 | |
| |
TechnologyDaily Mobile
Techies Mixed Over Presidential Candidates
Two presidential polls show information technology professionals have mixed support for presidential candidates Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush. Metricnet.com, a Web site for IT managers and programmers, found that 50 percent of the 14,500 who voted online, would prefer Vice President Gore as president, while 38 percent said they would support Texas Governor Bush. That contrasts with recent national polls that show the candidates in a virtual dead heat. Metricnet members also tagged tax reform, Internet regulation, privacy and digital divide issues as the top IT election issues for this year. Education was rated as the top national policy issue for the election. A second poll, sponsored by CIO Magazine, found that 48 percent of 210 of IT executives said they intend to vote for Bush, while 38 percent said they'd vote for Gore, according to The New York Times.
Labor Secretary Alexis Herman and more than 25 high-tech business executives who are members of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) met Monday to discuss ways in which to strengthen ties between the industry and the Labor Department and to help grow the high-tech workforce. "An information economy needs a fully prepared high tech workforce," said ITAA President Harris Miller. "This partnership is an important step in that direction because it creates an unprecedented channel for communication between government and industry." Under the terms of the partnership, ITAA will help Labor officials better understand industry's workforce needs. At the same time, ITAA will undertake a series of activities to explain the importance of Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) to high-tech employers. WIBs are community-based, public-private organizations created to bolster the skills base of local economies. ITAA also will also conduct a series of regional seminars, host a national Webcast, and develop a case study of a model WIBs that have successfully engaged IT employers in a particular region.
Brian Fonts, senior vice president for law and regulatory policy, will be leaving Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) mid-November to head-up the Washington office for Cingular Wireless — a wireless service created from a merger between SBC Wireless and Bell South. "It is a great opportunity for Brian. It is a serious loss to CTIA, but one in which we support Brian entirely and are happy for him. He deserves it," said CTIA president Tom Wheeler. "His leadership will be important to the future success of our largest members." Meanwhile, after its board meeting last week in Santa Clara, CA, CTIA announced that it will merge with the Wireless Data Forum in an effort to address the convergence of cellular phone use with the wireless Internet. The organization will change its name to the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association.
California Democratic Gov. Gray Davis on Monday visited one of the state's new charter high-tech high schools in San Diego to promote his plan for improving education. "A new global economy has emerged that is fast-paced and information-based," said Davis in a news release. "As our economy changes, our public schools must change with it." High Tech High, housed at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, opened its doors in September and enrolled its inaugural class of 200 students from 1,000 local applicants; all had an elevated interest in technology and academics. Eventually the public charter school will enroll up to 600 students, each professionally dressed and "working" from a personal desk — much like an office cubicle — with a customized learning plan. Davis committed $1 million for High Tech High and made record investments in classroom technology, including $175 million for new computers; $188 million to complete the Digital High School initiative and $50 million to connect school districts to the University of California's Internet2 in the state budget. A $425 million block grant also is available to increase classroom technology in high schools.
Commerce Secretary Norman Mineta toured the West Coast last week as part of the department's ongoing program to close the digital divide. While speaking in Seattle, Mineta highlighted Commerce's "Falling Through the Net" report which showed that 20 percent gap between Caucasian and minority Internet users. "It is clear to me that digital inclusion for all is an achievable goal, but it will take government working closely with communities, corporations, schools, and nonprofit organizations to address this challenge," said Mineta in a speech. In a separate address, he also discussed Commerce's new Web site, export.gov, which is aimed at helping small and medium-sized businesses tap into information about government export regulations. Mineta also traveled to Oakland, CA, San Francisco and Santa Fe, NM.
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates spoke about his foundation's efforts to close the digital divide last week at the Digital Dividends conference in Seattle. Gates said his foundation is devoting about 30 percent of its funds to ensure that every library has top-notch software for children to use. "We've gotten far enough that we need to think about computing and access to computing in the same way we've thought about literacy, say, 100 years ago," Gates said in his speech. Gates noted that libraries, along with schools, have helped to close the literacy gap and those same institutions will play a crucial role in closing the digital divide. "If you give people tools, their natural ability, their curiosity, they will develop it in ways that will surprise you very much beyond what you might have expected," Gates said.
