 | |
| |
TechnologyDaily Mobile
Lieberman Addresses Online Child Protections; Lawmakers Push To Launch E-Government
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-CT, coming from a Capitol Hill meeting of Democratic senators and "The Lexus and the Olive Tree" author Thomas Friedman, relayed the author's insight on how the Internet impacts children to the Child Online Protection Act Commission Thursday. Friedman's book is often quoted by those in the Internet industry and policymakers for its examination of technology and globalization. Lieberman said Friedman told him that the two most common questions he's encountered on his book tour are about how children can be protected while online and whether there is God and morality in cyberspace. The senator also said Friedman explained that while growing up in a small town it took hours to get anywhere before he could get into serious trouble. But Lieberman said the Internet now brings outside dangers closer to children. "Now my kids are one second away from places that always existed but were harder to get to. So how do we balance the two? How do we meet the age-old challenge of giving our children values and arming and preparing our children to make choices" on the Internet, Lieberman said. COPA has mandated a commission to look at ways to help parents keep adult material away from kids. Including creating an Internet "zone" through a top-level-domain for such material. At the hearing, critics argued that such an option would violate First Amendment laws.
When Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Fred Thompson, R-TN, recently launched an E-Government project with Sen. Lieberman, inviting Internet users to make suggestions and help them write legislation on the issue, Thompson joked about how he had to have his staff teach him how to use the Internet. When asked later what he'd learned so far, Thompson said he doesn't surf the Web often, but uses it to check sports scores in his local Tennessee papers.
The Business Software Alliance honored Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-LA, and Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-CA, for their support of high-tech policy. "Representatives Tauzin and Tauscher have demonstrated enormous skill and leadership on high-tech policy issues, and their continued efforts help to ensure that the U.S. high-tech industry maintains its status as a global leader," said Greg Bentley, president of Bentley Systems who presented the "Cyber Champion" award to the members. BSA praised Tauzin for his key support on encryption reform and copyright protection. Tauscher was honored for her support of encryption legislation, copyright protection and her vote in support of permanent normal trade relations with China.
Washington, DC, may be a "new kid on the block" when it comes to the technological revolution, but the nation's capital will soon become a leading tech center for the United States and the World, said a DC government official last week. During the GlobeTech conference hosted by the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance, El Chino Martin, chief of staff for the deputy mayor for planning and economic development, said DC Mayor Anthony Williams' initiatives such as the DC Alliance, which is a partnership between the city's government and online firms including Blackboard.com and VarsityBooks.com. "The seat of government provides a rich source of content for the Web, and we've got well-skilled workers," Martin said. CATA, an alliance of Canadian new economy companies, also presented Public Sector Leadership awards to Michael Harris, premier of Ontario, and Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore. Virginia Secretary of Technology Donald Upson accepted the award for Gilmore, who was in Japan.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-TX, has hired Ron Eritano to become his new legislative assistant for technology, banking and international relations issues. Before joining Doggett's staff, Eritano spent two years as a legislative correspondent for Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ, who is retiring at the end of his term this year. "I'm not what you'd call a computer guy," Eritano said, but he anticipates expanding his grasp of technology. Doggett is co-chair, along with Rep. David Wu, D-OR, of the House Information Technology Working Group — a forum for lawmakers to learn about tech issues.
Victor Klatt left the House Education and Workforce Committee to become a vice president with lobbying firm Van Scoyoc Associates. With the prospects for reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act hovering at slim to non-existent, Klatt, the committee's education policy coordinator, said he "wanted to get the clock ticking as soon as possible." He plans to expand Van Scoyock's education practice to include more issues affecting elementary and secondary education and to recruit more state and local clients. Education is among the top issues of importance to the high-tech industry.
The Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research group that tracks the effect of money on elections and public policy, has named Steven Weiss as its communications director. Weiss came from the Washington, DC-based Council for Advancement and Support of Education where he was the online and media relations director for the past two and a half years. He handled communications strategies, wrote Flashpoints, the council's newsletter for colleges and private secondary schools, and administered a media fellowship program. Weiss also has put in three years on Capitol Hill, first as deputy press secretary to Sen. Bob Graham, D-FL, and then as press secretary for a year and a half to Rep. Bob Filner, D-CA.
Seth Harris, counselor to Labor Secretary Alexis Herman and developer of the e-laws service on Labor's Web site, is leaving the department to become an associate professor at New York Law School in Manhattan. The E-laws service offered advice on labor questions.
Peter Orvetti has been named editor of Web White & Blue, a nonpartisan site that aims to host a month-long "cyber-debate" between the two leading presidential candidates in October. Orvetti previously worked as associate editor at National Journal's Technology Daily and for the Cato Institute. As editor, Orvetti will be responsible for managing the day-to-day publication of Web White & Blue.
 | - by Bara Vaida |
NEW FEATURE
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
