Cyber Security
Tech Industry Hopeful After Naming Of Cyber Czar
     The Homeland Security Department this week announced its selection of a cyber-security chief, and industry groups that had awaited the decision for 14 months applauded the appointing of Greg Garcia to the post. Garcia has been the vice president for information security programs at the Information Technology Association of America since 2003 and was on the majority staff of the House Science Committee. "Greg brings a wealth of knowledge to the government's cyber-security program, as well as a deep understanding of policy and the know-how to get things accomplished in Washington," Business Software Alliance President and CEO Robert Holleyman said. Paul Kurtz, executive director of the Cyber Security Industry Alliance, called the hiring "a very important step forward for the department." Garcia, still at ITAA, was not available for comment on the new post.

Telecom
Sen. Stevens Vows To Move His Bill After Election
     Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens vowed to move his telecommunications bill during a post-election congressional session. But he acknowledged to reporters that he is still "a few votes short" of the 60 needed to limit floor debate. "I've got a few disciples out there that are talking to those people," the Alaska Republican quipped. Stevens said he "absolutely" would not consider attaching his bill to spending measures. He also vowed not to break his legislation into smaller measures. The senator conceded, however, that if there is an electoral "sea change" in November, his bill is effectively dead. "Nothing happens after a sea change," he said. A day earlier, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., told technology company leaders that the bill could see floor action in a lame-duck session.

Porn
Senator Wants New Federal Review Of Child Porn
     Two decades ago, long before the Internet era began, a federal panel recommended ways to combat child pornography. Now the Web has made child porn far more abundant and easier to obtain, and at least one senator thinks it is time to rethink how the government can fight it. "Isn't it time that we revisit an attorney general's commission?" Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Bennett suggested a "careful review of what has happened over the last 20 years." Gonzales did not say whether he supports creating a new commission but said changes in technology since the recommendations of officials in the Reagan era have been "unbelievable." The issue surfaced at one of two Senate hearings on child porn. At the other hearing, federal and local law enforcers outlined their ongoing efforts and shared ideas on how the government could help law enforcers. A House panel also held a hearing on the topic.

Net Governance
Critic Calls Internet Body The FCC Of The Web
     The nonprofit that manages the Internet-addressing system has "morphed into what nobody wanted," a media watchdog told lawmakers. He called the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers the Web equivalent to the FCC. ICANN has repeated "every mistake ever made by the FCC in its 70-plus years of history -- on Internet time," Harold Feld, senior vice president of the Media Access Project, said at a joint hearing of two House Energy and Commerce subcommittees. The eight-year-old ICANN, which was the topic of a similar Senate hearing a day earlier, has been routinely criticized for being inefficient and lacking transparency. An agreement that retains Commerce Department oversight of ICANN is expected to be renewed soon. National Telecommunications and Information Administration chief John Kneuer would not give details about the pending agreement or the potential length of it.

Courts
Lawmakers Weigh Changes To Court In Tech Region
     The Senate Judiciary Committee weighed a proposal to restructure the nation's largest federal appeals court, whose rulings on some high-profile technology and telecommunications cases have created considerable controversy. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has 28 active judgeships, has been slammed for being politically liberal and incongruent with Supreme Court precedent. The court infamously ruled that online file-sharing programs were not responsible for how people used the software -- an edict that the Supreme Court vacated last year. It also balked at an FCC decision that operators of cable-based, high-speed Internet service provide both telecom and information services. The Supreme Court disagreed. But Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said at the hearing that under a reorganized system, intellectual property law prevailing in Silicon Valley and the Seattle technology corridor may vary.

Lobbying
New Firm Puts Spotlight On Tech Lobbying Presence
     A new stand-alone lobbying company for the technology industry may be a sign that the sector is growing in Washington or another example of lobbying companies bringing in Democrats -- or perhaps a little of both. The firm, Meridian Hill, will counsel the tech sector on government relations. Former TechNet Vice President Alix Burns will lead the office. She spent five years in Silicon Valley and formerly worked on the 2000 presidential campaign of Democrat Al Gore. "If the margin is one or two or the Democrats take over [Congress next year], bringing Alix in now is something we feel really good about," one observer said. In business, tech companies have succeeded by building better products and letting the innovation speak in the marketplace. That strategy has not necessarily worked in Washington. "But this move shows there is a market out there for more investment from tech companies in Washington," one industry lobbyist said.

E-Government
Court Will Allow Florida Ballot Initiative On E-Voting
     A group of voting-rights activists in Florida has succeeded in ensuring that a petition mandating paper-verifiable electronic votes will be on the ballot in their county this November. A state circuit judge ruled that an initiative to require that Sarasota County require paper receipts for e-votes is legal. The decision paves the way for voters to decide the issue for themselves this fall. The Sarasota Alliance for Fair Elections filed the petition, which was opposed by state and county election officials. Warren Stewart, director of legislative issues at the nationwide group VoteTrustUSA, said there has been talk of a push for a similar ballot initiative in Ohio, but Sarasota is the only place to succeed thus far. Also this week, e-voting woes in Maryland prompted Gov. Robert Ehrlich to advocate a return to paper ballot for the November election.

Culture
Internet Fans Celebrate First Holiday For The Web
     Web pioneers, lawmakers, scholars and computer enthusiasts around the globe on Friday are celebrating the first-ever global holiday for the Internet. The main festivities for "One Web Day" are in New York, and it will be highlighted by the launch of a free wireless Internet network at a public park. Events also are planned in Austin, Texas; Boston; Champaign-Urbana, Ill.; Chicago; Los Angeles; San Francisco and Westport, Conn. International supporters so far have scheduled celebrations in Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Italy, Japan, the Philippines, Serbia and the United Kingdom. "The Internet is under-hyped," said Meetup and Fotolog founder Scott Heiferman. "It'll only continue to reshape lives across the globe. Surely it deserves a day."