONE, BOTSWANA-WORLD IT FORUM HEADS TO AFRICA— The World IT Forum (WITFOR) is going to Africa for the first time. The event is expected to attract around 700 decision-makers from around the world, and aims to generate proposals for ICT-based initiatives that will accelerate economic progress in developing countries. NIGERIA- DOPC TAKES INTERNET TO THE GRASSROOTS— A flexible billing system that is calculated to take internet to the grassroots has commenced thanks to award winning broadband Internet Service Provider (ISP), Direct on PC Ltd (DoPC). ALL RWANDAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO BE CONNECTED BY 2017— An interview with president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame on the future ICT prospects of Rwanda. ONE AFRICAN SIM-CARD— In an effort to reduce call costs between countries, facilitate commerce and regional integration, the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) has embarked on an ambitious project to develop a single SIM-card usable right across the African continent. ECONET IN $200 BILLION EXPANSION PROJECT— Mobile phone operator Econet Wireless Zimbabwe plans to spend more than $200 billion on its largest ever expansion since the network was launched in June 1998, which will result in a doubling of the subscriber base by the end of 2005 |
| This Week@Americas International |
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TELEPHONE COMPANIES MUST GIVE SMALLER RIVALS PRICE-BREAK ACCORDING TO CRTC— Big incumbent phone companies like Bell Canada and Telus must provide competitors like Call-Net Enterprises a break on the cost of leasing more of their digital lines, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications (CRTC) ruled. SOME CANADIANS NAIVE ABOUT SCAM THREAT: SURVEY— Some Canadians remain unaware of potential identity-theft issues related to telephone scams and phishing. CANADA-TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES INDUSTRY TO SET RECORDS IN 2004, SAYS STATSCAN— More Canadians that ever are leaving home with a cellphone or a Blackberry and are spending more to communicate on the run. CANADA- NUNAVUT TO GET BROADBAND INTERNET— In a vast stretch of land where blizzards knock out telephones, temperatures are perpetually sub-zero and your nearest neighbour lives miles away, communication is a precious thing. For residents in Nunavut, it can be a vital link to the rest of the world. CHILE-TECH SECTOR FALLS TO 1.2% OF GDP— The GDP contribution of Chile's IT and communications industry fell for the third year in a row in 2004, according to a statement from the Chilean association of IT companies Acti. |
| This Week@Asia-Pacific/Japan |
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AUSTRALIA-IINET SUPERCHARGES ADSL SPEEDS—iiNet has today announced new "Broadband2" plans, marking the mainstream arrival of residential ADSL speeds of up to 8Mbit/s. AUSTRALIA-TELSTRA TAKES BROADBAND INTO THE REGIONAL AREAS—Telstra says it will extend its broadband footprint further into regional Australia. AUSTRALIA-VICTORIAN IT MINISTER CALLS FOR NEXT-GEN TELCO REVIEW— Victorian Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson, has called on the federal government to resolve next-generation telecommunications issues before going ahead with full Telstra privatization. CHINESE INTERNET USERS TO REACH 134 MILLION THIS YEAR —The number of Internet users in China will hit 134 million by the end of 2005, consolidating its position as the second largest market in the world after the United States. CHINA TELECOM LOOKS TO ENTER WIRELESS MARKET— China Telecom, the country's biggest fixed-line operator, has announced it wants to team up with a smaller rival to buy a national wireless network run by the second biggest mobile phone operator, China Unicom. CHINA'S NINGBO BIRD TO MARKET FINGERPRINT ID HANDSETS— Chinese mobile phone maker Ningbo Bird has unveiled the country's first fingerprint identification phone, which guarantees security for Internet-based transactions. GUANGDONG TOP CHINESE PROVINCE FOR TELECOMS— Guangdong Province remains China’s largest province in terms of telecoms revenue, accounting for 16% of China’s total last year. UNICOM BREAKUP ONE OPTION IN INDUSTRY RESTRUCTURING—China is weighing several options in restructuring its telecom industry, and the breakup of China Unicom, the No. 2 mobile carrier, is one of the options. HAUWEI IN NIGERIAN BID—Huawei Technologies is one of 29 companies to have submitted expressions of interest for a 51% stake in Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL) TAIWAN UNVEILS DUAL-NETWORKS—Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs has announced dual-network application services, in the hope that the services will help the country become a mobile technology leader. TAIWAN TAKE TO VOIP IN THE HOME, SAYS RESEARCH FIRM— Riding a wave of interest for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, Taiwanese equipment makers fared well last year, posting strong gains in both the corporate and home segments. STARHUB, NTT DOCOMO TO LAUNCH I-MODE IN SINGAPORE—StarHub said it has tied up with Japan's NTT DoCoMo to launch i-mode services in Singapore by the fourth quarter of this year, in a bid to boost revenues from mobile data services. INDIA-GOVT CLEARS 74 PC FDI IN TELECOM—Government today cleared the long discussed proposal to hike FDI cap in telecom sector to 74 per cent from the current 49 per cent. MAURITIUS-ENTIRE ISLAND GOING WIRELESS—Mauritius, a remote, mountainous island in the South West Indian Ocean, is slated to get a 100-square-mile broadband wireless network from Navini Networks. |
