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Pleading to Washington for broadband
by George＠Orwellian.Org 26 Jun '01

26 Jun '01

Excerpt: # Likening the task to the 1960s effort to put a man on the moon, # John Chambers, chief executive of Cisco Systems Inc., is asking # that the federal government commit to making broadband connections # available to every home by 2010. ---- http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/SB993418457489449631.htm # # Tech Industry Seeks Its Salvation June 25, 2001 # In High-Speed Internet Connections # # By SCOTT THURM and GLENN R. SIMPSON # Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL # # High-tech executives think they've found a cure for the industry's # deepest slump in a decade: High-speed Internet access for # everyone. # # For years, telephone and cable-TV companies have been promising # to build high-speed "broadband" networks, which let consumers # and small businesses tap the Internet 20 or 30 times faster than # conventional phone lines, yet the rollout has been slow. There's # little agreement, even within the tech world, on the ground rules # for building such networks, which would cost tens of billions # of dollars. But suddenly the topic has rocketed to the top of # the technology industry's agenda in Washington, where # traditionally distant tech executives are asking for help. # # The chairmen of International Business Machines Corp., Intel # Corp., Motorola Inc. and others last week met with key lawmakers # and National Economic Council officials to support bills that # would provide tax credits for building high-speed networks in # rural areas and economically depressed inner cities. Other # executives propose broader tax breaks, comparing broadband # Internet links with the government-financed interstate highway # or rural electric systems. # # Likening the task to the 1960s effort to put a man on the moon, # John Chambers, chief executive of Cisco Systems Inc., is asking # that the federal government commit to making broadband connections # available to every home by 2010. A Cisco lobbyist calls the effort # "our No. 1 goal" (although a spokesman says Mr. Chambers doesn't # think the government would be the one to build the network). # # Some tech executives argue that extending broadband networks # would help revive the national economy, because tech spending # contributed such a large share of economic growth in recent years. # "The stimulation would go well beyond hardware and software # providers," says Phil Bond, Hewlett-Packard Co.'s top Washington # lobbyist. # # But some analysts are struck by the sudden change in an industry # that previously distanced itself from Washington. Technology # companies "are going to Washington looking for a bailout," says # Scott Cleland, chief executive of the Precursor Group, a # Washington-based independent research company. "That tells you # their situations are awfully bad because when times were good # they were telling the government to stay away." # # Monday, more than 40 tech executives are set to meet at H-P's # Palo Alto, Calif., headquarters to rally behind the broadband # effort and discuss possible policy initiatives. Other tech groups # have similar efforts under way. Last week's lobbying was # orchestrated by the Computer Systems Policy Project, which # represents big computer companies. "The administration is # listening carefully to all segments of industry and working with # lawmakers and regulators to assess policy alternatives to # accelerate broadband deployment," a White House spokesman says. # # The renewed push for broadband stems from widespread disappoi # ntment with the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which was supposed # to encourage competition, particularly for local phone service. # But many of the upstarts that challenged the Baby Bells couldn't # make profits and got hurt in the collapse of the high-tech bubble. # And companies that built data networks to carry an expected flood # of Internet traffic are starving for business. # # Tech executives fear that broadband deployment will slow even # further. A year ago, the pace was a secondary concern for big # tech companies. Then the dot-com bubble burst. Companies cut # their purchases of tech gear, and executives of tech companies # faced declining sales, losses and layoffs. Now, potential sales # resulting from a new wave of high-speed Internet connections # look like a port in a storm. # # When Mr. Chambers broached the subject before 50 executives at # a February meeting of TechNet, an industry lobbying group, 20 # hands shot up, according to a person who was in the room. TechNet # quickly assembled a "working group" on broadband policy, including # Mr. Chambers and executives from Intel, Microsoft Corp., 3Com # Corp. and ExciteAtHome Corp. Its recommendations are expected # in September. # # Executives hope ubiquitous high-speed links can ignite another # "virtuous cycle" of innovation and spending on tech gear, like # the one that accompanied the first phase of the Internet in the # late 1990s. Telecom-gear makers would sell equipment to build # the networks. PC- and chip-makers would sell consumers new # computers to keep up with faster connections. Software makers # and content creators would update programs. "We're convinced # now more than ever that broadband is crucial to our industry," # says Peter Pitsch, an attorney in Intel's Washington office. # # A unified tech industry could be influential in the national # debate. "I've always felt the computer folks would tip the balance # if they ever came into the thing in a serious way," says Jeffrey # Eisenach, president of the nonprofit Progress and Freedom # Foundation, a group backed by the Bell phone companies that is # sponsoring the meeting at H-P. # # But there's little agreement in the industry about how to get # the job done. The differences are apparent on the central # telecommunications question facing Congress this year: whether # to relax 1996 rules limiting the role of Bells in building and # operating data networks. Until recently, big tech companies were # reluctant to take sides because they had customers in rival camps. # Now, their reluctance may be fading. # # In a speech last week, Intel Chairman Andrew Grove endorsed # loosening some of the restrictions. That was a bit of a shift # for the chip giant, which had invested in several Baby Bell # challengers in the heady days after the 1996 law was passed. # # "If we want to see broadband, we have to follow the money, as # cruel and unfair as it sounds," said Mr. Grove, who lunched with # Ivan Seidenberg, chief executive of Baby Bell Verizon # Communications Inc., the following day. Mr. Grove called for # "a new approach" in which the Bells "should be allowed to invest # with the fair expectation of making a lot of money." # # Others blame the Bells for stifling competition, then dragging # their feet. "I'm afraid if we leave it to existing incumbents, # the speed at which broadband will progress would not be # satisfactory," says 3Com Chairman Eric Benhamou. He suggests # government-subsidized loans, or tax rebates for signing up # broadband customers. Most tech lobbyists, though, consider it # politically toxic to mention those ideas.

