|
|
|
|
|
Federal Policy Program
|
 |
Washington Update
 Librarian of Congress Extends Certain Classes of Work Exemption from Prohibition on CircumventionCreated by Anna Gould (EDUCAUSE) on October 29, 2009
Librarian of Congress James Billington is extending on an interim basis an exemption from the prohibition on circumvention for certain classes of work. In other words, people are still allowed to circumvent technology protections for specific classes of work so long as they "engage in noninfringing uses." The Register of Copyrights, Marybeth Peters, is preparing a fourth triennial rulemaking proceeding in which she will issue recommendations on which classes of work are appropriate for the exemption. Originally, the three-year rule was to expire on October 27. The Register, however, was delayed in making her recommendations, so the Librarian extended the current policy. Effective October 28, the extention will remain active until the Register makes her recommendations and the Librarian of Congress issues final regulations. It is expected that final rules will be adopted in a few weeks.
Final HEOA Regulations Issued for P2P ProvisionsCreated by Steven Worona (EDUCAUSE) on October 29, 2009
Today, October 29, the Department of Education issued the final regulations related to Peer-to-Peer File Sharing on campus networks, which are unchanged from the proposed regulations posted August 21. The three primary requirements are thus now finalized:
Are we in the final throes of the net neutrality struggle?Created by Wendy Wigen (EDUCAUSE) on October 23, 2009
It is often felt that once an issue is memorialized on paper that the real discussion and debate is already over. This may or may not be the case with the Notice of Public Rule Making (NPRM) that the FCC released yesterday, but it does make one wonder. The Republican Commissioners and AT&T in particular, are acting like the fight has just begun… but has it? Google and Verizon made a joint statement that many areas of agreement exist, including the preservation of an “open” Internet. The old worn argument that all regulation is bad and stifles the market seems a bit foolish in the light of the recent melt down of Wall Street. As chairman Genachowski pointed out, historically, regulation has often worked to maintain competition and protect the consumer, thereby strengthening, not stifling, the market.
Social Media Cybersquatting: When your brand is threatened...Created by Anna Gould (EDUCAUSE) on October 22, 2009
ComputerWorld magazine has an interesting article this week (October 19 edition) regarding how social networks can pose a potential threat to an organization or institution's name. Quoting James Carnall of the security monitoring firm Cyveillance, social media cybersquatting is where domain name cybersquatting was ten years ago. And while institutions may contact YouTube or Facebook to complain and have counterfeit materials removed, just keeping up with the latest fraudulence can be an overwhelming task.
Net Neutrality and Managed Services: Your Expertise is Needed!Created by Wendy Wigen (EDUCAUSE) on October 14, 2009
With the FCC poised to vote up or down on opening a rule making proceeding on net neutrality, the old battle lines are being redrawn in the press and advocates and opponents are taking their respective and predictable positions. Meanwhile, in the background, and the back rooms, calm and hopefully constructive conversations are being held. Looking backward is usually only helpful to appreciate how much we’ve learned and advanced; despite the news reports, net neutrality is not the same issue it was in 2005 or 2006.
GOP Senators Express Net Neutrality Concerns to GenachowskiCreated by Anna Gould (EDUCAUSE) on October 14, 2009
Some Senate Republicans are asking FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski to tone down his net neutrality proposal. In a letter sent yesterday, eighteen Senators wrote that the suggested regulations would be "counterproductive and risk harming the great advancements in broadband speed and deployment." FCC Commissioners are expected to vote on this issue on October 22. If the rules pass, the public would have an opportunity to provide comments on them before the rules became permanent.
FCC Holds Public Workshop and Seeks Comments on CybersecurityCreated by Rodney J. Petersen (EDUCAUSE) on October 13, 2009
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held a Cyber Security and Broadband Workshop to examine the role of cybersecurity as it develops a National Broadband Plan. According to FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker, "Network security is the most critical issue facing our communications industry."
Where is telehealth and why is it taking so long to get here?Created by Wendy Wigen (EDUCAUSE) on October 13, 2009
The Broadband Breakfast Club sponsored an excellent dialogue this morning (October 13) on telehealth. Four doctors, one from the army, one from the veterans’ administration, one regarded as the “father of telehealth”, and one from Kaiser Permanente presented on what it is and why it is good. Since many of our member institutions have medical schools, I thought it would be a good place to learn something about broadband and its relationship to telehealth. What I learned:
NTIA Announces First State Broadband Mapping GrantsCreated by Anna Gould (EDUCAUSE) on October 7, 2009
After receiving applications from all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that it has awarded the first round of grants for broadband mapping. The grants are part of the NTIA's State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program, which aims to increase broadband accessibility "through better data collection and broadband planning." The first four grant recipients include: the California Public Utilities Commission, the Indiana Office of Technology, the Rural Economic Development Center (e-NC Authority), and the Vermont Center for Geographic Information.
