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Techies Urge Reopening Of Airport
by Liza Porteus
Members of the Washington area's technology and business communities are lobbying for the reopening of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the only airport in the country that remains closed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
National is still being surveyed to see if it can provide enough security to passengers and surrounding areas. Sen. George Allen, R-Va., has sent letters to Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle, D-S.D., and Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., urging them not to allow Congress to recess until a reopening date is confirmed.
Last week, Allen participated in a meeting on the issue with other federal and state lawmakers and representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration. Tim Hugo, director of the Washington region's high-tech lobbying group CapNet, attended that meeting.
Allen "wanted to ensure there was at least one tech contingent" at the meeting, said an Allen spokesman. "The senator is trying to be very cognizant of the tech factor."
Although some industry groups are not backing formal efforts to reopen the airport, Hugo said CapNet members -- which include officials from AT&T, Covad Communications, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Microsoft -- have daily conference calls with each other and lawmakers. CapNet also joined the local chambers of commerce in Virginia, Maryland and the District, the Technology Council of Maryland, Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and others in sponsoring full-page newspaper ads urging the reopening of the airport.
"It's important for the tech community nationally, and obviously regionally, that National Airport be opened very quickly," Hugo said. Keeping the hub closed will bring a "severe economic downturn in this region that will ripple through the economy."
While the banks of the Potomac River currently house monuments paying tribute to historical figures like former presidents Thomas Jefferson and Abe Lincoln, "what we don't want, is to create a monument to terrorism on the Potomac," Hugo said, "and that's what will happen if we close National."
Survey Shows Gains In Student Net Access
A survey released Sept. 21 by the California Technology Assistance Project reveals that California has made great progress in providing educational technology in the past year.
Among other things, the survey found that: 90 percent of state schools are connected to the Internet, compared with 80 percent in 2000; 93 percent of all high schools are connected, and that number is expected to reach 99 percent as schools complete their Digital High School installations over the next year; and 77 percent of classrooms are online, compared with only 58 percent in 2000.
The state's $175 million Technology Assistance Project gives grants to high schools to purchase computers. Since Gov. Gray Davis took office, the Digital High School program has allocated more than $200 million, or an estimated $300 per student. The Digital California Project provides $32 million per year to expand high-speed access to every county.
Miami-Dade Bans Cell Phones While Driving
The Miami-Dade County Commission in Florida adopted an ordinance Tuesday banning the use of cell phones by drivers unless they are using a hands-free device, reports The Miami Herald. Slated to take effect in October 2002, the ordinance sets a precedent that industry executives fear could spark a trend toward regulation around the country.
"The industry at this time is terribly disappointed," said lobbyist Brian May, whose firm was hired by a coalition of cell-phone carriers including AT&T Wireless, Cingular, Nextel, Sprint, Verizon and VoiceStream. Wireless executives vowed to try to overturn the ordinance.
Under the law, motorists could be fined $250 for the first offense or have the fine waived if they take a driver-improvement course. Second and subsequent offenses will result $500 fines. Police will give motorists a warning during the first 30 days after the ordinance takes effect.
New York passed a similar law this year.
Illinois School Combats Piracy
An Illinois school has agreed to pay $50,000 to the Business Software Alliance (BSA) after discovering that a former employee copied software onto school computers illegally, according to eSchool News.
The school board for Community Unit School District 300 in Carpentersville, Ill., on Sept. 10 voted to pay BSA after discovering that a former employee at Jacobs High School -- who has since resigned -- illegally copied Adobe's Acrobat software onto several desktop machines used by administrators. According to Superintendent Ken Arndt, the employee also illegally copied versions of Microsoft software onto the district's computers.
Medina To Head Digital Divide Council
Manuel Medina, CEO of the Internet infrastructure service company Terremark Worldwide, was elected chairman of Florida's newly created Digital Divide Council at the group's first meeting Sept. 10.
State policymakers created the council this year to try to ensure that Florida citizens have the opportunities to access information technology and obtain the education and training necessary for high-skill, high-wage employment. The council is required to establish pilot programs in at least six different areas of the state.
Wisconsin Gets First CIO
Wisconsin Gov. Scott McCallum this week announced the appointment of Rebecca Heidepriem as the state's first chief information officer (CIO) and secretary of the new Electronic Government Department. "It is my intent to lead Wisconsin's march forward to the cutting edge of technology," McCallum said Tuesday.
Heidepriem is a 19-year veteran of Xerox. The state legislature approved the governor's proposal for a new e-government focus and created the CIO position this year. Heidepriem's focus will be the establishment of a long-term strategy that allows for better management of technology investments, improved information management and more efficient electronic services to citizens. The state currently spends about $350 million annually on technology.
Gilmore Recognizes Virginia's Tech Achievements
Virginia Gov. James Gilmore this week announced that WorldCom and the Virginia Health Care Foundation won the industry category for information technology awards honoring outstanding technology achievements throughout the state.
The other winners were: the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for state government; Henrico County and Virginia Beach public schools for K-12 education; the cities of Virginia Beach, Hampton and Charlottesville for local government; and the University of Virginia for higher education.
Sundquist Picks New Chief Of Staff
Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist last week announced that a man with ties to the state's technology community will become Sundquist's new chief of staff.
Alex Fischer, currently commissioner of the state's Economic and Community Development Department, will succeed Wendell Moore. Fisher previously was the director of planning for the nonprofit Tennessee Technology Foundation, and he founded Technology 2020, a public-private telecommunications partnership.
In other Tennessee news, Sundquist signed into law the following tech-related measures:
- S.B. 1722, which authorizes the state to participate in multi-state talks on simplifying state sales-tax systems.
- S.B. 0376, which enacts the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, thus authorizing the use of e-signatures in the state.
- S.B. 0043, which extends the life of the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation until June 30, 2007. The corporation seeks to give the state's tech community entrepreneurial support and access to capital. It also tries to connect people in the industry.
- S.B. 0121, which extends the life of the Tennessee Science and Technology Council until June 30, 2005. The council advises the governor and the state legislature on economic opportunities related to science and technology. It helped create the Tennessee Development Corporation.
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