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Journalist Arresting for Criticizing Cops
by Eric Cordian 26 Jun '01

26 Jun '01

In today's news of the truly odd. ----- KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) -- A newspaper editor and publisher was arrested for publishing an article alleging a cover-up in an internal police investigation he had filed an official complaint about, police records show. Dennis Cooper, 66, editor of the weekly Key West The Newspaper, was arrested Friday and released two hours later on his own recognizance. The affidavit for his arrest cites a Florida statute that makes it a misdemeanor for anyone involved in an internal police investigation to disclose information before it has been entered into public record. Cooper has alleged a police lieutenant lied in court about a 1996 stop of a bicyclist, and that the Key West Police Department covered it up. He filed a complaint last month with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement accusing an internal affairs investigator of falsifying information about his review of the incident. After receiving the complaint, the department asked Key West police to begin an investigation. Cooper had published articles accusing the investigator of wrongdoing before filing the complaint. -- Eric Michael Cordian 0+ O:.T:.O:. Mathematical Munitions Division "Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole Of The Law"

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at least she's not violating photogs' copyright...
by John Doe #N 26 Jun '01

26 Jun '01

We'd pay good money for Agent Gordon in shiny red underwear... Tuesday June 26 5:28 AM ET Beau Blushing As Scorned Girl Vents Fury on Net LONDON (Reuters) - A British woman has published photographs of her boyfriend wearing skimpy panties and a bra on the Internet to avenge his cheating ways. The 22-year-old, who identified herself only as ``The Pimptress,'' said boyfriend ``Tom'' had asked her never to show the snaps of him in various poses wearing her shiny red underwear. ``Guess he shouldn't have cheated with my best m8,'' she wrote, using for the word ``mate'' the abbreviated text message language popular for communicating by mobile phone. The picture gallery of 20 snaps includes shots of ``Tom'' trying to squeeze on a pair of girl's cowboy boots and putting on makeup. By early Tuesday the Web site, www.uboot.com/u/pimptress, had received nearly 6,500 hits, or visits by Internet readers. After it was featured in the best-selling daily tabloid The Sun, that number was rising fast. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010626/wr/britain_scorned_dc_1.html

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Ultimate Internet Casino!!!
by illzshakur＠emailisfun.com 26 Jun '01

26 Jun '01

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Thought-A-Day
by Fountain Of Joy 26 Jun '01

26 Jun '01

It is always too soon to quit! --Norman Vincent Peale ***************************************************************************** Your name has been recommended to receive thoughts of wisdom from Fountain of Joy.These refreshing thoughts will be delivered,free of cost,to your desktop,everyday,for an initial evaluation period.We believe that the meaningful insights of these carefully selected thoughts will bring peace,success & happyness in your life. If you would like your near and dear ones to receive these thoughts,please send their email addresses to amaha(a)vsnl.net We apologise if this email is received by you in error.If you desire to unsubscribe,reply to this email with 'remove' in the subject line. Thank you. ----Director, Fountain of Joy (Non-religious Organisation)

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Executive Technical Briefing from NAB
by lobara＠nab.org 26 Jun '01

26 Jun '01

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Company Update - UICO
by UNICO 26 Jun '01

26 Jun '01

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Easy Weight Loss...No Dieting, Hunger, or Excercise!!!!!!
by mikeedwinr＠emailisfun.com 26 Jun '01

26 Jun '01

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Circumstances Raising Suspicion Concerning Smart Cards
by tmcv＠prison.net 26 Jun '01

26 Jun '01

Circumstances Raising Suspicion Concerning Smart Cards Same as credit cards Numerous cards (different names or same issuing vendor) Signs of tampering (cards can be found in the presence of computer or other electronic devices) Questions to Ask When Encountering Smart Cards Who is card issued to (the valid cardholder)? Who issued the card? What are the uses of the cards? Why does the person have numerous cards? Can this computer or device alter the card? http://www.ustreas.gov/usss/index.htm?electronic_evidence.htm

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eBay: Burn DVD movies onto CD?
by George＠Orwellian.Org 26 Jun '01

26 Jun '01

Can anyone figure this out? It's a link from the ebay splash page, so it's "high profile". Is it DeCSS? http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1439250171 # # [ pictured are DVD movies ] # # All the software needed to burn your own DVD's is included with # this auction. Now you can make copies/Backups of ALL of your # favorite DVD's and never have to worry about replacing them. # There are only 2 options. You could either spend thousands of # dollars on a DVD burner (Brand New your looking at over 5,000 # dollars or even buying a DVD Burner off of Ebay is still going # to run into the thousands) or you could buy this software and # make your own copies using a CD-R Drive. This software is # incredibly simple to use with very detailed and easy to follow # instructions # # Att. Ebay- This is not an "informational" auction. This is # software needed to burn DVD's on a CD-R Drive # # This program is not meant for those who intend on breaking # copywrite laws and in no way will I be held responsible if you # do. # # Please add 4.01 shipping & handling making the total only 10 # dollars for this INCREDIBLE SOFTWARE # # ATTENTION EBAY and Bidders: Again this auction in no way infringes # on any copyrights at all and is not being sold for that purpose. # It is to be used to Backup DVDs ONLY !!! Backups may only be # made from the bidders collection only and cannot be shared,sold,or # distributed freely.

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