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States Fall Into E-Cycling
by Liza Porteus
For Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, fall means the beginning of an electronics recycling campaign aimed at uniting electronics manufacturers, recyclers, waste transporters and local, state and federal governments to evaluate different models of collecting and recycling old technology.
Joined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), each state will have five or six counties collect electronics equipment from residences, small businesses and small government offices for refurbishment and recycling. The yearlong pilot phase of the program will allow the states to complete the infrastructure for a sustainable collection and recycling program for computers, televisions, telephones and other equipment.
In Maryland, outdated computers and old televisions account for 150,000 tons of waste annually, based on EPA estimates. Additionally, obsolete electronics contain elements such as lead, mercury and arsenic that pose environmental and health threats.
Virginia Gov. James Gilmore this week announced that his state was joining the effort. "This program is a primary example of the approach we are taking in Virginia to work cooperatively with businesses to encourage environmental responsibility," Gilmore said.
Virginia also announced the "Are You Plugged In?" program, which provides a central location for citizens, businesses and industry to find information on electronics recycling, Virginia regulations, and environmentally friendly design and manufacturing, among other topics.
Governors Donate To EBay Charity Auction
Governors are donating items to eBay's "Auction for America," an online charity effort to raise money to benefit the people personally affected by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner donated a framed, limited edition print of Woodburn, the governor's official residence in Dover. Minner and eight past Delaware governors signed the print. New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen donated a three-day ski vacation and four tickets to next summer's Winston Cup Race at the New Hampshire International Speedway.
Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Almond donated a signed and framed print of Maxwell Mays' painting "Rhode Island Remembered," which commemorate the start of a new millennium. Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton donated pewter julep cups, a Louisville Slugger baseball bat and a pair of boxing gloves signed by heavyweight champion and Kentucky native Mohammed Ali.
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Visit Florida donated eight Florida vacation packages. Bush and the Florida Sports Foundation also partnered to donate a golf certificate for Ponte Vedra and a golf pin bag from the 2000 Players Championship signed by Hal Sutton.
On Wednesday, eBay said the Auction for America had raised $5 million in its first month. The goal of the auction, which ends Dec. 25, was to raise $100 million in 100 days.
Pennsylvania Launches Online Security Initiative
Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker last week unveiled "PA Secure Online," a new e-security initiative designed to enhance privacy for state citizens who conduct business with the state on PA PowerPort.
As the online place where citizens can renew their driver's licenses, file their taxes or apply for hunting and fishing licenses, PowerPort has been ranked the No. 1 state home page in the nation. PA Secure Online will: establish an ombudsman to ensure that all state agencies comply with privacy policies; launch a "cyber academy" to educate state officials on detecting cyber-security threats; and allow law enforcement to reach across jurisdictional lines in prosecuting crimes.
Pennsylvania already has a computer crime unit. It also provides free software filters to all state schools and offers a "cyber-rent" program that teaches parents how to protect their children from online dangers.
In other Pennsylvania news, Secretary of State Kim Pizzingrilli last week issued recommendations for a Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors (SURE) database.
The Tech Scoop In Maine
Verizon said last Thursday that it has notified the Maine Public Utilities Commission of plans to ask the FCC for permission to offer long-distance telephone services in the state, reports Potomac Tech Wire. Earlier this year, the company filed similar requests with state regulators in New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and New Jersey.
Meanwhile, Maine's governor signed the following tech-related bills this year:
- L.D. 299 and L.D. 1681, both of which establish a comprehensive Internet policy, including a requirement that public entities develop online privacy policies on the collection and use of personal information.
- L.D. 638, which establishes an identification-card system for children, with a child's digital image, name and address, birth date, and Social Security number on the card. The secretary of state would maintain a database of the images and information on the cards, and be tasked with protecting the data.
- L.D. 244, which eliminates the provision that limits the timeframe of healthcare privacy legislation.
- L.D. 1640, which brings the state into compliance with the 1999 Gramm-Leach-Bliley banking law that includes financial privacy rules.
- L.D. 125, which prohibits the electronic transmission of sexually explicit material.
- L.D. 1556, which requires schools and public libraries to prevent children younger than 18 from accessing obscene materials online.
- L.D. 146, which establishes a grant program for schools with innovative plans to bring technology into the classroom.
- L.D. 102, which makes it illegal to use a hand-held cell phone while driving.
- L.D. 749, which prohibits cyber stalking.
- L.D. 1508, which imposes a 2 percent surcharge on every fine, forfeiture and penalty imposed by any court in the state and requires that it be deposited in a fund for the Maine Computer Crimes Task Force.
- L.D. 1800, which appropriates funds over the next two years for the computer-crimes task force. The bill provides nearly $300,000 in fiscal 2002 and nearly $400,000 in fiscal 2003.
- L.D. 1691, which allows the Maine State Police to work with the FBI to organize an electronic information-sharing system.
- L.D. 1324, which adopts the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act, model legislation that establishes standards companies must follow when licensing commercial software.
- L.D. 1227, which mandates that companies in the state conducting business online appoint a registered agent and disclose certain information, such as physical addresses, on the Internet.
- L.D. 1162, which requires wireless providers to provide a 70 percent discount to customers with hearing or speech impairments.
- L.D. 1632, which directs the Maine Science and Technology Foundation, the information technology industry and state agencies to study the state's IT infrastructure and report on possible legislation to improve it.
- L.D. 793, which provides $100,000 for the operation of Mainescience.org, an online clearinghouse of science and technology information in the state.
- L.D. 730, which appropriates $250,000 in grants for buying and installing an automated licensing system at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
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