6th Annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month Kicked-Off by Secretary of DHSCreated by Rodney J. Petersen (EDUCAUSE) on October 2, 2009
National Cyber Security Awareness Month was kicked-off on October 1st at an event held in Washington, D.C., attended by Secretary Napolitano from the Department of Homeland Security and other dignitaries. The event, orchestrated by the National Cyber Security Alliance, brought together partners from government, industry, and academia to declare their commitment to advancing safety and security in cyberspace.
21st Century Technology and Business Practices to be Subject of FTC Privacy RoundtablesCreated by Rodney J. Petersen (EDUCAUSE) on September 29, 2009
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced plans to hold three roundtables that will focus on consumer privacy issues. According to the announcement, the purpose of the series of roundtables are:
The Net Neutrality Debate Picks up Steam…Created by Wendy Wigen (EDUCAUSE) on September 28, 2009
There were two events on September 25 that demonstrated that the Net Neutrality debate is alive and well, revived by FCC Chairman Genachowski’s speech earlier in the week. The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) released a report, “Designed for Change: End-to-End Arguments, Internet Innovation, and the Net Neutrality Debate.” It was launched with the help of its primary author, network architect, Richard Bennett, along with well-known Internet experts Christopher Yoo, John Day, and economist William Lehr. As an argument against using the end-to-end principle as a reason for net neutrality legislation, I think the presentation and viewpoints were very convincing. But about half-way through the session I began to ask myself...
Broadband Coalition Releases its Progress Report to the FCCCreated by Wendy Wigen (EDUCAUSE) on September 25, 2009
The US Broadband Coalition presented its latest progress report to the FCC and to the public on September 24. EDUCAUSE has been a member of the coalition since its inception almost two years ago and has played an active role in both facilitating its work and contributing to its debate. The Coalition represents, above all else, an unprecedented effort to bring stakeholders in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) together to try and reach consensus on the myriad issues facing the development of such a proposal. Blair Levin, in charge of developing the FCC’s NBP, due to Congress in February 2010, had requested that the USBBC report be issued no later than October 1. But when Mr.
USA PATRIOT Act Back in the Spotlight, AgainCreated by Rodney J. Petersen (EDUCAUSE) on September 24, 2009
Three provisions of the PATRIOT Act set to expire at the end of this year have been the focus of recent hearings and intense policy debates. Critics were anxious to learn whether or not the Obama administration would support their renewal given the privacy and civil liberty concerns that have proven contentious in this piece of post 9-11 legislation. However, the administration told the Senate Judiciary Committee that it wants the provisions to be continued, although they are open to changes. The provisions set to expire include the so-called "roving wiretap" statute that allows government bugs on any phone used by the person being tapped, the broadening of law enforcement access to library and bookstore records, and the "lone-wolf" provision that applies to any non citizen suspected of engaging in or preparing for international terrorism who is not affiliated with a known terrorist group.
Cybersecurity R&D Needs More Focus and Better CoordinationCreated by Rodney J. Petersen (EDUCAUSE) on September 24, 2009
The House Science Research Subcommittee unanimously approved legislation this week that would support cybersecurity research and development. The bill would require the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the National Science Foundation to work together to develop a long-range research and development agenda that would authorize grants and scholarships for training in cybersecurity. Providing context to the committee's markup of the "Cybersecurity Research and Development Amendments Act of 2009", Chairman Daniel Lipinski (Dem., IL) remarked:
Net NeutralityCreated by Wendy Wigen (EDUCAUSE) on September 22, 2009
On Monday, September 21, before a full house at the esteemed Brookings Institute, the new Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission made a groundbreaking announcement regarding net neutrality. Chairman Julius Genachowski had announced his support of net neutrality early in his nomination process last Spring; but his speech yesterday made it clear that he is not only a serious advocate but that he has the will to push through new rules at the Commission. The announcement proposed turning the FCC’s existing four net neutrality principles into rules (which can be clearly enforced by the Commission) and adding two new rules; one rule would prohibit broadband providers from engaging in discriminatory online behavior; the second rule would require broadband operators to be transparent about their network management practices.
Report Card Gives Obama Administration Mixed Reviews on Privacy and SecurityCreated by Rodney J. Petersen (EDUCAUSE) on September 22, 2009
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) released its Privacy Report Card for the Obama Administration with the following results:
EPIC's grades were based on a review of the Administration's privacy initiatives. EPIC cited the vacancies on the Federal Trade Commission, the continuation of the Bush Administration's policies on the use of the "state's secrets privilege," the Department of Homeland Security's support for PASS ID, and privacy exemptions for social networking services as areas where the Administration has failed to protect privacy. According to the report card:
CDT: Looking at the Remaining Months of the 111th Congress' First SessionCreated by Anna Gould (EDUCAUSE) on September 16, 2009
Yesterday the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) held a briefing to discuss what issues are likely to receive some attention in the remaining months of this Congress' first session. While President Leslie Harris declined to make any predictions about the future, she said opportunities to insert policy into "must-pass" legislation, like appropriations bills, may arise. With health care reform taking up legislators' time, extending the session into November and December is very likely at this point. At the very least, the added time may help legislators move priorities into line so they are ready for action in the second session of the 111th Congress.
