The Internet tax moratorium should get only a temporary extension “if at all,” Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Inouye (D-Hawaii) said Wed. at a hearing to discuss action before the Nov. 1 expiration. He and other Senate Democrats are wary of making the moratorium permanent for fear of robbing states and localities of potential tax revenue as e-commerce grows. Vice Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) argued for a permanent ban.
GENEVA -- The management of “core resources” of the Internet must go on the agenda of the 2nd meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Rio de Janeiro, Nov. 12- 15, officials said at the IGF meeting here. Nitin Desai, special adviser to the U.N. Secy. Gen. for Internet Governance, said: “There is an expectation that we will be discussing issues relating to Internet core resources in the main session.”
The European Parliament’s (EP’s) overwhelmingly support for a cap on international mobile roaming rates was as much about its own power and legitimacy in European consumers’ eyes as its desire to cut calling rates, lawmakers said Wed. The first-reading plenary vote -- which came after months of intense negotiations among the EP, the European Council of Ministers and the EC -- showed EU institutions can get things done, said Information Society & Media Comr. Viviane Reding.
The Internet tax moratorium should get only a temporary extension “if at all,” Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Inouye (D-Hawaii) said Wed. at a hearing to discuss action before the Nov. 1 expiration. He and other Senate Democrats are wary of making the moratorium permanent for fear of robbing states and localities of potential tax revenue as e-commerce grows. Vice Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) argued for a permanent ban.
Shippers NewsWire reports that on May 1, 2007, U.S. Customs and Border Protection modified its targeting process to allow its computer system to put automated holds on cargo rather than leaving the initial decision in the hands of a CBP officer after receiving an internal flag from the system. According to the article, members of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC) expressed concern that the trade was not advised of the new enforcement policy until two weeks after the change was made. (American Shipper, dated 05/17/07, www.americanshipper.com.)
A $27.5 billion TPG Capital and GS Capital Partners buy of Alltel likely will be embraced by the Justice Dept. and FCC, especially since it creates a strong independent carrier positioned to compete with AT&T and Verizon Wireless, lawyers and analysts said Mon. The acquisition is the largest leveraged buyout (LBO) in the U.S. telecom industry. The companies hope to finalize the deal by Q1 2008.
| Examine U.S. economic relations with China, focusing on strategies and options on exchange rates and market access | 05/23/07 | Subcommittee on Security and International Trade and Finance; Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs |
| Expanding the Visa Waiver Program, Enhancing Transatlantic Relations | 05/24/07 | Subcommittee on Europe; House Committee on Foreign Affairs |
| Reauthorization of OPIC | 05/24/07 | Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade; House Committee on Foreign Affairs |
| "Reducing Threats to Our Nation's Agriculture: Authorizing a Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility" | 05/23/07 | Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology; House Committee on Homeland Security |
The Southern Governors Assn. (SGA) endorsed a public- private partnership to build a nationwide interoperable public safety network, in a recently passed resolution. Collaboration between public safety and the wireless industry “will allow the public safety community to harness the power of the commercial markets, software, high-speed digital networks and advances in radio technology,” an SGA resolution said. The Assn.’s leadership also sent a letter May 15 to DHS Secy. Michael Chertoff, FCC Chmn. Martin and NTIA Dir. John Kneuer.
The FTC is cracking down on companies with the loosest data security policies, not “close calls,” Eileen Harrington, FTC deputy dir.-consumer protection, said Fri. Speaking at the Direct Mktg. Assn. e-mail policy conference, she said the FTC has used its authority 14 times since it was conferred in 2003 to “address businesses’ failures to safeguard personal information.” She reminded businesses that they need careful data collection, retention and disposal.
Frustrated at progress in solving national emergency communications problems, Reps. Harman (D-Cal.) and Pickering (R.-Miss.) urged the FCC in a Thurs. letter to adopt rules for the 700 MHz band in line with Frontline Wireless’s proposal. Four years after 9/11 and after billions in spending, Hurricane Katrina showed that communications failures still can cripple public safety efforts, slowing responses and costing lives, the letter said. The U.S. has little to show for the $2 billion spent since 9/11, and the $1 billion being spent this year “is unlikely to result in real, nationwide improvements necessary to avert another catastrophe,” it said. The FCC 700 MHz band proposal is one of the “last opportunities to create a single, national system to help public safety agencies achieve seamless operability and interoperability,” the lawmakers said: “Allowing a commercial wireless provider to build a nationwide network for public safety use can produce a realistic and affordable solution.”