The Progress and Freedom Foundation (PFF) recruited 15 communications experts to serve on its Communications Policy Advisory Committee. As committee members, they will help shape PFF's recommendations on how best to reform the Federal Communications Commission and complete the process of deregulating the telecommunications marketplace. Those recommendations will be made public at a PFF conference on Dec. 8. Committee members include Wilkenson Barker & Knauer partner Lauren "Pete" Belvin, 21st Century Group CEO and former Rep. Jack Fields, R-TX, Competitive Enterprise Institute vice president for policy and management James Gattuso, George Mason University law professor Ernest Gellhorn, Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering partner C. Boyden Gray, Manhattan Institute senior fellow Peter Huber, Cornell University economics professor Alfred Kahn, Citizens for Sound Economy Counsel James C. Miller III, George Mason University law professor Timothy Muris, Cato Institute Chairman William Niskanen, Columbia Institute for Tele-Information Director and finance professor Eli Noam, O'Connor & Hannan partner and former Sen. Larry Pressler, R-SD, Heritage Foundation Walker Fellow in Economic Policy Adam Thierer, and Wiley, Rein & Fielding partner and former FCC Chair Richard Wiley.
America Online Latin America said it named Osvaldo Setuain as president and CEO of AOL Argentina. Setuain is to run AOL's operations in Argentina, where the localized AOL service launched in August has become one of the fastest growing interactive services in the country. Setuain comes to AOL Argentina with more than 15 years of senior management experience developing consumer products and building brand recognition. Prior to joining AOL Argentina, Setuain was Vice President of Operations for Wal-Mart International, where he was part of the management team assembled in 1998 to consolidate and accelerate Wal-Mart's international expansion in Latin America. Setuain also worked for PepsiCo for 10 years in a variety of key positions in the international section of the Restaurant Division, including Vice President of Operations for KFC's international business.
FCC Chairman William Kennard appointed Nancy Nathanson, Eugene, OR, city council member, to fill a vacancy on the agency's Local and State Government Advisory Committee (LSGAC). The LSGAC is comprised of elected and appointed officials of municipal, county, state and tribal governments. It provides advice and information to the FCC on key issues relevant to the LSGAC, including public rights-of-way, facilities siting, universal service, and removal of barriers to competitive entry and public safety communications.
Manatt Phelps & Phillips attorney Ronald Turovsky is representing high-tech political action committee pac.com, in its request for an opinion by the Federal Election Commission to determine how to value campaign donations to its PAC. The PAC, started by a number of high-tech executives, including Red Gorilla Vice President of Development Wade Randlett and E-Loan founder Chris Larson, receives contributions in the form of cash, as well as publicly traded shares of companies and shares of non-traded companies.
Justice Department Acting Assistant Attorney General of Antitrust Douglas Melamed discussed the impact of globalization on antitrust law last week and urged countries to develop an international antitrust standard to review multinational mergers and joint ventures. "We need to ensure that antitrust works effectively and efficiently in the global economy," Melamed said in a speech at Fordham University on Oct. 19. "Enforcement coherence cannot be defined and decreed, once and for all, by the U.S. or anyone else. Rather, it must come from a shared understanding by antitrust enforcers in a wide variety of countries. Failure in this endeavor risks not only needless burdens on businesses and suboptimal antitrust enforcement, but also the international politicization of antitrust disputes." He suggested the antitrust issues be worked out through the WTO, through bilateral discussions, through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or through a global competition initiative.
Youth-e-Vote.net, a national online student mock election for K-12 students, has logged more than 209,000 votes since the virtual polls opened Monday morning, exceeding all previous online election turnouts. Election.com is the pro bono technology sponsor of the project, managing the online registration and voting process. Hundreds of thousands of students are expected to participate over the next 10 days, not only selecting their choice for president, but also sounding off on key issues relevant to America's youth and voting for governor and senators. Final results will be announced the evening of Nov. 2 with a real-time tally on CNN.
 | - by Bara Vaida |
NEW FEATURE
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