Notes from the Broadband Breakfast ClubCreated by Wendy Wigen (EDUCAUSE) on September 16, 2009
It was enough to send shivers down the spine. On September 15, at a breakfast gathering sponsored by Broadband Census, Comcast Senior Vice President, Joe Waz, declared that the government got it “exactly right” in the current broadband stimulus program. Waz was referring specifically to the focus on getting broadband to the last 8% that remain “unserved”, and to stimulating adoption overall. Joanne Hovis, President-elect of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors countered the Waz statement by pointing out that much of the reason cable now reaches 92% of the population is that local governments mandated that carriers provide service to un-profitable as well as profitable regions in exchange for their franchises. She also called for lowering the barriers for municipalities to provide broadband services to fill the gaps left by commercial providers.
What needs to be changed in the next round of BTOP/BIT?Created by Wendy Wigen (EDUCAUSE) on September 15, 2009
On September 10 the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet held its second in a series of oversight hearings of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Despite the title, the hearing focused specifically on how the $7.2 billion BTOP/BIT program for stimulating broadband deployment was proceeding. Chairman Rick Boucher (D-Va) led off with a now familiar refrain that the requirement that a community be “remote” (defined as 50 miles from a city of at least 20,000) is too restrictive and in fact would eliminate most of the Eastern U.S. from eligibility for the most generous grants; Rep. Eshoo (D- Calif) and Rep. Matsui (D-Calif) asked if networks connecting anchor institutions should be given higher priority, and Republicans want the program to favor states that have completed their broadband mapping.
"Policy@EDU": Larry Clinton on Higher Education's Role in CybersecurityCreated by Anna Gould (EDUCAUSE) on September 11, 2009
The September/October edition of EDUCAUSE Review focuses on an issue that is of great concern to the higher education community: cybersecurity. Internet Security Alliance CEO and President Larry Clinton discusses the Obama Administration's Cyberspace Policy Review in the latest "Policy@EDU" column. The Administration's document, which was released in May 2009, identifies security challenges and urges government, industry, and higher education to work together in addressing the issues. Clinton writes that "no less than five of the twenty-four specific items laid out in the near- and mid-term action plans ... relate specifically to the education community."
EDUCAUSE Responds to FCC’s Request for Information Regarding BroadbandCreated by Wendy Wigen (EDUCAUSE) on September 10, 2009
In an effort to keep our message in front of the Federal Communications Commission, EDUCAUSE, as part of the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) recently filed in two separate proceedings. On September 4 and September 8, comments were filed to re-emphasize the need for anchor institutions, such as colleges and universities, to have access to affordable, very high-capacity broadband to achieve their missions. Taken together, the main points of the comments were:
Internet Caucus Advisory Committee Releases Podcast Recordings from August 5 "State of the Net" ConferenceCreated by Anna Gould (EDUCAUSE) on September 8, 2009
The Advisory Committee to the Congressional Internet Caucus released audio coverage of their recent 2009 State of the Net West Conference, which was held on Santa Clara, California on August 5. The conference was held in conjunction with the High Tech Law Institute of Santa Clara University. Featured guests included White House Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra and three congressional Members from the House of Representatives, Rick Boucher, Zoe Lofgren, and Bob Goodlatte. The four recorded segments are listed below: 1) Innovation Agenda: U.S. Representative Bob Goodlatte joins discussion with AnnaLee Saxenian of UC-Berkeley, Keith Wolfe of Google, and Pratheepan (Deep) Gulasekaram of the Santa Clara University School of Law. 2) White House Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra addresses conference attendees.
Plans for Increasing Security of .EDU Domain Announced TodayCreated by Anna Gould (EDUCAUSE) on September 3, 2009
EDUCAUSE and VeriSign announced that they are partnering in a project aimed at improving security and reliability within the .edu domain. It is expected that they will deploy a new security system, known as Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), by late March 2010. EDUCAUSE currently manages the .edu domain under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Universal broadband: when and for how much?Created by Wendy Wigen (EDUCAUSE) on September 1, 2009
If current broadband adoption trends continue in the United States, we will achieve 99% penetration of broadband by 2016. But there is a catch. The Internet is changing. New video-based content demands bandwidth levels that will require upward of a $300 billion investment in improved infrastructure. Assuming we want to meet this demand, who is going to pay? That was the thesis upon which the study, “Towards Universal Broadband: Flexible Broadband Pricing and the Digital Divide” is based. On September 1, Dr. Robert Shapiro introduced this new study (co-authored by Dr. Kevin Hassett) with a straightforward discussion of their research findings. In order to achieve ubiquitous broadband adoption, disparities caused by race, geography and household income must be eliminated. Yet, the price increases that are necessary to pay for new infrastructure only exacerbate this digital divide.
|
 |
 |
 |
||
| Unless otherwise noted, EDUCAUSE holds the copyright on all materials published by the association, whether in print or electronic form. In certain cases the work remains the intellectual property of the individual author(s) (see Special Circumstances). Content from conference speeches, presentations, blogs, wikis and feeds reflect the opinions of the author, and not necessarily those of EDUCAUSE or its members. | |||