| This Week@US States |
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OVERHAUL SOUGHT ON VA. TELECOM TAXES - Gov. Mark R. Warner and some Republican legislators are urging the General Assembly to revamp the way Virginia taxes telecommunications services in light of the new phone, cable, wireless and Internet options available to consumers. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55349-2005Feb1.html (Free registration required) SENATORS PROPOSE SALES TAX BREAKS— To encourage businesses to stay and expand in California, two Silicon Valley senators are pushing for a major sales tax break for companies that purchase telecommunications, manufacturing and other equipment. NYC HOLDS SCHOOL HEARINGS ONLINE—New York City Council for the first time is holding online public hearings over the next two weeks so students, teachers and parents can voice their opinions on how to spend extra billions of dollars coming to the city's public school |
| Other Tech News Of The Week |
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IN SILICON VALLEY, A TECH LEGEND LAYS BIG PLANS - Andy Bechtolsheim has a knack for spotting big ideas early. http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB110739046641744386,00.html (Paid subscription required) A PIECE OF NET HISTORY ON THE AUCTION BLOCK— Famed New York auction house Christie's is preparing to offer up a collection of rare documents and publications that trace the origins of computers and the Internet. U.S. TELECOM SPENDING HITS $784 B IN 2004—Total spending in the U.S. telecommunications industry rose 7.9 percent, according to the Telecommunications Industry Association's latest figures. INTERNET TELEPHONY TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT— VOIP (voice-over-Internet protocol), seems poised to make inroads in the United States, thanks to growing numbers of high-speed Internet connections and companies pushing Internet phone services. ONCE VIEWED AS AN UNSOUND LUXURY, WI-FI GAINING STEAM IN WORKPLACES—Offices still lag homes when it comes to wireless networking, or Wi-Fi. But they're catching up. WI-FI ALLIANCE TO PROMOTE WLAN SECURITY—The Wi-Fi Alliance will use its pull in the industry to improve security measures in wireless LAN hardware over the next year. SPRINT TO TRIAL WIMAX NETWORK— Sprint to explore setting up WiMAX wireless broadband networks to complement its forthcoming 3G cellular data network. MUNI NETS BASED ON 'DUBIOUS CLAIMS,' REPORT CLAIMS— Wireless broadband networks run by cities are based on "dubious claims" and are unlikely to succeed, a research group claimed. SURVEY FINDS STRONG IN-FLIGHT ACCESS INTEREST— The In-Stat survey found that more than 44 percent of respondents were interested in in-flight wireless access. CONNECTED: INTERNET ACCESS SERVICES GETTING FASTER, BETTER—Since the beginning of the era, computer users have been able to depend on a few guarantees. Hardware will get faster. Software will become more feature-laden. Prices will become lower. MICROSOFT TO PROVIDE EARLY WARNING TO GOVERNMENTS ON CYBERTHREATS, SOFTWARE SECURITY FLAWS—Microsoft Corp. offered to begin alerting the world's governments early to cyberthreats and security flaws in its attack-prone software. MCI WEIGHS QWEST BID, TALKS WITH VERIZON— MCI has received a $6.3 billion takeover bid from Qwest Communications International and has held talks with another potential suitor, Verizon Communications. RESEARCHERS CHIP AWAY AT RFID SECURITY— Technology researchers at Johns Hopkins University have found that radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies used for automobile locks and easy-pay gasoline systems are sorely lacking in protection. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF USING RFID HIGHLIGHTED— The most important legal aspect of using RFID technology relates to the infringement of individual privacy rights. MICROSOFT ANTI-PIRACY MOVE MAY INCREASE SECURITY THREAT— Microsoft’s Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program, which is designed to help identify pirate copies of Windows, will increase the security problems faced by enterprises, according to research group Gartner |
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