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Cisco Hires New DC Lobbyist
by Bara Vaida
Cisco Systems has hired Jeff Campbell, currently director and associate general counsel of federal government affairs for Compaq Computer, as its newest Washington, D.C., lobbyist. Campbell will replace Bruce Mehlman, who left Cisco in late spring to become the Commerce Department's assistant secretary of technology. Campbell's new position at Cisco will be senior technology policy counsel. He will work closely with Michael Timmeny, who is head of Cisco's D.C. office. Campbell has worked at Compaq since 1995 and has worked at a number of law firms.
Autodesk's Bartz on Bush
Autodesk CEO Carol Bartz, who was in Washington last week for the Business Software Alliance (BSA) technology forum, said one of the biggest differences between a George W. Bush White House and a Bill Clinton White House is that meetings are on time and organized.
"Clinton by virtue was an energy machine," Bartz said in an interview with National Journal's Technology Daily. "He had a lot of charisma, and that covered up a lot of inefficiency. I always thought he ran a sloppy shop. This [administration] feels much more like a business to me. People were briefed; they were on time, to the point, serious, but still enthusiastic."
About a dozen BSA CEOs met with Vice President Richard Cheney, White House Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, Commerce Secretary Donald Evans, Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Attorney General John Ashcroft last week to discuss high-tech issues.
But just because Bartz is a fan of Bush's does not mean she is not also a fan of Democrats. Like many in Silicon Valley, Bartz supported both Republican and Democratic candidates in the 2000 election, and she professed to strongly dislike partisan politics.
When asked if last Thursday's House vote on a high-tech priority -- presidential trade-negotiating authority -- was going to lead high-tech officials to support Republicans over Democrats Bartz said, "This partisan business is nonsense. ... I am sick of sitting in meetings and dinners with members from both sides who spend the time bashing each other. ... I walk away from that."
Bartz, who talked to Technology Daily the day before the House's vote, said Silicon Valley Democratic Rep. Anna Eshoo was "fabulous," even though she ultimately voted against the trade-negotiating authority. "I'll be calling her personally to talk to her about it, but one issue doesn't make her a bad person. She must have a reason [for the vote], and I want to hear about it." In a floor statement, Eshoo said she believed the House should have voted on providing relief to unemployed workers before the trade-negotiating legislation.
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., has said he hopes the trade vote, which most Democrats voted against, will trigger a waning in tech-sector support for Democratic candidates.
Symantec Executive Talks Security
Symantec CEO John Thompson also was in town for the BSA meeting, and he, too, thought the meetings with the Bush administration were productive. Symantec, which makes security products, has been working closely with Richard Clarke, director of White House Office of Cyberspace Security, on ways to boost the nation's critical infrastructure.
He said that while some people in the high-tech industry were skeptical of Clarke when he first started to work on cyber security in the Clinton administration, Clarke since has garnered trust within the industry. During a speech last week, Clarke urged Internet service providers (ISPs) to do more to scan for viruses on their networks and to watch more carefully for illegal activity on the Internet -- points that resonated with Thompson.
"ISPs need to take more responsibility," Thompson said. "Their focus so far has been on building their customer base, but you can have a logical business model in also providing security."
Surprisingly, Thompson said the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have not caused an outpouring in demand for computer-security products. He said the recession continues to hold down company spending on information technology products, but he thinks in the long term, terrorism has made more companies aware of the need for security. "I don't think in the short term, we have seen an appreciable upturn [in sales], but in the long term ... I think we'll do well," Thompson said.
Cerf's Earthly Pleasures
After speaking on the lofty subject of an interplanetary Internet being worked on by government scientists, Vinton Cerf, one of the founders of the Internet and senior vice president at WorldCom, was asked about more earthly matters. His biography says his personal interests include fine wine, gourmet cooking and science fiction, so a reporter asked if he has a wine recommendation and a favorite dish he likes to prepare.
Turns out Cerf's favorite wine is a 1970 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, which still can be found at select Washington restaurants. "I think the Four Seasons Hotel has a magnum with my name on it," Cerf said. His favorite dish is duck l'orange.
Asked by another report for the name of the best wine under $25, Cerf recommended the products of Australian vintner Peter Lehmann, especially the shiraz, the cabernet or the Stonewell blend. Anyone thirsty?
Harman Is A Techie, Survey Finds
Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., who is co-chairing a House panel on homeland security, was the only representative in her state that used video teleconferences to stay in touch with constituents after anthrax shut down Capitol Hill in mid-October, according to a study conducted by FutureU, a research and training firm that specializes in using information technology for communications.
The firm commissioned a telephone survey of all California representatives and found that 86 percent of them said they never or hardly ever use video technology. About 40 percent of offices said they had not noticed any increase in the use of e-mail, and only a third said they are sharing more documents electronically than in paper form.
Harman's office reported a 100 percent increase in weekly e-mails. "When our constituents call, we encourage them to use e-mail," said Harman spokeswoman Ellia Thompson.
Back On Familiar Ground
Dianne Sullivan, who was the manager of international trade policy for Hewlett-Packard and chaired the High-Tech Coalition on China before she was laid off earlier this year, has joined the American Council of Life Insurers as assistant vice president of federal relations for tax and trade, The Washington Post reported.
Previously, Sullivan managed tax and trade issues for Robert Matsui, D-Calif., on the House Ways and Means Committee.
Kantor Takes Trade Assignment
Fleishman-Hillard announced that former U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor, has joined the company's International Advisory Board. In that role, he will help the firm's board analyze trade and commerce issues from a regulatory, political and private-sector perspective.
INS' Shake-Up Man
The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has named Richard Cravener, as director of the Office of INS Restructuring. Most recently, Cravener was the district director of the INS' Houston district office.
Restructuring the INS has been one of INS Commissioner James Ziglar's top priorities, and plans for the final structure of the agency have been submitted to Congress, the INS said in a statement. With congressional approval, the restructuring will occur over the next three years.
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